What is the added value of the BTravel solution?
Jean-Claude Tacnet - BTravel has the advantage of operating across the entire business travel chain, in the most automated way possible. We offer both access to negotiated fares and our own complementary agreements. Bookings can be made online, via our own website, or through an SBT. We also offer an offline solution. As far as payment is concerned, our solution allows you to pay using either a staff card or a virtual card. Both systems are compatible. All this with content from over 200,000 hotels worldwide, complemented by our catering and meeting room facilities.
Are you thinking of new fields of action, such as videoconferencing?
J.-C. T. - Yes, it's a possibility, and one that we're looking into. We already have a partnership with La Fourchette, but we'll need to innovate further in terms of payment systems. The market is very receptive to our solution because it's so comprehensive.
Which customers are you targeting?
J.-C. T. - We want to strike a balance, with 50% customers directly, mainly large accounts, and 50% indirectly via agencies to target a customer base of SMEs and SMIs. The market is very large, and there is room for a new player, provided we can offer a high-performance solution based on a good business model. I think the time was right to take the plunge, as long as we offered a high-performance solution.
Are you already thinking about expanding internationally, in particular by opening offices abroad?
J.-C. T. - We are not yet at the stage of opening international offices. Instead, we are looking at agreements with local consolidators. But we have already succeeded in attracting some major groups. The next step is to deploy our solution in their international subsidiaries.
How do you see the business travel market developing in the short term?
J.-C. T. - The downturn in 2008-2009 led to a drastic fall in the number of business trips. Business travel then gradually picked up again, but there is a strong correlation between business travel and economic growth. Given the outlook for growth, we can expect fairly low levels, with an increased search for savings. I think the market will stagnate, or even decline to -5% in terms of value. The number of trips should remain stable.
