The Business Travel Mag July-August 2022

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July/August 2022

THE TECH HOTLIST

10 technology innovators firing up the industry

PLUS: PEOPLE AWARDS FINALISTS, TALENT CRISIS, AND MUCH MORE...

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JOIN THE PARTY Celebrate with the best talent in the business travel industry at the 2022 People Awards at the Leonardo Royal London City hotel, 6.30pm till late, Tuesday September 13 2022

Tickets now on sale at TheBusinessTravelPeopleAwards.com

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UP FRONT

Contents

JULY-AUGUST 2022

32

9

42

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Tech Hotlist

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In our annual celebration of the industry's top techies, we showcase 10 innovators that are shaping the future of business travel

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32 Payments and expenses: Why it's more vital than ever for companies to embrace new technology designed to smooth the T&E process 38 Rail sustainability: Report from the inaugural Business Travel Lunch Forum

Up Front 6

Opening Shots: The most exciting openings in the world of travel – in pictures

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Everyone's Talking About: the flight disruption

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Speaking Out: Alice LinleyMunro, Travel Manager at Oil Spill Response, thinks it's time corporate travel emerged from the shadow of its more 'glamorous' sister

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10 People Awards: Find out who's made the 2022 shortlist and what's in store at the awards ceremony on September 13 28 Talent shortage: We ask the experts what the travel industry must do to make sure it can attract and retain the best talent

Check out the 2022

(p12-18)

Features

News 20 A round-up of the latest business travel news, views, appointments and events

Departures 40 Reality Check: We check in to an aparthotel fit for a motown legend, a fun budget hotel in Shoreditch, and a conference hotel with a facelift – and fly business class to Singapore

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40

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42 On Business In: Where to eat, sleep, and enjoy the delights of Manchester

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UP FRONT

Welcome Love in the room

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bviously I can't give too much away (sorry, you'll have to wait until September 13th) but I just got back from the judging day for the 2022 Business Travel People Awards and it cheered me up no end.

The room was filled with so much genuine enthusiasm and love for our industry, not just coming from the awards submissions but also radiating from the judges themselves. No disrespect, but some of our judges have been in the travel sector for a long time (me included!) and it would be perfectly understandable if they had started to feel a bit jaded, especially after the last few years. But in our judging room there was nothing but a sense of excitement and positivity about our profession and the opportunities that lie ahead, despite the challenges we still face.

As it says in our feature on the talent shortage on page 28, once travel is in your blood it's hard to imagine working in any other sector. In our efforts to attract new talent, those of us who share that passion for travel must become advocates for it. Being at the judging day, particularly interviewing the candidates for our Rising Star category, reinforced my belief that corporate travel management has a bright future. We just need to spread the word.

Which brings me neatly to our Tech Hotlist on page 12, showcasing the innovators shaping the digital future of business travel. Congratulations to all those who made the cut this year, a few of them back for a second time. Each entry submitted a short video, which you'll find in our 2022 Tech Hotlist report on our website – thebusinesstravelmag.com – along with lots more essential reading and listening for anyone who's part of the business travel family. Have a great summer everyone.

EDITORIAL EDITOR

Bev Fearis CONTRIBUTORS

April Waterston, Charlotte Flach & Gill Upton DIGITAL EDITOR

April Waterston

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Steve Hartridge

ADVERTISING SALES PUBLISHER / COMMERCIAL HEAD

Kirsty Hicks

DESIGN & PRODUCTION DESIGNERS

Matt Bonner and Caitlan Francis PRODUCTION & STUDIO MANAGER

Clare Hunter

PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATOR

Steve Hunter

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe for free at thebusinesstravelmag.com/subscribe

BMI PUBLISHING MANAGING DIRECTOR

Matt Bonner CEO

Martin Steady (Print) ISSN 1754-8543. THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY BMI PUBLISHING LTD: 501 THE RESIDENCE, NO. 1 ALEXANDRA TERRACE, GUILDFORD, GU1 3DA, UK. TEL: 020 8649 7233 ENQUIRIES@BMIPUBLISHING.CO.UK / BMIPUBLISHING.CO.UK

