Corporate Travel Management with BCD Express

Economy class not the only way to cut corporate travel costs

2009-10-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

The International Air Transport Association says there was a 23.6% drop in the number of travellers flying on premium tickets between May 2008-09, as companies sought to reduce corporate travel costs in the most effective way possible – flying economy.

However BCD Travel, the world’s third largest corporate travel management company, says there are plenty of other ways companies can significantly reduce their corporate travel costs without subjecting their staff to flights of up to 8-10 hours in economy class.
Among the corporate travel management company’s top tips are:

Construct a corporate travel policy that will ensure you meet your budget
Enforce your business travel policy through the use of an Online Booking System with redundant options such as first class travel on short haul flights removed
Make use of the relatively new ‘premium economy’ class
Book best fares of the day rather than sticking to one supplier

In 2008-2009, BCD Travel helped its new clients save an average of up to 30% on corporate travel costs, according to an analysis of the travel management company’s top 200 clients.

If you would like a free corporate travel expenditure health check, please contact National Sales Manager, Stephen Finlay on 02 8080 7439 or stephen.finlay@bcdtravel.com.au

Even more reasons to fly Etihad airways

2009-09-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

Coral Economy

With outstanding guest hospitality, cutting-edge in-flight entertainment, and convenient connections, you will quickly learn why Etihad describes its customers as guests not passengers.

Our Coral Economy offers over 600 hours of on-demand entertainment on 10.4-inch personal LCD screens, ergonomically designed seats with up to 33 inch pitch with lumbar support and mood lighting designed to soothe and refresh you as you pass through different time zones, dramatically reducing the effects of jet lag.

Best Business Class

Etihad Airways is flying higher than ever before after winning Best Business Class and Best Business Class Catering at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, after a global poll of 16 million air travelers.

With luxurious fully flat beds on every long haul flight and more than 600 hours of on-demand entertainment on personal 15-inch screens, your own food and beverage manager and limo transfers to and from your home Pearl Business Class is a more luxurious way to travel.

*NEW First Diamond Class
Etihad has redefined luxury air travel even further following the unveiling of its new first class cabin suite at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai.

The highlight of the US $70 million (Dhs 257 million) First Class revamp is an extra-large seat that extends to a fully-flat bed, 80.5 inches in length, which is equipped with built-in massager and Arabic styled sliding privacy doors.
*The full roll-out of the new first class suites is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Stay updated on corporate travel and industry news by subscribing to the BCD travel news feed.

Edihard Airways re-defines luxury air travel

2009-08-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and the world’s fastest growing carrier. Based in Abu Dhabi, the hub that links more than 50 destinations, the airline differentiates itself by delivering outstanding hospitality on brand new, technically advanced aircrafts.

The airline is flying higher than ever before after winning “Best Business Class” and “Best Business Class Catering” at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, following a global poll of 16 million air travelers.

With luxurious fully flat beds on every long haul flight, more than 600 hours of on-demand entertainment on personal 15-inch screens, a food and beverage manager and limo transfers, Pearl Business class is a more luxurious way to travel.

Etihad Airways, has redefined luxury air travel even further following the unveiling of its new First Class cabin suite at this year’s Arabian Travel Market.

The highlight of the US $70 million Diamond First class revamp is an 82 inch long private suite with a 80.5 inches fully flat bed. Each suite has Arabic styled sliding privacy doors, 23 inch personal TV/video screen, personal mini bar, illuminated wardrobe with a personal mirror, in-seat massager, lumbar support and adjustable headrest. In addition, a luxury changing room with full length mirror is available to onboard Guests.

The first aircraft with the new First Class cabin is due to enter service at the end of August 2009. The full rollout of the new First Class suites in the airline’s fleet is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Visit the BCD Travel blog for more corporate travel industry updates.

Price War Great News for Corporate Travel

2009-07-27T23:12:00.000-07:00

At a time when companies across Australia are frantically cutting costs to offset the impact of the global financial crisis, business travel is getting cheaper as major airline carriers go head to head on popular corporate travel routes such as Sydney to Los Angeles.

Four carriers are now flying from Sydney to LA following Delta Airlines and V Australia’s entry into the trans-Pacific sector, with flights expected to go as low as $320 one way before tax, according to US analyst Rick Seaney of Fare Compare.

A Flight Centre survey shows international fares are more than $200 cheaper on average compared to five years ago. The Sydney to Los Angeles business travel route is now 41% cheaper than in 2004. Corporate travellers flying from Sydney to Bangkok are now flying for 29% less, according to the survey.

Airfares are now cheaper than ever before - providing much needed relief for organisations requiring staff to undertake regular corporate travel. However, current corporate travel fares are not sustainable for carriers and prices will likely rise, experts say.

BCD Travel’s Event of the Month for business travellers

2009-06-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

Corporate travel agency, BCD Travel, expects a shortage of accommodation and flights to Brisbane around the middle of July when the Final State of Origin match is scheduled to take place.

Business travellers intending to fly to Brisbane on or around July 15 should book their corporate travel early or delay or bring forward their business travel to avoid disappointment.

BCD Travel provides more than a corporate travel booking service, they are also highly experienced groups and incentives organisers. The first step in planning business travel and meetings incentives conferences exhibitions (MICE), is to check if any major community activities are occurring in the city of your event.

Business travel should be avoided at the time of major community events as demand becomes very strong for flights and accommodation, meaning corporate travellers will likely pay higher prices and could miss out on flights and accommodation.

BCD Travel has an event calendar on its public corporate travel website that is designed to assist corporate travellers planning trips away. Other upcoming events include the Wallabies vs Italy match in Canberra June 15-18; the Wallabies vs Italy match in Melbourne on June 20 and the Wallabies vs France match in Sydney on June 27.

Prepare for Take off on Delta

2009-06-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

Daily nonstop to L.A and on to over 250 cities in North America, launching July 3, 2009. Start booking tickets for you clients on the worlds largest airline today.

* Delta recently merged with Northwest which makes us the world’s largest carrier
* We service 368 destinations in 66 countries and carry over 170 million passengers each year.
* Operating with the 777-200LR aircraft
* Departing SYD 0915 and arriving LAX 0600 allowing for exceptional connections to deeper USA.
* Economy class - New all leather slim line seats, personal 9 inch video monitors with on demand movies, tv, music and games
* Our Business Elite service offers reclining seats that adjust to multiple positions including a fully horizontal 6 foot 3 inch bed, privacy screens and isle access

for more corporate travel and business travel info visit the BCD Travel website.

Direct corporate travel flights to Hamilton, New Zealand

2009-06-14T23:40:00.000-07:00

Pacific Blue has announced new direct flights to Hamilton, New Zealand, from both Sydney and Brisbane airports starting in September this year.

Six direct flights are scheduled per week – three from each city, with connecting fares offered via Sydney to and from Perth, Melbourne and Canberra.
To celebrate the new flights, Pacific Blue is having a two week sale with flights from Sydney to Hamilton as low as $202 and flights from Brisbane as low as $232.

These special fares are available until 17 June or until sold out for travel from 1 September until 17 December.

To contact corporate travel agency BCD Travel, call our National Sales Manager, Stephen Finlay on 02 8080 7439 or email stephen.finlay@bcdtravel.com.au.

Industry Exclusive: Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

2009-06-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group have just added two significant new opening hotels since January 2009. The Shangri-La Vancouver, their first hotel in North America opened on 24 January, and Shangri-La Tokyo, their first in Japan opened on 2 March, bringing the total number of hotels in the strong network to 62.

Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo occupies the top 11 floors of Marunouchi Trust Tower Main, a 37-floor, mixed-use building adjacent to Tokyo Station and offers views of Marunouchi to the east and Tokyo Bay to the west. The 202-room hotel contains two restaurants – Piacere, a signature Italian restaurant, and Nadaman, an authentic Japanese restaurant – as well as the Lobby Lounge offering afternoon tea and live entertainment. CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, the group’s own award-winning spa brand developed from ancient Chinese and Himalayan healing therapies, makes its Japanese debut. The hotel also features meeting rooms and banquet facilities, a health club, an indoor swimming pool and the Horizon Club lounge, which offers an elevated level of service.

Shangri-La’s legendary hospitality has also arrived in North America with the opening of Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver. This 119-room luxury hotel, located in downtown Vancouver, occupies the first 15 floors of a 61-storey landmark building, the tallest in the city. Guests at Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver will find luxurious guestrooms and suites decorated in a contemporary Asian style, with many rooms featuring private balconies and stunning views of the city. Visitors can enjoy personalized spa treatments at CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, or experience Vancouver fine dining with regionally inspired dishes at MARKET by Jean-Georges. For guests with business in mind, Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver offers flexible meeting rooms and professional planning services.

Both properties bring to life the unique Asian hospitality, serenity, and caring service that Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts represents. For more corporate travel news visit our site.

Business travel company increases corporate travel client base in 2009

2009-05-26T23:22:00.000-07:00

Corporate travel agency, BCD Travel, has increased its client base in 2008-09 as more companies identify BCD Travel as the best travel management company to assist them in cost savings and the professional management of their corporate travel expenditure.

The third largest travel management company in the world, BCD Travel has three offices in Australia in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and services large and small business travel clients across the country.

BCD Travel prides itself on personalised customer service with high attention to detail as well as its online technology solutions, including its online booking engine which contains individual client profiles and self-booking travel tools tailored to each client’s internal corporate travel policies.

With international connections and the best deals available on flights and accommodation, as well as a fully integrated meetings incentives conferences exhibitions (MICE) department, BCD Travel offers a complete travel management solution.

For information on how corporate travel management company, BCD Travel, can assist you please contact our National Sales Manager via email at sales@bcdtravel.com.au

BCD Travel updates online booking engine in line with industry changes

2009-05-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

Corporate Travel management company, BCD Travel, is responding quickly to the decision by some international airlines to not issue tickets without a traveller’s passport number.

BCD Travel’s online booking engine is now being updated with the passport numbers of all of its business travel clients’ staff to cater for online business travel bookings with carriers requiring a corporate traveller’s passport number at the time of booking.

