the last mile
T
Talking shop at the business conferences
will help secure a long-term future for private HE PAST FEW WEEKS HAVE SEEN SOME important dates in the business travel hire within the supply chain for the TMCs. calendar. First up on April 27-28 was Carbon reduction was a consistent theme the Institute of Travel Management underlined by a TED-style talk from Mark (ITM) Accelerate Conference in Birmingham, Corbett at Thrust Carbon, highlighting the the industry’s largest gathering of travel buyers. key to any carbon reduction programme – the This was followed by The Advantage Travel availability of great data. The starting point Partnership Conference in Madeira from April 29 is the ability to report on CO2 and then use Daniel Price to May 1. Advantage is the largest consortium of the information to reduce and remove carbon CEO and independent travel agents in the UK. emissions from travel programmes. founder Across both conferences there were many shared We are lucky in ground transport to be blessed of Jyrney themes: the recovery of business travel demand; a with accurate CO2 data, but offsetting and shortage of talent and people; and a keen focus on ultimately a move to zero emission vehicles will assist our sustainability. In the private hire industry we can identify business travel customers achieve their net zero goals. with these themes as they mirror some of our own as we Some fleets operate hybrid and zero emission vehicles in too seek a path to normality following the impact of the standard categories, making them indistinguishable from past two years. petrol or diesel vehicles. However, if an operator wants to At the ITM, industry leaders expressed how surprised they service corporate passengers, then creating these separate were at how quickly business travel was returning. I only groups to be bookable via integration will increase the appeal need to look at my own diary over the next few months to see to the business traveller. trips to Manchester, Milton Keynes and London for various The message from the TMCs I met at the conferences was events including the LPHCA conference, the Business Travel clear and consistent. They see a significant opportunity to Show and the Move 2022 conference (see you there – Ed). build sustainable ground transport more firmly into their The return to travel has certainly put pressure on our offering. They are looking for more connected solutions for customers and partners in business travel. The struggle with their corporate clients and we are working to ensure that the reduced driver numbers is being felt across business travel Jyrney platform can integrate connections to private hire and and I am regularly asked for solutions to late pick-ups, handtaxi operators. backs and unavailability of vehicles. Travel Management Companies (TMCs) are looking to n D aniel Price is CEO and founder of Jyrney. private hire to connect their passengers to other travel modes. Finding a way to fulfil these business travel jobs now Daniel.price@jyrney.com — www.jyrney.com
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