TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

A partnership signed during the summer between VoyagExpert and Concur means that the business travel specialist can now offer a new technology on the French market: the online exchange of business flight tickets after they have been issued.

Driven by younger business travellers, travel management is now turning to new methods derived from video games and social networks. The aim is to promote best practice, optimise experience sharing and create a virtuous circle. A promising trend, as long as you play the game and master the rules.

New sources of growth in emerging countries are prompting companies to send increasing numbers of employees to sensitive regions. To meet their obligation to provide information and assistance, risk managers are refining their tools and partner networks.

Jordy Staelen, co-founder and director of 3mundi, talks to Voyages d'Affaires about the new trends in the world of travel management. He gives his vision of the evolution of the business travel agency and of the profession of Travel Manager, with a view to refocusing on the travelling employee and his or her needs. Interview. 

American Express has just officially launched its AX Connect solution on the French market, a new assistance tool enabling companies to locate, communicate with and provide assistance to their business travellers throughout their business trip. Interview with Nicolas Buc Vice-President, New Product Development, American Express Business Travel.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) and Travelport have just signed a "strengthened multi-year global agreement", giving the business travel agency access to Travelport content, which in turn enables it to target new markets.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) is adding a new asset for its business customers by integrating a virtual payment solution based on Conferma technology.

At Univ'AriPlus 2014 on Thursday, the AFTM presented its sixth white paper, on the theme of "Structuring Travel Management within SMEs and SMIs". This is a crucial issue for the French business travel market, and is tackled through three fundamental objectives: promoting travel efficiency, controlling expenditure and professionalising internal players.

Edenred is making a remarkable entry into the world of business travel with the launch of Ticket Travel Pro. The new solution, unveiled on Thursday 4 September, aims to streamline business travel expenditure for small and medium-sized companies by offering them an "all-in-one" solution incorporating a payment card, a booking platform and an online expense claim management tool. All this while capitalising on Ticket Restaurant's solid image in the corporate world, and relying on dynamic players in the business travel sector, notably HCorpo, Capitaine Train and Go Voyages. Yan Mortreux, Managing Director of Business Expense Management at Edenred France, outlines this new business travel solution.

What really happens at the other end of the line during a conference call? Intercall, the provider of conferencing and communications solutions for the enterprise, has attempted to draw up an overview of practices. The next time you have a remote meeting, you won't be listening to the other person in the same way...

Diversity of profiles, relations with business travellers, career development, integration of new technologies and Travel Management 3.0: 3Mundi is devoting a White Paper to the profession of Travel Manager to provide a clearer picture of changes in the profession, its expectations and short-term opportunities.

On 29 July, Egencia and Hyatt formalised the signing of a multi-year agreement to integrate the American hotelier's properties into the Egencia Preferred Rate (EPR) programme of the business travel agency, starting in August.

The dematerialisation of corporate payments is making tangible progress. Following in the footsteps of the corporate card, which has long been adopted by companies, the virtual card is continuing to gain ground, particularly in support of efforts to rationalise hotel expenditure. But the plastic card has not been forgotten.

Egencia Expands International Footprint. The Egencia Global Alliance (EGA) network recently signed five new partnerships in the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. In addition, the corporate travel agency's online services can now be accessed from the Czech Republic.

According to FlightStats, Iberia topped the list of the world's most punctual airlines in June.

BCD Travel has entered a new phase in its development in France with the inauguration of a business centre in Lille, which already employs around twenty agents in the heart of Euralille.

Six months after his launch on the north american marketBCD Travel's TripSource application is now available in France for business travellers. We are currently waiting for the Enterprise version of the tool, aimed at travel managers.

On 17 June, Egencia celebrated the inauguration of its new European headquarters in the Tour Egée at La Défense. The group's new European HQ now employs 400 people, and houses its Research and Development (R&D) centre. This is a new nerve centre for the business travel specialist, which intends to use it as a working tool to pursue its development in France and internationally.

American Express is adding a new asset to its technology portfolio: on 21 May, the business travel agency formalised an agreement with Sabre, enabling it to offer its TripCase business travel management tool.

International SOS will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary next year, against a backdrop of growing demand for health and safety assistance solutions dedicated to business travellers. As part of their duty to protect, companies of all sizes are now turning to the technological solutions and human expertise of assistance providers such as International SOS. Dr Arnaud Derossi, Regional Medical Director, Assistance and Aviation for the CEMA zone, looks at the challenges and changes in the profession, linked to new forms of business travel and ever more advanced technological solutions. Interview.