BCD Travel is constantly updating its systems and online technology solutions in line with industry changes to ensure smooth and efficient management of their clients’ business travel needs.

Corporate Travel Agency Honoured

2009-05-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

BCD Travel founder and world-renowned entrepreneur, John Fentener van Vlissingen, was honoured recently at the prestigious Netherland-America Foundation’s Annual Gala and Awards Dinner in Washington.

The Netherland-America Foundation (NAF) was founded by former US President Franklin Roosevelt in 1921 and rewards people who contribute to Dutch-American relations.

BCD Travel is the world’s third largest corporate travel management company operating in 93 countries with $14 billion in annual sales and 13,000 staff.

BCD Recommends: Manila, Philippines

2009-05-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

About Manila

Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, bears a uniquely fused spirit that is both Asian and Spanish. Colonized by Spain in 1571, it was known as ‘The Pearl of the Orient’, the jewel of Spain’s empire in the Pacific.

The country gained its independence after World War II. However, much of the city was destroyed, and it never managed to rebuild itself or reclaim its regional importance and identity. Present-day Metro Manila is a conglomeration of 17 cities and municipalities—a “mega-city” offering a blend of cultures.

It is hard to determine exactly what Manila is. It is an amalgamation of contrasts: extreme wealth and poverty, sidewalk vendors and civilized shopping malls and bustling chaos and peaceful greenery.

The city of Manila houses numerous landmarks, parks and open spaces, museums, shopping centers, as well as abundant nightlife. At the heart of the city lies Intramuros, where forts and dungeons, old churches and colonial houses can be found.

Getting around Manila

Like many Asian cities, Manila faces a great deal of traffic congestion that leaves you in a quagmire during rush hour or rain. Fortunately, transport is fairly cheap, including the taxis.

Local Jeepneys (brightly colored converted Jeeps used as minibuses) are a popular form of transport and can be hailed anywhere. They are cheap, plentiful and best suited to shorter journeys. Local buses are useful to get to places on the main roads as they are prohibited from most streets in the center of town. Like Jeepneys, buses have their destinations indicated on signboards.

The elevated light rail system (LRT) and the Metrostar have helped to alleviate some of the congestion. They are an excellent way to soar past traffic but are normally packed during rush hour.

In sections of Manila you can find Kalesas (horse-drawn carriages) that plod through the traffic, carrying passengers and goods. Tricycles (motorcycles with side cars) and pedicabs (bicycles with side cars) are also for hire, servicing narrow roads and inner-city alleys.

Don’t miss…

Manila is just as alive during the day as it is at night, and you will never run out of things to see and do. Here are some highlights:

Intramuros
Within Intramuros is a fort built by the Spaniards when they colonized Manila. The fort walls were twenty feet high and over a mile in length, protecting several rich mansions, churches, and schools. Unfortunately, the fort was destroyed during World War II, but a strong sense of history still remains.

Much of Intramuros has been rebuilt and proves to be an interesting attraction for visitors. Here you will find the Casa Manila, The Manila Cathedral, and the Rizal Shrine Museum.

Quiapo and Chinatown

Chinatown is the center of the vibrant Chinese community, where the locals venture for a taste of true mainland delicacies. Walk along Ongpin Street where you’ll find dozens of goldsmiths, herbalists, teahouses and shops, incense, trinkets etc. Venture out to the nearby backstreets of Quiapo and visit the Quiapo Church, one of the most famous churches in Manila (also known as the Church of the Black Nazarene). Built in 1582, it has amazingly withstood earthquakes, riots, rebellions and the war. The church houses a statue of Christ that is believed to have miraculous powers, attracting hoards of visitors.

Coconut Palace

Under the Marcos regime, the Coconut Palace was built for Pope John Paul’s visit in 1981. However, he declined to stay, snubbing it as too pretentious and flamboyant. The Coconut Palace is now effectively a museum, which is almost entirely made from palm wood and coconut fiber. Some of the highlights include the 101 coconut shell chandelier and the dining table made of 40,000 tiny pieces of inlaid coconut shells.

Malate

The popular district of Malate showcases a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, cafes, art and antique shops. The nightlife offers everything from cultural shows to discotheques, cozy jazz bars, entertainment lounges, and fashionable cafes.

The clash of local ingredients with the palates of conquering Spaniards left Filipino food with an unambiguous emphasis on meat. Filipino food is served in almost every restaurant in town. Local dishes include liempo (steamed spare ribs), lechon (spit-fire roasted pork), kare-kare (a stew with peanut sauce and ground toasted rice) and, if you can stomach it, balut (fertilized duck embryo steamed and served in the shell). For something sweeter try halo-halo, a drink of ice, sweet beans, fruit and condensed milk, topped with ice cream.
You can find all types of cuisine in Manila. A few favorites include:

La Cocina de Tita Moning
315 San Rafael St., San Miguel, Manila
Tel: +63 2 734-2146
http://www.lacocinadetitamoning.com/
As you enter the gates of this old mansion, you walk into an actual ancestral home, filled with priceless works of art and memorabilia. You are welcomed with drinks on the patio, before being given a mini-tour of the place. Dishes are served on antique china, glassware and silverware. Select from a choice of old world recipes handed down from generations and served in a classic way, or those with a modern twist. A particular favorite is the paella and bread pudding.

Sala
Podium Level, Locsin Bldg., 6752 Ayala Ave. cor. Makati Ave, Makati
Tel: +63 2 750-1555
A refined and contemporary European bistro, featuring fusion dishes with an emphasis on simple mains seasoned creatively with organic herbs. Offerings include sesame crusted seared tuna with crispy Asian coleslaw, porcini mushroom risotto cake with brie and roast tomato, and beef tenderloin with horseradish mash and red pepper chutney.

Shang Palace
Ayala Avenue at Makati Avenue, Makati City
Tel: +63 2 840 0884
A restaurant that is renowned for its elegant ambience, unique furnishings of wooden latticework, glittering Swarovski chandeliers and intimate fuchsia dining booths. It has often been described as the best Cantonese in Manila. Try out specials such as the chilled sliced pork with spicy garlic sauce, sauteed prawn with orange sauce and sweet spare ribs in a clay pot.

Shopping

The tropical weather in Manila, combined with the facilities of its world-class malls, continue to attract Filipinos to the shopping malls. The biggest mall in the country is the SM Mall of Asia, which sits near Manila Bay. It has a skating rink, science discovery center, IMAX theater and many other attractions. There are also high-end shopping malls such as Shangri-La Plaza, The Podium Ortigas Center, and Glorietta Mall, where you can find designer goods and accessories.

Venturing beyond the shopping malls you can head to the markets, where bargaining will be a major part of your shopping experience. Visitors often return from the markets laden with mirrors, lace, capiz-shell lanterns, and hand-carved trinkets. Every district in the city, with the exception of Port Area, has its own public market. Bargains are easily found in mass market malls such as SM or Market!Market! More adventurous shoppers interested in serious haggling can head for a flea market (known as tiangge), such as Divisoria, 168 Mall or Greenhills. Bear in mind, that you may need a well-trained eye to spot fakes.

Tutuban Center in Divisoria offers more comfort as an air-conditioned mall, but prices of goods are still very similar to those bought outside. In Quiapo, a unique spot is the marketplace under the bridge, which sells original Filipino crafts and delicacies. Also in Quiapo, Hidalgo Street is the place to come for inexpensive camera equipment and accessories.

~BCD Travel is your all inclusive corporate travel management company.

Travel Management Company Responds Quickly to Swine Flu

2009-05-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

As soon as fears of a potential swine flu pandemic hit the headlines, travel management company, BCD Travel promptly swung into action by alerting its corporate travel clients of the immediate risks in flying to countries affected by the new disease.

BCD Travel’s Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane business travel offices immediately sent out an email alert to their massive database of small and large business travel clients and continued with regular updates including links to medical websites with advice on how people could protect themselves while travelling in affected countries.

Thousands of managers at BCD Travel, the world’s third largest business travel management company, also participated in a global conference call with a specialist doctor to find out more about the new flu virus so they could provide accurate and practical advice to their business travel clients.

The business travel company’s global website also published a blog to assist clients seeking up to the minute information on how to protect themselves from Swine Flu.

Berlin, Germany - A traveler's dream

2009-05-05T23:21:00.000-07:00

Germany has been in the world spotlight for many years, but today we’ve listed some of our favourite things to do in Berlin – but don’t forget that this is a uniquely rewarding city for those willing to let go of agendas and simply stroll the streets. You never know what you might find – a toy store with amazingly detailed miniature cities crafted from wood and straw, a coffee shop with the best almond cake you’ve ever eaten, or even a giant concrete strawberry sitting primly in an otherwise abandoned lot.

Culture, Culture and more Culture
Berlin has more than 170 museums and collections. They offer everything from the ancient to the ultra-modern - the Egyptian Nefertiti, the greek Pergamon Altar, the painters of the “Brücke” and the “Bauhaus” and works by Baselitz and Beuys. The works found in the city’s museums and collections and private galleries are as exciting as they are diverse. Some of the smaller museums that don’t get much mention are fascinating in their own right: The stunning collection amassed by Heinz Berggruen, the Berlin-born Paris art dealer, is displayed in a mansion facing Charlottenburg Palace and adjacent to the Egyptian Museum. The Berggruen pictures include 80-odd Picassos (also look for the tiny “Blackbird,” a sculpture cunningly fashioned from found materials) and 50 Klees, ranging from the ironic “Breakfast-time Reflections” to the vivid “Blue Mountain.”

The Other Big Event
If all of that museum-hopping has you in need of some fresh air, from 27 May to 9 September, those who prefer their culture al fresco can take advantage of “The World’s Longest Open Air.�? Enjoy concerts, movies in open air cinemas and lots of other great performances on Berlin’s famous Museum Island and other historic locations.

Where to Eat
You’ll need to eat at some point during your wanderings, and the omnipresent Imbiss stands will serve you Berlin’s favorite snack, the currywurst, a spicy sausage.