Bev Fearis, Editor

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRINTED ON 100% FULLY RECYCLED PAPER WHILE EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE ACCURACY, BMI PUBLISHING LTD CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. © BMI PUBLISHING LTD 2022 OTHER IMAGES SOURCED FROM SUPPLIERS, iSTOCK.COM, BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM AND UNSPLASH.COM

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03/02/2022 09:39

ARRIVALS OPENING SHOTS

Designed by G.A. Design of London, The Westin Yokohama design draws inspiration from the concept of biophilia, which is built on the premise that a connection to nature enhances wellbeing”

Westin Yokohama

outside in

Westin is promising a haven of wellbeing at its new 373-room hotel in the Japanese port, southwest of Tokyo. On the 23rd floor with stunning views towards Mount Fuji, the lobby features a soaring indoor garden to recreate the Japanese philosophy of shinrin yoku (forest bathing).

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Eye-catching images of the latest news and developments

StayCity Paris, La Défense

bienvenue

NYX Hotel, London

RAIN OR SHINE

NYX Hotel, which opened in Holborn in 2020, has now unveiled its rooftop bar and claims it will be the "hottest in the capital".

Ready for all weathers, Glasshouse on the roof has retracting glass walls and a retracting roof, so guests can soak up the summer sun amidst a soundtrack of laidback electronica beats – or shelter from the rain!

StayCity Paris La Défense, the third property in the French capital for this aparthotel operator, has 215 studio and one-bed apartments (sleeping up to four), plus on-site parking, a guest laundry, gym, a 24-hour reception, and a Staycafé serving breakfasts, snacks and drinks toute la journée.

Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh

city outpost

The little sister/brother of The Gleneagles Hotel, this 33-room urban retreat is in a listed building overlooking Edinburgh's bustling St Andrew Square.

Highlights include a brasserie, a roof terrace, a Member's Club and The Strong Rooms for training and treatments.

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UP FRONT HOT TOPIC

Everyone's talking about... the flight disruption “JUST LIKE POLITICS, TRAVEL MANAGEMENT IS THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE. TRAVELLERS NEED TO RELY ON TMCS TO MAKE TRAVEL POSSIBLE, IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES" Scott Pawley, Managing Director, GTM

"Despite airlines and airports reacting with recruitment drives, it's unlikely the industry will be able to respond in this peak season" Luís Araújo, President, European Travel Commission

“THE UK GOVERNMENT MUST ACT TO MAKE THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS EASIER BY LOOKING AT ADDING AVIATION-SPECIFIC JOBS TO THE SHORTAGE OCCUPATION LIST, WHICH WOULD ENABLE STAFF TO BE HIRED MORE EASILY FROM ABROAD” Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA

While the 'summer of discontent' disruptions are incredibly frustrating, we aren’t necessarily seeing a huge drop in demand.

What we're seeing is greater engagement between corporates and TMCs and demand for 24/7 support" Abby Penston, CEO, Focus Travel Partnership

THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE PROVED TO BE A VERY TURBULENT TIME FOR PASSENGERS AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN RELIANT ON AVIATION, NOT LEAST AGENTS WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE COALFACE HAVING TO DEAL WITH HUNDREDS OF FLIGHT AMENDMENTS WHICH, ONCE AGAIN, HAS MEANT ANOTHER HAMMER BLOW TO THEIR BUSINESSES, OPERATIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO, Advantage Travel Partnership

“Staff shortages coupled with a surge in business travel has resulted in unmanageable workloads for TMCs. We all must make provisions now to protect the mental wellbeing of our overworked consultants” Francesco Deluca, Regional Director, EMEA Omega World Travel

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UP FRONT SPEAKING OUT

TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

IN THE SHADOWS Misunderstood and often dismissed as the less glamorous side of the sector, corporate travel must shout louder, says travel manager Alice Linley-Munro

If I charged commission to my friends for arranging their holidays I’d be mortgage free and flying first class. I’ve become their ‘go to’ for travel advice, but to be fair I’m also guilty of texting my GP friend for a medical diagnosis or FaceTiming my tube driver friend rather than calling up Citymapper, so I suppose I can’t complain.

