Today's travel manager needs to know how to do everything
How do you see the profession of travel manager evolving?
Sabah Kahoul - During my time as a travel manager at Microsoft, I have seen the profession reorganise, become more professional, broaden its scope and become more flexible. geographic scopeto categories such as meeting & eventsthe vehicle fleetmobility in general. A travel manager is also a buyerThat's my perception of the job. But today's travel manager has to know how to do everything: be an excellent communicatorknow how to use social networksbe up to date on new tools and new offerings, while also having a good grasp of aspects relating to the securityto legal impacts... It's a true conductor who must have all these skills.
How is the relationship with travellers evolving?
Sabah Kahoul - It depends very much on the travel manager's position within the company. There has been a closer links with HR in recent years. We're talking more about travellers' well-being and bleisure. Today, the travel manager is recognised within the company as the person who facilitates and optimises the relationship between the traveller, the person making the reservation and the travel agency. It is by placing the traveller at the heart of the programme that we get the best results. He feels involved from the outset and this generates savingsbecause travel policy is then applied without great constraint.
What is the role of the travel manager in the face of new trends such as "direct connect"?
Sabah Kahoul - The "direct connect is a real challenge, a trend that is overturning everything travel managers have spent years building: standardising processes, communication, cost awareness. Now, travellers are approached directly to buy wifi, meals, all the services that the travel manager was previously responsible for negotiating. From now on, the travel manager must act as a filter in terms of security and cost control, and keep control of this data.
Special report - The travel management profession: no room for improvisation
The travel manager profession: no room for improvisation
- Interview with Sabah Kahoul, Managing Director of Business Travel Purchase