Looking for a place to sit down and absorb some local color? Café Einstein, on the Kurfürstenstrasse in western Berlin, Austrian in décor and spirit, serves coffee to make Starbucks blush and, after 11 a.m., superb apfelstrudel. Damien Hirst, the shock artist, hangs out at Maxwell, housed in an old brewery now bedecked with his works. The duck and the boar sausages are delicious. Chancellor Gerhard Schröder took Bill Clinton to Gugelhof, an Alsatian spot in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin’s supercool neighborhood at the time. It serves terrific choucroute and other dishes for big boys with big appetites.

For serious eaters, Vau is the indispensable stop. The other Michelin star-winning independent, Margaux, serves what it calls “cuisine avant-garde classique.” Its menu is hard to follow and its prices hard to take, but amends are made by dishes like the improbable-sounding crisply sautéed bass with black pudding, duck foie gras and honey-lavender vinaigrette.

The Night Life
Berlin is renowned for the variety and edginess of its club scene. To warm up, start at the Sage Club in Kreuzberg (Köpenicker Street), or for techno go to Tresor (Leipziger Street 126 a). The Roten Salon (Rosa – Luxemburg Square) offers style and ambience, German party beats feature at the Hafenbar (Chaussee Street 20), and El Barrio (Potsdamer Street 82) pulses with salsa rhythms.

Best Money-Saving Tip
Buy passes on the Berlin transit system for inexpensive unlimited access to all buses and trains. You can get passes for one day or one week or even one month, or you can get a Berlin WelcomeCard, which includes either a 48- or 72-hour transit pass for Berlin and nearby suburbs like Potsdam as well as coupons for discounts at museums, restaurants and even fitness centers. The regular passes and WelcomeCards are available at most train platforms. A 48-hour WelcomeCard, good for travel by one adult and three children younger than 14, is 16 euros.

For more business travel updates check out the BCD website!

Washington DC: A Vibrant and Fascinating Capital

2009-04-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

Washington, DC is established by the Constitution of the United States to serve as the nation’s capital. Named after the first American President, George Washington, the capital is steeped in history, which is captured in its monuments, museums and memorials.

For over 200 years, the White House has been the home of the President and their families and is often referred to as the most famous address in the country. Now home to the first African-American President, Barak Obama, power and politics continue to be an exhilarating mix.

The city was designed by Pierre Charles L’Enfant, inspired by chic Paris, who created grand boulevards and ceremonial spaces. It has since transformed into a vibrant and fascinating capital renowned for its urban spaces, extensive memorials and grand neoclassical architecture.

The city’s most famous landmarks are in and around the National Mall, spanning from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol. The city hosts many festivals, gatherings and performances. On summer evenings, the Mall is a great place to catch an open air concert, movie screening or jazz performance. In the winter, the popular outdoor ice skating rink opens at the National Gallery of Art, overlooking the numerous art sculptures and gardens.

Getting around DC

Washington’s location makes it easy to get to via car, train, bus and plane. Once in DC, navigating around the city is simple, due to its compact nature and grid-patterned layout.

Driving around the crowded streets of DC can be a strain and parking can be even worse. Luckily the city has a great public transportation system. The Metro is an efficient and comfortable system, consisting of rail and buses, which operates throughout the city. The fare you pay depends on the zone(s) you travel in and a flat fee is in operation on the bus system.

The DC Circulator is a new and convenient way to get around town; US$1 takes you from Union Station to Georgetown or to the National Mall.

Taxis are abundant and the capital has one of the highest ratios of taxis per person. Currently, taxis work in a zone system, whereby customers pay depending on the zones they use.

Don’t miss…

Tour the three houses of Government

Explore the U.S. Capitol Building, the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court to gain an appreciation of the division of power within the country’s democratic government. Plan ahead and note that some tours must be scheduled in advance.

Tour the national monuments and memorials

The national monuments are magnificent. The best time to see them is by night when they are illuminated and the area is less crowded. If you are visiting by day, you can take the ‘Hop on - Hop off’ bus tour or join a walking tour.

Visit the Smithsonian

Pick up a map and information on all the museums at the Smithsonian Institution Building, the world’s largest museum complex. There are 19 museums to choose from, ranging from art to space exploration.

Take a walk through Georgetown

Georgetown is the capital’s historic waterfront, always bustling with activity. The area is a shopper’s delight and the streets are lined with restaurants of every nationality.

Enjoy nature on a bike trail

There are wonderful bike trails to be found amongst expanses of greenery. Hiring a bicycle is easy and a great way to explore the historic C & O Canal and the famous Rock Creek Park; a welcome relief from hectic city life.

Shopping

Find time to add a little shopping to your DC agenda. In addition to quaint neighborhood boutiques, you’ll find some of the top shopping centers and outlet malls in the country.

Georgetown Park is the premier shopping area in Washington, DC. The mall has a wide selection of stores including women and men’s fashion, children’s fashion and toys, jewelry, accessories, books and cards, electronics, music, etc.

Old Post Office Pavilion is a popular attraction; built in 1899 and restored as a shopping destination in 1978.

Here you will find a variety of retail stores, a large food court, a discount-ticket broker, and government offices.

Tysons Corner Center is largest shopping mall in the area, located just minutes from downtown DC. With more than 290 stores, the mall offers an extensive selection of merchandise including everything from high fashion apparel to home furnishings.

Union Station is the most visited destination in Washington, DC with over 25 million visitors a year. Union Station, Washington’s train station and premier shopping mall, also serves as a venue for world-class exhibitions and international cultural events.

Where to eat:

Washington is a culinary adventure with just about every type of cuisine imaginable, from Burmese to Ethiopian to American. Here are some of the most popular eateries:

Citronelles

3000 M St. NW
Tel: 202-625-2150
Website:http://www.citronelledc.com
An elegant (and very expensive) restaurant that is one of DC’s most acclaimed. French Chef Michel Richard creates a gastronomic dining experience, with an inventive menu. Favorite dishes include: Abalone served sashimi style; sablefish with miso glaze; short ribs for two, the meat de-boned and cooked sous-vide for 72 hours, then finished in a searing-hot pan and presented medium rare.

Meskerem

2434 18th St NW
Tel: (202) 462-4100
There are numerous budget Ethiopian eateries along the streets of Adams Morgan, but none as pleasing as this one. Diners can sit at messobs (basket tables) on low, carved Ethiopian chairs and tear off little pieces of injera (sour-dough pancakes) with which they can sample a wide range of chicken, lamb and vegetable stews. Don’t forget to taste the homemade honey wine.

Ben’s Chili Bowl

1213 U Street, NW
Tel: (202) 667 0909
Website: http://www.benschilibowl.com
‘Home of the Famous Chili Dog’, give’s a clue as to what to order at this eatery, which has been around since 1958. The chili half-smoke was voted Washington’s signature dish. Ben’s Chili Bowl has a diner style décor, with Formica counters lined with red vinyl barstools. The diner is known to be frequented by celebrities such as comedian Bill Cosby and has even been recently sampled by President Obama.

This article was brought to you by BCD travel - the business travel specialists.

Investment Downturn Can Yield Big Gains

2009-04-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

It’s no secret that travel programs are under scrutiny. The second- or third-largest expense at many companies, travel for many senior executives now appears ready for pruning.

But don’t be too fast in cutting away solid branches of travel, advises Mike Janssen, president of BCD Travel’s North America division. Companies can position themselves during the economic downturn to gain significant program improvements.

The current recession has forced painful decisions upon countless companies. Nevertheless, travel managers, procurement professionals and other decision makers should embrace the opportunities arising out of challenging times, says Janssen. Despite difficult times, many companies are in a position to lay the foundation for future successes.

“Business Travel managers, in their desire to quickly bring savings to their organizations, need to make sure any travel program changes stay in line with long-term company strategies,” Janssen says.

The commitment to continuing to travel may bring suppliers to the table with additional discounts on top of those offered in existing contracts. By spending wisely on travel when suppliers need the volume can result in a reduction of baseline costs that could benefit a company for years down the road.

In good times, change is more difficult because few people wish to disrupt success, Janssen says. The current economic climate, however, has opened new channels to travel managers for gaining access to C-level executives, many of whom are more receptive to travel program innovation.

“Business Travel managers now have greater authority than ever before to really drive compliance,” Janssen says. With the added authority, however, also comes a responsibility for travel managers to continue serving as the subject matter experts upon which successful programs rely, educating employees and providing sound solutions.

“Travel is one of the first things companies focus on in tough times—especially if the CEO reads in the newspaper that air fares are down 40 percent,” says Advito vice president Bob Brindley. A CEO, or even procurement director, may not realize the company already receives a 60 percent international discount under its negotiated rate with a preferred carrier.”

Travel managers must make sure companies focus on metrics that represent true savings rather than those that only appear on the surface to matter, says Mark Williams, Advito vice president of business development. Take, for instance, average ticket price.

“Yes, it’s a metric,” says Williams, “but you can’t rely upon average ticket prices as a measure of how your company compares to its peers, because city pairs differ widely from company to company.”

Travel managers play a critical role in helping companies understand the complexities of travel that distinguish it from other resource management. The key is focusing upon underlying drivers of travel costs, says Brindley. Is it a change in overall demand, traveler behavior or market mix? One Advito client actually saw overall contract savings drop after negotiating a larger discount. How could that be? The company’s intercontinental-to-domestic trip mix changed.

Falling occupancy rates now are creating the potential for best available room rates to fall below negotiated rates. Travelers need to know they should ask if a lower rate is available.

“The year 2009 will be known as the season the hotel procurement process never ended,” says Williams. “Hotels are even coming and offering to drop rates to keep you. Traditionally, by December the negotiating season is over. Now negotiations are ongoing even though most programs ended months ago.”

Patriotism Ranks Australia as Number One Destination

2009-04-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

Travel industry journal, Travel + Leisure, has published a survey of favourite countries among Australian and New Zealand travellers and found that Australia is still at the top of our list, with Italy, France, New Zealand and the US comprising our top five.

Paris was the favourite city, followed by New York, Florence, London and Sydney.

