Integrating corporate meetings and events into travel policy is one of the main challenges facing the sector in 2012. While American Express and Carlson Wagonlit Travel have for several months been setting out their ambitions in this increasingly buoyant market - through partnerships with specialist agencies in the case of the former, and the development of a dedicated branch in the case of the latter - BCD Travel is going on the offensive. On 4 October, TMC announced that it was "stepping up its investment in the market for group travel and meetings abroad", and that it "intends to play a growing role in the future, helping companies to make additional savings when organising their meetings and seminars". The business travel agency remains vague as to the budget that will be committed, merely announcing that it will be "investing more", but is counting on the appointment of Peter Bregman as head of the group travel, meetings, seminars and incentives segment for Benelux and France. TMC's new MICE boss says: "We already provide many companies with solutions for organising their group travel and meetings. This activity is now integrated into business travel and is a logical step in the development of close cooperation with our customers. Our aim is to help them achieve better results, both in terms of successful operations and cost savings. I am looking forward to working on the development of this promising branch of BCD Travel, particularly in the French market, where Valérie Sasset, Managing Director of BCD Travel France, and I will be working closely together.