BCD Travel, the world’s third largest business travel company, can organise corporate travel journeys and leisure holidays to all of these locations for its business travel clients.

BCD Travel not only provides corporate travel services, it also offers a complete event management service for meetings incentives conferences events and a leisure service for the staff of corporate travel clients requiring assistance with their personal holidays.

BCD Travel recommends: London

2009-03-26T22:40:00.000-07:00

Stately and quirky by turns

Vast, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is one of the world’s great cities. It is also an eminently walkable city – when it’s not raining and you’re wearing decent shoes. As you wander through its streets, you’ll realize that, in a city hailed for its ability to embrace modernity and change, the past is never far away: there are four UNESCO World Heritage sites in London (the Palace of Westminster, the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and Kew Gardens) and some 40,000 listed buildings and structures.

If walking’s not your thing, and you’re in London regularly, it’s well worth acquiring an Oyster card (a prepaid, refillable Underground card that automatically deducts your fare each time you swipe it at a turnstile); you’ll save not only time, but single fares are up to 35 percent cheaper). Credits don’t expire and cards can be purchased at most Tube station ticket offices.

Don’t miss:

Checking out funky boutiques and funkier galleries in Spitalfields
Having a pint in a neighborhood pub
Strolling through history along the Thames
Taking advantage of London’s stellar restaurant scene, from high-end to low-brow

In for a penny, in for a pound
Even with a weakening pound and a global economic slowdown, London is still über-expensive. But even so, browsing the city’s stores and boutiques is pure pleasure. Notting Hill is boasts a ridiculous per-capita quotient of celebrities (current residents include Bjork, Robbie Williams and Claudia Schiffer), and main thoroughfares Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Grove are a shoppers’

paradise, particularly if your idea of heaven runs to charming and dizzily-priced boutiques. Thrifty visitors also flock to the antiques and flea market on the Portobello Road on Friday and Saturday.

In the heart of London’s East End, Spitalfields is home to thousands of immigrants and is where Jack the Ripper saw off many of his victims. Recently revived and revitalized, this trendy destination on the fringe of London’s financial district has more artists per square kilometer than anywhere else in Europe. Spitalfields is full of cool clubs, restaurants, bars, galleries, shops and markets selling new and vintage clothing, accessories, antiques, jewelry, cosmetics, home furnishings and gifts.

A South Bank stroll

Wandering along the South Bank of the Thames is a lovely way to spend a free day. Starting at London Bridge and heading west, duck first into Borough Market. The largest open-air farmers’ market in London, in impressive 19th-century digs next to Southwark Cathedral, Borough boasts all manner of delicacies, from artisanal ciders and free-range bacon and sausages to sparkling produce, honey and fresh-baked breads. Those with a nose for cheese can taste an extraordinary variety of British farmhouse cheeses at Neal’s Yard Dairy.

Continue on to two bastions of British culture: the Tate Modern museum and the Globe Theatre. Opened in 2000, the Tate Modern is regarded as a model of urban regeneration, with a disused Bankside power station transformed into an avant-garde space dedicated to 20th-century art.

The Globe, a brilliantly realized reconstruction of the theater built by William Shakespeare’s company in 1599, stages open-air productions of Shakespeare and his contemporaries from May to September.

The pub’s the thing

No visit to London would be complete without a pint or two of real ale. It’s hard to go more than a hundred meters without stumbling across a pub, but two neighborhood favorites include Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (145 Fleet Street, Blackfriars tube) and the Charles Lamb (16 Elia Street, Angel tube). The first is haven of old dark wood, open fires and flagstones that’s been around since just after the Great Fire of 1666; the second is tucked into a quiet street in Islington, a newly popular residential area just north of the financial district. Don’t be surprised if pub dog Masha arrives at your table asking for a chin scratch.

Several ways to see the city

If your days are packed with meetings and conference calls, try an evening tour. London by Night offers nightly tours of the city starting at Victoria Rail Station and taking in Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square and St Paul’s Cathedral. Open-top buses are used, weather permitting. See london-by-night.net for a list of pick-up points.

If you’re a photo buff and have brought along your camera, London Photo Tours offers weekly walks focusing on views of Westminster Bridges, the London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral. The tour goes at a slow pace to allow time to compose well-considered photos. londonphototours.co.uk.

Fancy a bit of grub?

English gastronomy is enjoying an extraordinary renaissance, fuelled on the one hand by a renewed interest in seasonal, local ingredients and by an influx of exciting culinary influences from abroad. You’ll be hard-pressed, for example, to find better Indian restaurants outside of Delhi and Mumbai (but stay away from the tourist traps on Brick Lane!). For many Brits, in fact, a good curry is a national staple! Classic English specialties include the “full English breakfast” or “fry-up” (with sausages, bacon, eggs, fried bread, baked beans and grilled tomatoes and mushrooms); smoked fish (from salmon to kippers); pies and Cornish pasties; and fish and chips. High tea, complete with scones and clotted cream, can still be enjoyed at many of London’s top hotels; the Dorchester is a classic afternoon destination.

Check out BCD Travel for more corporate travel tips.

The Global Recession Diet

2009-03-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

Cutting travel program fat without compromising strategic objectives

The global economic downturn is hitting business travel where it hurts: According to a new survey by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), more than 70 percent of U.S. travel managers plan to spend less on corporate travel in 2009. The results represent a sharp shift from an earlier ACTE poll (Sept. 2008), which found that only 33 percent of U.S. travel managers were planning on cutting travel spend in the year to come.

While the ACTE survey may have focused on the U.S., the challenges faced by travel buyers and corporate travel managers cut across all sectors of the globe. From reducing travel to tightening travel policy, and from renegotiating with suppliers to adjusting travel behavior, travel program stakeholders are intent on cutting trips and curbing expenses.

The silver lining to the financial storm clouds, says Kathy Jackson, executive vice president

Story highlights:

Travel buyers and managers now able to make changes that were impossible in the past
New role for account managers in understanding and supporting client business drivers
Changes to travel policy, approval process, traveler behavior are leading savings mechanisms for cost-conscious companies
Demand management and online technologies are key supports

for Global Client Management at BCD Travel, is that the economy is enabling travel buyers and their respective teams to make changes that, quite frankly, have never been achievable in the past.

The challenge, adds Jackson, is to save on travel spend without compromising on business objectives: “As hard as it may be to foresee, the recession will not last forever. Companies will need to emerge from the downturn with plans for growth and solid business relationships in place– and travel is a crucial element in supporting growth and retention initiatives.”

Teri Miller, senior vice president for Global Client Management in the Americas for BCD Travel, sees a major opportunity for travel management company account managers in the current situation: “Account managers need a deep understanding of the customer’s business drivers to enable them to anticipate and add value, rather than react. As an example, if a client is closing manufacturing plants in three countries, our account manager will explain how travel patterns will shift as a result, illustrate what effect that may have on supplier contracts and provide a plan for optimizing potential impact.”

What steps are BCD Corporate Travel clients taking to combat the recession?

Companies need to look beyond the big-ticket items, says Jackson, and filter adjustments through every component of a trip. “It may be tempting to focus exclusively on air ticket costs, but for some programs, air may make up only as much as 20 percent of total T&E expenditure. Our account managers, often with the support of a consultative engagement from Advito [the independent consulting branch of BCD Travel], help clients focus on the total cost of trip, including hotel, ground transportation and even restaurant costs.”

A list of some of the decisions in which BCD Travel is supporting its clients’ recession-management travel strategies is below.

The choices and decisions being made represent a major opportunity for companies to make lasting beneficial changes to their travel programs, says Jackson: “As with any diet, success is incumbent on making change a way of life, not a 30-day wonder regime.”

Changes in travel policy

Growing corporate cost-consciousness is manifesting itself most prominently in the refinement and enactment of more stringent travel policies. Among the common cost-cutting elements BCD Travel is seeing: shifting from business class to coach class (variations include mandating coach class for all travelers regardless of hierarchical level and increasing the business-class flight-time threshold); down-tiering hotels (i.e., three-star instead of four-star); mandating the use of public transport rather than taxis; and retaining frequent flyer miles for business travel rather than personal travel.

BCD Travel is also seeing an increase in the use of rail and low-cost carriers within EMEA, says Felix Vezjak, senior vice president for Global Client Management in EMEA: “Companies are much more likely to accept what were formerly seen as inconveniences (i.e., secondary airports) in exchange for savings. However, particularly in the case of low-cost carriers, companies need to ensure that their travelers always use the preferred booking channels (online booking tool and agency) of choice to ensure adequate reporting and security tracking.”

For further suggestions on refining and enforcing travel policy, see our Feb. 2009 article “Reliance on compliance.”

Changes to travel approval process

Whether it’s instituting an official approval process where one might not have existed or – as is more common – making existing processes more restrictive, this cost-cutting method is winning wide-spread support among BCD Corporate Travel clients as an easy “quick win.”

As part of a concerted travel-cost reduction effort, one of BCD Travel’s global clients, which has over US$450 million in annual travel spend and more than 325,000 employees worldwide, changed its travel approval process radically to incorporate the following:

No travel unless approved by a vice president on a single trip basis (<150>

No last-minute travel (under seven days’ advance purchase) unless approved by an executive vice president (<15>

Demand management (travel reduction or travel freeze)

More and more companies today view demand management as one of the biggest opportunities they have to control or reduce costs without compromising their overall business goals and requirements.

Among the possible steps companies can take to reduce travel demand:

Eliminate all non-client-related travel

Freeze attendance at industry conventions and conferences

One BCD Travel client refers to internal meetings as the “mother of all travel,” and has implemented the following methods to reduce the travel they generate:

Prioritize video/web-conferencing for internal meetings

Reduce number of meeting participants (all participants must be on agenda)

Require meetings to be planned around travel, rather than vice versa

Eliminate hotel nights before and after the meetings

Choose meeting venues based on total cost, including travel and employee time spend

Travel management company as educational and staffing resource

BCD Travel has played an important role for several major clients in helping educate travelers and travel arrangers on a range of subjects in order to improve their ability to support the companies’ savings initiatives. For some clients, BCD Travel account management has provided workshop sessions for travel bookers; for others, the company has created “Tips and Tricks” documents for cost-savvy travel that clients have made available to all travelers.

Some clients have also had to face internal downsizing, resulting in the loss of key travel personnel. In one recent case, following the departure of the travel manager, BCD Travel has been able to dedicate a resource to that role. The account manager has also supported the client by conducting analyses to forecast further headcount reduction ahead of online adoption drive. This headcount reduction has been written into the budget for 2009.

Increased use of online booking tools

In order to save on transaction costs and streamline processes, companies are increasingly mandating that all domestic or point-to-point travel be booked online. Online tools can also play an important role in supporting changes to the travel policy and to traveler behavior, says Miller: “Companies can modify booking tools to ask travelers about the necessity of a trip or offer alternatives to the journey before proceeding to booking.”

Program consolidation

Finally, says Jackson, the economic downturn may present a significant “carrot” for companies that had been looking into consolidating their travel services regionally or globally: “Consolidation of multiple country services into a multinational service center, for example, can represent considerable savings in resource and process costs. However, companies must be sure that their organization is prepared to fully support consolidation in order to fully achieve the benefits. That means asking questions like, ‘Do we have a consistent travel policy in place that spans the markets involved? Are there language constraints that would be met by the service center?’”

Big & Small companies benefit from corporate travel management

2009-03-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

Leading corporate travel agent, BCD Travel, says corporate travel management is appropriate for all business types and sizes that have a reasonably significant business travel spend.

Corporate travel management is an effective way of reducing and monitoring corporate travel costs, implementing internal corporate travel policies and enabling fast online bookings.

Among BCD Travel’s extensive client base are small businesses such as a prominent Sydney restaurant and large businesses such as several global multi-nationals.

BCD Travel tailors its corporate travel management services to suit each individual client, meaning small businesses can enjoy the benefits of business travel management in a cost-effective way.

Keeping you safe whilst you're flying

2009-03-12T20:13:00.001-07:00

Corporate travellers are familiar with safety procedures on flights and know that the odds of them being involved in a crash or mid-air incident are low.

Aviation engineering is highly sophisticated these days but no matter how high-tech a plane gets, there’s not a lot that can be done when a huge flock of large birds flies into the path of a commercial jet, like the one that was forced to land in the Hudson River in New York on January 15 when both of its engines were knocked out due to bird strike.

Although the US Airways jetliner’s two CFM engines were built to withstand sucking in five 1.5-pound birds or a single 4-pound bird, it couldn’t withstand the impact of the large flock of birds, which are now thought to be Canada geese, that flew directly into its path.

The pilot, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who has been hailed a hero for safely landing the plane carrying 155 people with no loss of life, said his “windscreen was suddenly filled with birds” shortly after take-off from LaGuardia International Airport.

Birds have always been a threat to aircraft and in the US, federal aviation laws require airports to have programs to prevent collisions between birds and planes. Airports use hawks, snarling dogs, fireworks, shotguns and water cannons to keep the birds away. They also keep the grass short to make it less attractive to birds, but there is only so much they can do once a plane is in the air.

Some examples of individual airports’ techniques to scare away birds include:

• Florida’s Fort Myers airport has a border collie that roams its site and the Orlando airport strains fish out of its storm water run-off pools to eliminate any food source for birds
• Washington’s Sea-Tac Airport has a pond filled with black floating balls to discourage birds
• The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey uses guns, pyrotechnics and hunting hawks to kill and chase away birds in the marshes and tidal flats around its two major airports in Queens

The deadliest bird collision event occurred in Boston in 1960, when a flock of starlings caused an Eastern Airlines plane to crash into Boston Harbour, killing 62 people. This event prompted the beginnings of America’s collision-avoidance programs and aviation engine upgrades to withstand bird strikes.

Effective ways to reduce corporate travel costs

2009-03-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Leading corporate travel management company, BCD Travel, offers the following ideas for effectively reducing corporate travel expenses:

• Insist on second approvals or senior-level approvals for all corporate travel
• Eliminate first/business class on domestic flights for all corporate travellers, including senior managers
• Allow business class corporate travel only on international trips with 10-hour or longer segments
• Mandate that all domestic or point-to-point business travel be booked online through a corporate travel online booking engine
• Require staff to plan meetings around travel, rather than travel around meetings
• Avoid high rate hotel stays by avoiding corporate travel when major events are occurring at your destination. Post a calendar of major events in top cities on your corporate travel online booking engine
• Limit corporate travel to trips involving face-to-face client meetings and sales-related trips
• Ban full-service or high-rate hotel properties to lower your accommodation spend

Australian businesses seek help with corporate travel

2009-03-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

In 2009, leading corporate travel management company (TMC), BCD Travel, is expecting to receive more enquiries from new business travel clients who are now realising the value in attaining professional business travel management for their companies.

The larger the company, the greater the benefit in professional corporate travel management services, especially for those companies with scores of offices nationwide and hundreds of employees.

The benefit of using a customised online booking system and being able to track which staff members are booking business travel is an invaluable first step in helping a company reduce its corporate travel outlay, according to BCD Travel Manager, Stephen Finlay.

Following this, there are a host of other long-term benefits that significantly outweigh the cost of outsourcing corporate travel management:
• Your company will have stronger controls on the business travel purchasing process
• Tailored technology tools such as BCD Travel’s business travel booking system means your company can customise its profile on the booking system and enforce restrictions
• Full reporting is available to managers so that staff bookings can be tracked
• Greater efficiency and ease when booking corporate travel and accommodation online
• BCD Travel is able to locate its corporate travel clients anywhere in the world at any time to provide immediate assistance in the event of a terrorist attack or similar crisis
• Spend tracking means business travel clients can negotiate better deals for themselves with their preferred suppliers, such as hotels, due to their documented corporate travel expenditure.

Corporate travel profile - Cherie Drummond, Operations manager

2009-03-03T15:22:00.000-08:00

Originally from South Africa, Cherie has worked in the corporate travel industry for 10 years and has held several senior positions with renowned international business travel network, BCD Travel.

While based in BCD Travel’s South Africa office, Cherie worked with other BCD business travel staff in other African countries as well as those in the UK and US, and has travelled extensively in her job.

“Being part of a global travel management company offers a lot of opportunities,” Cherie says.

“It allows you to experience the many ways in which a corporate travel management company has to deal with local issues, as each country has their own set of restrictions and parameters.”

Now an Australian resident, Cherie began work at BCD Travel’s Sydney office as the NSW Operations Manager in late 2008. Her role is to ensure that operational standards are maintained. BCD Travel has three Australian offices – Sydney Business Travel, Brisbane Business Travel and Melbourne Business Travel.

Cherie has a personal passion for travelling and has seen many corners of the globe, including the Americas, Europe and Asia. At one point, she spent a whole year travelling throughout Australia.

“I love travelling and exploring different cultures. There are many places I have fallen in love with – my favourite place to chill out is Mauritius, my favourite place for food is Italy. I love New York for the shopping and my favourite city in the world is Venice. I am also an avid F1 racing fan, so I’m on a mission to see as many F1 races around the globe as possible!”

Cherie’s personal travel experience combined with a Bachelor of Communications (Marketing) and completion of an Australian Specialist Program run by Tourism Australia makes her amply qualified to work in corporate travel.

A strong team player with a business travel customer service focus, Cherie has a bright and outgoing personality while being extremely committed to her corporate travel work. In addition to travelling, Cherie enjoys cooking, cycling and making beaded jewellery.

Effective ways to reduce corporate travel costs

2009-02-12T20:46:00.000-08:00

Leading corporate travel management company, BCD Travel, offers the following ideas for effectively reducing corporate travel expenses:

Reviewing corporate travel policies is key

2009-02-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

Among the many benefits of using a corporate travel management company such as BCD Travel is that clients can collect data on their corporate travel spend and create reports documenting their corporate travel patterns through BCD Travel’s online reporting solutions

For example, a corporate travel client might have a policy in place that all corporate travel by air should be booked with fully flexible ticketing so that when meetings and flights are cancelled, the tickets can be changed.

“If a corporate travel client is booking 100 flights a year and paying 20% more in order to have fully-flexible tickets, yet they’re only cancelling 2% of flights booked, then we would recommend they switch to cheaper non-refundable or reusable tickets and wear the much lower cost of the very few that are cancelled,” said BCD Travel National Sales Manager, Stephen Finlay.

Jettison your flying fears

2009-02-08T19:42:00.000-08:00

POWERED flight in heavier-than-air machines has been with us for more than a century now - but that still doesn't mean we trust them, regardless of our regular corporate travel trips overseas.

It's estimated that at least one-in-five airline passengers are really nervous flyers, scared enough to fall into the category that we label the "white knuckle brigade".

And a whole lot more have smaller, niggling concerns that things might go wrong.

For these people, every little change in noise means that some sort of mechanical failure has occurred.

As the plane speeds along the runway for take-off, those bumps from below and the "ke-plunk, ke-plunk, ke-plunk" convince nervous flyers a wheel is about to fall off, causing the plane crash.

Just as they've got over that and they're safely airborne, there's a sort of whine and a thud. What's gone wrong now?

Nothing. Both noises are perfectly normal, and that's why, as part of fear-of-flying courses, a fair bit of time is spent on explaining to nervous passengers what these noises are.

That bumping on take-off, for example, is most likely the wheels of the plane passing over the centre lights of runways and taxi-ways - exactly the same effect you get when your car strikes cats' eyes on the road. The second noise is the wheels being retracted and locked in place.

So, what about some of the other sounds people worry about while most of their fellow passengers simply relax?

Although there can be variations between makes and models of aircraft - one set of overhead lockers might shudder and vibrate more than another, or an engine whine might be more penetrating and higher pitched - here's an explanation of the most common causes of concern.

All that banging and clattering while the plane is still at the boarding gate is the loading of luggage, cargo and food containers, much of it stored in a compartment beneath the floor of the passenger cabins, running on conveyors belts and hitting against stops.

Then doors are closed electronically. That's another whine, maybe a thump or vibration if you are sitting above them.

For a moment everything becomes still and lights flicker, as if power has been cut. It has.

Until this point, an auxiliary power unit has been providing electricity and running the air-conditioning.

It's also used to start the engines so, momentarily, air might stop flowing while all available power is used for this operation. Lights might flicker and cabin bells jingle.

The high-pitched screaming that follows means hydraulic pumps are building up pressure, with whirring sounds and whines as pilots check the operation of various parts of the plane.

The look of the wings can be scary. First, they seem to bounce a little. That's OK - they have to be flexible, with a little give so that they don't snap off.But they come apart as well. "Slats" at the front come out and down; "flaps" at the back hang down. This is to permit the shape of the wing to be changed, increasing its curve to provide more lift for take off. You'll hear a long hum as this happens.

Once at cruising altitude, slats and flaps are retracted, but ailerons at the end of the wings can be moved up or down to help the plane turn.

Spoilers, towards the back edge of the wing, also go up and down, to help provide lift, or act as air brakes.

Roaring and shuddering on take-off is normal because of the sheer power needed, and exhaust from the engines whirls and strikes the fuselage and tail causing vibration.

Chimes are not just used to alert passengers about seatbelts, but also to send signals to the crew: to be seated for take-off or landing, or to perform certain duties prior to landing. The crew may also be using their internal telephone system.Even during flight, the pilot is making constant adjustments: to maintain course and altitude, changing for weather conditions or the aircraft becoming lighter as it consumes fuel, to fine-tune cabin pressure or temperature. Meanwhile, the cabin crew is rattling around in the galley and passengers are flushing toilets.

Where air traffic is congested, as it is as you come in to land, pilots must manoeuvre more, hence more noises, power being increased or reduced, banking to turn on to another course.

Why bank? It's the same as a motorcyclist leaning over to go round a corner.

Landing involves doing all these things all over again, with flaps and slats and spoilers and elevators and engine power, with a great thump as the landing gear locks in place.

Tyres squeal on tarmac, followed by a great roar from the engines, as "thrust reversers" deflect the jet engine exhaust forward to create another form of braking.

All that remains now is for the chime that says you can undo your seatbelt. Now you know this you can calm down, corporate travel doesn't have to be so edgy!

The Fearless Flier's Handbook, by Debbie Seaman, published by Ten Speed Press - article presented by corporate travel company BCD Express

Hertz First To Offer Online Check-In For All Customers Worldwide

2009-02-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

Corporate travel case study - Hertz car rentals

Hertz is the first car rental company to launch a worldwide Online Check-in service for all of its customers. The service will speed up time at the counter for customers because their rental forms are completed in advance online. With Online Check-in, all Hertz customers can submit their profile details on the company’s secure website at their own convenience before they travel. This provides a faster and simpler counter service as all their check-in information will be on file before they arrive.

At the counter, customers simply need to present their confirmation, hand in their credit card and driving licence, and sign the pre-filled forms. Once completed, customers are free to enjoy the rest of their travels.

Michel Taride, President, Hertz Europe, and Executive Vice President, Hertz Corporation says: “Hertz Online Check-in has been developed so that our customers can start their journey as quickly as possible. We want to make the car rental experience simple and enjoyable, and have responded to customer feedback by introducing online check-in that will save time at the counter and get them swiftly in to the driving seat. We have rolled the service out across the world, so it’s available to everyone, everywhere, anytime.

For corporate travel industry news and corporate travel forecasts visit the BCD website.

business travel christmas wishes (a little late)

2009-02-03T20:18:00.001-08:00

We know it's a little late to post this... but here's some deferred xmas wishes :)

I would personally like to thank David Sumich for managing not only our day to day travel arrangements but the extensive logistical elements during the festive season. Mrs Clause and I value our partnership with BCD Travel and BCD Travel continues to exceed our expectations.

You have proven to us that your company is extremely client focused, in touch with industry trends and in touch with our specific needs.

Since appointing BCD Travel, we have seen a considerable reduction in costs through the introduction of a cost saving initiatives driven by our dedicated Account Manager.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated consultants who tirelessly take care of our business travel requirements. They are always friendly, courteous and professional to deal with. As a thank you for their hard work, I will ensure they receive pleasant gifts this coming Christmas.

FYI - I would not hesitate in recommending BCD Travel to any other company who may be looking to appoint a business travel Management Company.

Thank you once again for your hard work and dedication. Mrs Clause and I look forward to continuing our partnership with BCD Corporate Travel into the future.

2009 Business Travel Industry Forecast

2009-01-22T16:56:00.000-08:00

BCD Business Travel white papers provide valuable perspective on the issues and challenges in and around the corporate travel industry.

Our forecast draws on our extensive global knowledge of the corporate travel industry and world markets and offers our look ahead to next year to ensure you have the information to thrive in a constantly changing business travel environment.

2009 Industry Forecast Update

As foreseen late last year, Advito has updated its Industry Forecast for 2009 based on economic and industry developments during Q4 2008. This update is prompted by ongoing macroeconomic and industry volatility, and is designed to assist business travel executives in navigating complex corporate travel program management scenarios.

The revisions are grounded in the analysis of BCD Travel’s global client transaction data, macroeconomic indicators and direct feedback from the sourcing engagements for air, hotel and car program negotiations that Advito conducts on behalf of its clients.

The update is found at the end of the original 2009 Industry Forecast available in the free download below.

For more corporate travel / business travel industry forecasts visit the BCD travel website.

BCD Travel And Business Travel Online Booking Tools In Asia Pacific

2009-01-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

BCD Travel has identified a wide variation in the degree of success achieved by corporations in Asia Pacific as they adopt online booking programs. Companies typically decide to introduce online booking tools in order to better manage business travel costs and improve productivity for staff, while strengthening travel policy compliance and effectiveness, notes BCD Travel. Yet unclear corporate program objectives and inadequate assessment of internal and external barriers can impede the usage of these technology tools and at times lead to disappointing adoption results and higher costs to the corporate customer.

BCD Travel has developed a set of guidelines which its corporate travel customers use as they prepare to launch an online booking program or to enhance an already existing online program. Roger Pfund, general manager and vice president, Asia Pacific Operations, says, "Objectives for moving a travel program online vary by customer. We know that not every customer program is the same, from the initial launch objectives to program maturity. Not surprisingly, the 'one-size-fits-all' approach just doesn't work when it comes to implementing an online booking platform and driving adoption."

"Consequently, we have developed an approach that draws on our experience in Asia Pacific and from lessons learned from our extensive online experience in other regions where BCD Travel operates, to help a customer better understand, plan and execute a successful online program. An online program must harmonise with a corporation's overall travel program objectives, and be supported by a detailed framework that improves the success of adoption and meets efficiency goals," says Pfund.

BCD Travel has identified a number of key tactics that a corporation should undertake as it considers an online booking program:

1. Apply a readiness assessment to evaluate whether the company's travel program maturity and corporate culture are conducive to an online booking environment.

2. Consider the overall travel program objectives and determine how moving online meets these objectives.

3. Ensure the company has a formal change management process in place to facilitate the online adoption growth rate

4. Determine whether travel suppliers in the markets to be included distribute content which is easily accessible on the online booking tool

5. Consider the limitations of various online booking tools and identify the one that best suits the company's business practices

6.Decide whether the online adoption strategy is realistic and will meet the business travel program objectives

According to Pfund, "Moving to a successful program requires the support and investment from many key stakeholders and we assist our clients in more realistically identifying and setting their expectations. Going online is not an end in itself, but rather a means to lower program costs, increase compliance to travel policy, better utilize preferred vendors and sustain higher levels of user satisfaction and productivity."

BCD Travel simplifies and streamlines the business travel process, helping companies manage and control the movement of their people, information and resources. The company focuses on implementing an integrated, seamless technology platform throughout all global locations to provide full access to and analysis of travel data for its clients. Clients can take advantage of BCD Travel's presence and technology infrastructure to track every trip, every traveler, and the costs incurred throughout every journey.

Australian business' seek help with business travel

2009-01-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

In 2009, leading travel management company (TMC), BCD Travel, is expecting to receive more enquiries from new business travel clients who are now realising the value in attaining professional business travel management for their companies.

The larger the company, the greater the benefit in professional business travel management services, especially for those companies with scores of offices nationwide and hundreds of employees.

The benefit of using a customised online booking system and being able to track which staff members are booking business travel is an invaluable first step in helping a company reduce its business travel outlay, according to BCD Travel Manager, Stephen Finlay.

Cutting corporate travel costs

2009-01-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

In today’s economy, demand management in relation to corporate travel is a hot topic. Leading travel management company (TMC), BCD Travel, offers the following tips for companies looking to reduce their corporate travel costs in 2009.

1. Assess your spending - monitor reports provided by your corporate travel agency showing your business travel expenditure, along with the names of staffers who are booking trips
2. Reduce the number of corporate travel trips your staff take by investing in technological solutions, where possible, such as online booking tools
3. Adjust the rules regarding flight seating and restrict business and first class seating to long haul flights
4. Choose domestic locations instead of international locations for meetings incentives conferences exhibitions (MICE)
5. Shop around or re-negotiate any preferred supplier deals you have in place with airline carriers and hotel chains
6. If you don’t have a business travel agency, it might be time to get one! A professional travel management company (TMC) can help you build and enforce a business travel policy that fits you budget and business goals. If you would like to enquire about BCD Travel’s corporate travel management services, please contact BCD Travel.

BCD Travel Customer Service Manager, Chris Manias

2008-12-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

With 37 years’ experience in the corporate travel industry, BCD Travel’s Customer Service Manager, Chris Manias, is somewhat of an expert.

Based in the business travel company’s Sydney office, Chris manages hundreds of corporate travel bookings for several large companies while also supervising her multi-skilled team and coordinating internal staff procedures in BCD Travel’s three offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Her love of geography and languages gave Chris the travel bug early in life. She loves flying and has visited some wonderful global locations over the years. Among her favourites are Israel, Macchu Picchu, New York, Niagara Falls and the Rocky Mountains.

Apart from a brief stint as a Personal Assistant, Chris’ entire career has been in travel. She spent 22 years with the Bank of New South Wales/Westpac Travel (which later merged with American Express), two years with Ansett Airlines prior to its collapse in 2001 and has now spent five years with BCD Travel, the world’s third largest corporate travel agency.

Chris loves working in a fast-paced environment and enjoys negotiating change and navigating the daily challenges of corporate travel management. When she began her career, there were no computers and flights needed several re-fuelling stops to reach their destinations. She jokingly refers to a long-term ambition of “selling a ticket to outer space”.

Chris is well-respected by her team for her advanced business skills, travel industry knowledge, patience and dedication to mentoring staff and increasing efficiency. She thrives on the diverse challenges associated with corporate travel management and considers the people she works with at BCD Travel as the most enjoyable part of her job.

Chris’ professionalism and talent has been recognised several times during her career with formal accolades such as the American Express Pacesetter Award for top achievers.

In early 2008, she was given the responsibility of organising a trip to Australia for BCD Travel founder, John Fentener van Vlissengen, and his wife. Chris escorted the couple on their first tour of Australia and coordinated all of their travel and accommodation.

In her spare time, Chris jumps on a plane as often as possible, but when she is home she enjoys various small hobbies such as cross-stitching, embroidery and fishing.

Keeping Safe with Corporate Travel

2008-12-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, are a sobering reminder of the importance of personal security measures when undertaking business travel abroad, according to leading travel management company (TMC), BCD Travel.

BCD Travel, the world’s third largest business travel company in 1500 locations across 90 countries, recommends that all corporate travellers and leisure travellers register their personal details and itineraries with the Federal Government’s online registration service at smarttraveller.gov.au. The government recently relied on this registration service to track down the scores of Australians staying in Mumbai during the terrorist attacks.

BCD Travel has a ‘traveller tracking’ facility within its corporate travel management program that allows it to immediately identify corporate travel clients in locations where security threats have occurred. In these circumstances, BCD Travel will also contact clients that have booked impending trips to such places to offer information, advice and assistance.

BCD Travel highly recommends travel insurance to its corporate travel clients and suggests that all travellers check the latest travel advisories issued by the Federal Government at smarttraveller.gov.au.

Corporate Travel Tightening In 2008

2008-12-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

The last three quarters have presented significant challenges in the business world and corporate travel is among the many facets of business that companies are reviewing to cut costs.

The best way to reduce corporate travel costs is to engage a professional business travel company such as BCD Travel, which is the world’s third largest corporate travel management company, to assist with your business’s corporate travel strategy.

During the second, third and fourth quarters of 2008, BCD Travel worked with many of its business travel clients to assist them in tightening their internal corporate travel policies.

Among the measures taken have been enforcing a same day travel rule when possible, disallowing first or business class seating for short trips and taking the best fare of the day, which often means travelling at relatively inconvenient times.

Over the past year, many of BCD Travel’s Australian corporate travel clients have also chosen domestic locations over international destinations for meetings incentives conferences exhibitions (MICE).

BCD Travel has a dedicated meetings and incentives division offering complete coordination of travel and accommodation as well as event management for conferences, meetings and sales rallies.

Coastal locations along the Eastern Seaboard have been very popular with corporate travel clients in 2008, along with inland locations such as the Hunter Valley in NSW.

BCD Travel Customer Service Manager Chris Manias

2008-12-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

With 37 years’ experience in the corporate travel industry, BCD Travel’s Customer Service Manager, Chris Manias, is somewhat of an expert.

Chris’ professionalism and talent has been recognised several times during her career with formal accolades such as the American Express Pacesetter Award for top achievers.

In her spare time, Chris jumps on a plane as often as possible, but when she is home she enjoys various small hobbies such as cross-stitching, embroidery and fishing.

Santa's Coporate Travel Management Program

2008-12-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

You have proven to us that your company is extremely client focused, in touch with industry trends and in touch with our specific needs.

Since appointing BCD Travel, we have seen a considerable reduction in costs through the introduction of a cost saving initiatives driven by our dedicated Account Manager.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated consultants who tirelessly take care of our travel requirements. They are always friendly, courteous and professional to deal with. As a thank you for their hard work, I will ensure they receive pleasant gifts this coming Christmas.

FYI - I would not hesitate in recommending BCD Travel to any other company who may be looking to appoint a Travel Management Company.

Thank you once again for your hard work and dedication. Mrs Clause and I look forward to continuing our partnership with BCD Travel into the future.

Testimonial from Santa’s Corporate Travel Management Program

BCD Reports: Companies travel further afield for conferences and incentives

2008-12-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

More Australian businesses are travelling further afield for their conferences and incentives due to the more favourable currency conditions over the past 12 months, according to Corporate Travel Management Company, BCD Australia.

BCD Australia’s Sydney office reports a significant increase in overseas bookings for major company events over the past financial year...

New Zealand and the broader Asia Pacific region has long been the most popular region for overseas conferences and incentives held by Australian companies, but this year more Australian companies have been choosing destinations in Europe, the US, China and India.

Among the locations selected by BCD Sydney’s corporate travel management clients in FY07-08 are Monaco, Istanbul, Hawaii, Cancun, Mauritius and various cities throughout China and India.

As the world’s two most important emerging economies, China and India have extra appeal, with many Australian companies recently establishing new business ties there. Both countries are undergoing significant leisure and corporate travel booms as more foreigners, including Australians, choose to visit on personal holidays or business excursions. New hotels and resorts are popping up all over both countries, with Hilton Hotels Corp recently announcing that 75 new hotels will be built in India over the next five years, along with 18 in China.

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In flight email and SMS for Qantas

2008-12-04T16:23:00.000-08:00

Domestic travellers flying Qantas will soon be able to send SMS messages and emails while in the air, but voice calls are off limits for now.

Qantas has committed to implementing the technology following a trial on one of its domestic 767 planes, which ran from April last year to January this year.

Vanessa Hudson, general manager of Qantas products and services, said the first of its 767 and A330 domestic fleets would be equipped with mobile phone connectivity in November or December this year.

“Our goal is to introduce it progressively and we’re currently working through those details at the moment but our goal would be by the end of 2009 to have 50 per cent of our wide-bodied fleets with the technology enabled,” Hudson said.

Although the technology also supports in-flight voice calls, Qantas has decided to disable it, saying feedback from customers during the trial showed that people only wanted SMS and email connectivity.

Hudson said Qantas was “evaluating” whether to offer the SMS and email feature on international flights.

“Particularly with the domestic market and the distances that the domestic travelling market fly, the in-flight experience is a really significant part of their working day,” she said.

“A lot of people fly up and back to Melbourne within a day and they want to be connected during the flight.”

Hudson said Qantas would not be charging people to use their mobile in the air but any communication done while flying was considered international by mobile carriers, so prices for each message would vary.

A global roaming account and a GSM phone is required to send SMS messages, while emailing requires a GRPS-enabled device such as a BlackBerry or a laptop with built-in wireless broadband.

Qantas is one of the first carriers in the world to commit to rolling out in-flight mobile phone services outside of small trials.

However, Emirates this week went one step further than Qantas by allowing customers to make voice calls.

Emirates has already installed the technology in one of its Airbus A340 planes and the first in-flight call was made during a flight between Dubai and Casablanca.

BBC News reported that Emirates planned to expand the system to more aircraft later this year.

The technology, built by the same company that supplied Qantas, AeroMobile, can be configured to switch off voice calls at certain times such as on night flights or when the plane is not at cruising altitude.

BCD Business Travel

Technology Trends: Security and Risk Management

2008-12-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Airline disruptions, rail strikes, airport closures. Bird flu and the London Tube bombings.

Ongoing significant travel events have triggered the ever increasing need for rigorous destination and security intelligence. From pandemics and fires to impending natural disasters and union strikes, automation and centralized information build business resilience while reducing risks to travel plans.

Today, companies recognize the need to prepare and protect employees, evaluate risks and respond to events around the world.

Mitigating risk is an essential responsibility of companies charged with providing a duty of care. And that responsibility is increasingly cutting across organizational boundaries, says Leslie West, senior vice president of Client Data Solutions (CDS) for BCD Travel:

“Customers are increasingly asking groups like travel management, human resources and health and security departments within their companies to work together to protect their employees. In this cross-functional environment, it is vital to have a solution that couples the categorization of travel disruptions, risk exposure and crisis situations with relevant information and business processes to safeguard travelers, before and during their trip. As a result, we have seen a 55 percent increase in customers adopting DecisionSourceTM: Security Manager in 2007 over its previous year – evidence of the trend, need, and value BCD Travel offers customers.”

Companies should be able to answer tough questions such as:

What is the political, cultural and economic climate in countries around the world?
Where are my travelers right now?
Has an event occurred that puts my travelers at risk?
How can I reach travelers in time of need?

Pull and push information to travelers

Accurate and timely information is the cornerstone of effective risk mitigation. Having the right information at the right time – and on the appropriate device – benefits travelers and the travel program prior to booking, at booking, and while en-route.

Relevant information takes a wide variety of forms, ranging from security and risk briefings on countries and major cities worldwide to weather alerts, cultural etiquette and consular requirements.

An abundance of data requires a blend of automation and process to prevent information overload, says West. As part of its DecisionSource: Security Manager risk mitigation solution, BCD Travel provides travelers and travel managers with destination information and security intelligence from over 400 different sources, based on specific filters set at the company and employee level. Subscribers may filter delivery of security and travel news alerts by destination, urgency level and category; such as health, weather and transportation type.

The categories currently in use by DecisionSource: Security Manager customers include:

Any major airline or airport disruption
Travel warnings from official Government sources
Any weather condition that has a significant effect on major transportation systems
Any event that causes widespread cancellations, delays of more than two hours or a total shutdown of a major airline, airport or railway
Flights canceled for other reasons
Any violent attack that causes damage or injuries at a major hotel
Direct impact on travel from an outbreak of disease

Although destination and risk information is available through DecisionSource: Security Manager, realistically, travelers with access to valuable information may not always seek it out. For that reason, clients can enable the solution to proactively send relevant e-mails, based on event severity categories they’ve set as well as PNRs booked, to potentially impacted travelers.

Monitor, protect and respond with traveler tracking

Today, says West, over 185 BCD Travel customers are using DecisionSource: Security Manager to collect data from over 50 countries to track and monitor travelers and provide risk intelligence for their travel programs.

Coupled with specific traveler reservations, detailed situational views are updated every 60 minutes, giving companies the ability to locate travelers across the globe, while incorporating en route changes, same plane travel and flight tracking, and hotel bookings

With this overview, West says, action is a click away: “It’s crucial to have both a pictorial global view and traveler-level detail. In the event the company has the need to deploy an incident response team, they can easily share the details by printing, exporting, or e-mailing the details to the appropriate individuals within the company.

Understand and act with relevant, viable data

Different companies and travel programs have different needs when it comes to pulling data from risk mitigation technology. At BCD Travel, DecisionSource: Security Manager incorporates a full library of reports. Among the most commonly used:

Hot Spot: Quick snapshot around the globe of U.S. Department of State or Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s cities and locations of risk, combined with travelers in those locations
Flight Arrival / Departure Grid: Quickly identify numbers of travelers arriving or departing certain cities by date or date range
Flight Arrival / Departure Detail: Getting more specific to identify the travelers and airports
Flight, Hotel or City Incident Reports: Across flights, hotels, or a city itself, companies can quickly find travelers
Same Plane Travelers: Due to possible insurance or overall risk mitigation policies, companies can report on employees traveling on the same plane. Reporting on dimensions like number of travelers, business unit, flight number or carrier, companies can provide the appropriate level of care for their employees

In addition to analyzing travel plans prior to travel for risk management, there are many opportunities to further support travel programs and reveal both cost and safety when looking at pre-travel reservation data. Tracking policy compliance issues, shifting market share to preferred vendors, identifying meeting opportunities or even preventing unnecessary trips – all aid in aligning spend before it occurs.

BCD Corporate Travel

Travel advisories part of corporate travel management

2008-12-02T17:24:00.000-08:00

Travel management company, BCD Travel, keeps its corporate travel clients abreast of major security alerts and advisories as they are issued by the Federal Government, providing advice and assistance to business travel clients intending to visit countries for business or leisure where alerts have been issued.

Alerts can be issued for a number of reasons, including security and health. The most recent advisories related to security involve the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Spain, Thailand and Somalia. Health advisories have been issued for countries such as Vanuatu, where a series of dengue fever outbreaks have been recently recorded.

Part of corporate travel management is keeping corporate travel clients updated on major new alerts. The five levels of travel advisories are: ‘be alert to your own security’; ‘exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety’; ‘exercise a high degree of caution’; ‘reconsider your need to travel’ and ‘advised not to travel’.

Compliance a major issue in corporate travel management

2008-11-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

Travel management company, BCD Travel, has released its 2008 Travel Program Survey, revealing a 23 per cent increase in companies whose corporate travel policy enforcement is either “strict” or “moderate to strict”, compared to 2007.

The corporate travel management report showed that 59 per cent of respondents were proactively seeking to increase corporate travel compliance in their organizations compared to 36 per cent in 2007.

During tough economic times, corporate travel clients are appreciating even more the quality and value of advice provided by travel management companies such as BCD Travel.

Among the measures being taken is increased usage of online booking tools to reduce corporate travel processing costs and setting tighter parameters regarding preferred suppliers. Companies can customize their individual policies using BCD Travel’s online booking system. With the click of a button, BCD Travel’s business travel management clients can change their company rules any time they like.

BCD Corporate Travel Event Management

2008-11-25T16:08:00.000-08:00

Whether you want to control annual meeting spend – leverage your meetings volume to gain efficiencies – increase sales or market share through incentives – recognize your employees – or improve your employee and customer communications, BCD Corporate Travel Event Management can help. The event management team in BCD corporate travel Australia combines the experience and expertise of our staff to achieve an unparalleled depth of service and talent across the meetings and incentives industry. This in turn makes us well positioned to meet the demands of a growing global business environment.

The event management team in BCD corporate travel has a wealth of experience in understanding and meeting the needs of a variety of corporate clients. Our people are key in our success. In all their dealings they are uncompromising in their focus on our clients – we seek to establish a mutual commercial relationship that meets your travel, conference, meetings and incentive needs. We back up the strengths of our people with technology that allows us to work faster and smarter.

Stay tuned for more Business Travel updates from BCD Express.

BCD Corporate Travel Recommends Hanoi

2008-11-19T20:52:00.000-08:00

Vietnam’s thousand-year-old capital is one of the most beguiling cities in Southeast Asia – a stylish, European-influenced metropolis with manicured lakeside promenades, tree-lined boulevards, ancient pagodas and French-colonial buildings painted in a peeling palette of jade, turquoise and burgundy.

Following years of rampant inflation, poverty and repression, the government introduced economic reform (doi moi) in 1986, allowing people to own their own businesses. Nearly sixty percent of the population in Vietnam was born after the war ended in 1975, and Hanoi feels like a city of teenagers.

More information at BCD Corporate Travel.

Confidence with corporate travel

2008-11-19T20:49:00.000-08:00

Corporate travel management agency, BCD Travel, is acutely aware of how the global financial crisis is impacting its corporate travel clients and is ideally placed to provide guidance and support with corporate travel programs, internal policies and compliance measures to assist clients in reducing costs.

With 30 years’ experience locally, this travel management company has seen rough economic times before and has greatly assisted their corporate travel clients in the past with these circumstances.

About BCD Corporate Travel

2008-11-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

BCD Corporate Travel is your all inclusive corporate travel agency offering competitive ongoing corporate travel management solutions to companies across Australia. We do more than simply organise your corporate travel, we also coordinate conferences and incentives and assist staff with personal holiday planning to any destination worldwide.

Part of the BCD Global Network, BCD Corporate Travel Australia has access to a huge network of domestic and international suppliers, enabling us to source the best fares and rates available and negotiate exclusive deals for our corporate travel clients. Our state-of-the-art online travel booking tools make it all so easy.

A unique balance of local focus with global opportunity is how we meet this challenge.

Our unified BCD Travel global network, leveraged by one of the most experienced travel teams in Australia, provides each client with an accurate view of where and how their resources are being spent. With integrated global technology and financial management systems, we are able to meet each client’s particular needs with expert understanding.

Reducing costs of corporate travel

2008-11-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

Corporate travel clients across Australia are increasing concerned with reducing corporate travel costs in light of the global financial crisis and anticipated slow down in the Australian economy, according to corporate travel management company, BCD Travel.

In its 2008 Travel Program Survey, 97 per cent of respondents cited reducing corporate travel costs as a major priority for the coming 12 months.

In line with this, BCD Corporate Travel, which has offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, has noted a significant decline in bookings for overseas corporate travel over the past few months, as local companies become more frugal and the Australian dollar continues its decline against the greenback.

Corporate travel management clients are also tightening their policies on the frequency and type of corporate travel allowed in their organizations, with options such as business class now strictly reserved for longer haul corporate travel flights.

BCD Travel offers significant flexibility and customization with its online corporate travel management programs, allowing clients to change their corporate travel rules with the click of a button. Comprehensive reporting functions also enable managers to quickly identify their organisation’s corporate travel habits and take measures to change them through compliance and communication.

Building The Perfect M.I.C.E Trap

2008-11-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

Improved expertise and technology are enabling organizations to capture and deal with their meetings expenditure more effectively than ever before.

An estimated $325 billion is spent annually on corporate meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE), of which the US and Europe account for roughly $120 billion each.

MICE usually represents 25-40 percent of a company’s total travel spend and yet, says BCD Meetings & Incentives president Scott Graf, nearly 70 percent of global companies cannot or do not accurately identify their meetings spend, mainly because they fail to track as many as four out of five events that they organize.

Both the size of the meetings market and the difficulty of measuring and managing it explain why Graf describes MICE as the last frontier of travel management. Graf believes that is changing fast, if only because of a growing appreciation of how important an area of spend this is. According to Graf, meetings are more important then ever based on the rapid evolution of telecommuting and more of a global world. It is critically important for leaders and managers to get together to personally interact with employees, customers and supply partners.

Fortunately, buyers are understanding not only how much of a problem MICE spend is but also that there are solutions available to them. One part of the solution is to apply the same strategic management processes that they have already used successfully for managing transient travel spend. This includes using professionals such as BCD Meetings & Incentives which have grown a significant base of expertise in MICE to match their knowledge in corporate travel. Clients are telling us: "I’ve seen you control our transient travel; please repeat the same for our meetings spend", says Graf. BCD Travel’s meetings subsidiary, BCD Meetings & Incentives, now has 350 employees and operates in nearly 30 countries.

The other resource available to MICE managers is technology. Tools have appeared on the market that help buyers and meeting planners to organize every step of an event and monitor overall expenditure. One such provider is StarCite, BCD Meetings & Incentives strategic technology partner.

When organizing a meeting, an online tool can help with the following tasks:

Plan plot scope of meeting and gain approval

Budget build budget and manage expenditure

Buy build, conduct and review RFPs

Attend create registration site to market the event and manage bookings for the event itself as well as travel, accommodation and entertainment

Measure includes expenditure reports, benchmarks and return on investment calculator

Using technology of this kind can help push companies towards significant savings, says Graf. In the case of businesses which have never previously attempted to manage their MICE spend, this could easily amount to a cost reduction in the order of 18 percent. It often proves to be the case that unmanaged companies have not previously even negotiated attractive group rates and consistent terms and conditions with hotels. Graf describes tackling accommodation as well as food and beverage as easy pickings but also substantial ones because they often represent more than three-quarters of the cost of an event, if air fares are not included.

With savings as substantial as these possible, many more companies can be expected to join the trend for capturing the MICE in their organizations.

Find out more about this story as well as other corporate travel management solutions at our website.