I could spell out the differences between corporate and leisure travel, but having tried that before – and been met with very blank stares – it’s easier to fire up my laptop and ask if they prefer a beach or a pool.

A few years ago we had to ban anyone from mentioning the name of a certain aggregator website in the office because we would send travellers a quote and a few minutes later they would ping back something they’d found online. We tried to explain, but it was two bookers versus 200 travellers and so the path of least resistance was to send out a blanket email simply saying “no more”.

One particularly frustrated ex-colleague wasn’t expecting me to point out that one of the reasons he’d found a cheaper flight online was that he had asked us to look for SIN-LHR and then had searched the web for LHR-SIN. I remember he went as red as the fruit in the phrase “not comparing apples to apples”.

It’s often easier to reduce someone’s profession to a more simplistic description when we don't actually understand the nuances of their role. I know, because I do it with friends. The accountant does “maths”, the engineer “plays with helicopters” and if you ask my nephew, Mummy works with naughty people (she’s a prison officer).

If my closest friends can’t understand the difference, having heard me talk at length about my job, it becomes easier to understand why the Government and other policy makers see travel as one homogenous lump and act accordingly, no matter how frustrating that may be.

Corporate travel largely exists in the shadows behind its more glamorous relative, the leisure sector, which is why you often hear stories of people “ending up” in our side of the industry, rather than it being a lifelong dream.

The lobbying by industry groups during the pandemic has helped raise the profile of corporate travel at government level but as an industry we also need to work together to attract the next generation of talent.

We can't offer the jet-set lifestyle of cabin crew, or the warm fuzzy feelings of helping someone book the holiday of a lifetime, but we can offer a solid career with good progression and opportunities, as well as a supportive network and some fun thrown in for good measure.

The drive to attract new talent shouldn’t come from individual companies. Instead, suppliers and buyers from across the industry should group together to showcase the career paths available through engagement with targeted educational establishments and clever marketing. The future of our beloved industry could very well depend on it.

ALICE LINLEY-MUNRO Alice Linley-Munro is Travel Manager for Oil Spill Response Ltd, where she has worked for 11 years. She has a particular interest in risk management and wellbeing and served for three years on the Board of Directors for ITM.

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AwArDs

FINAL preparations are now underway "Business travel is such a sociable, friendly for the 2022 Business Travel People industry. We’re like one big family. The new Awards in London on Tuesday evening format works so well and allows as September 13. much time as possible for networking.

The shortlisted finalists are keenly "It's the perfect chance to catch up with awaiting the final decisions of the Judging friends and colleagues, rub shoulders with Panel, which met in person on July 7 to the industry’s most influential figures and choose the winners. make new business contacts.

There are five new award categories this "It’s also a great opportunity for travel year – Technology Innovator, Sustainability companies to motivate and reward their Champion, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion teams, which is even more important right Champion, Travel Buyer of the Year and now, especially with the shift to hybrid TMC of the Year – plus a special working and in light of the award chosen by the current recruitment Chairman of the Judging challenges the sector is Panel, Leigh Cowlishaw, experiencing.”

It's the perfect to recognise a team or The 2022 awards chance to catch up individual that has celebration is being with friends and demonstrated held in a new venue colleagues, rub shoulders particular excellence – the luxury four-star with the industry's most in their category.

Leonardo Royal The annual awards, London City Hotel. influential figures and now in their 11th year, Tickets are now on make new business will be presented at a sale for £125+VAT and contacts glittering evening include entrance to the ceremony with a new networking ceremony and format that proved to be such a party, welcome drinks, bowl success last year. food and entertainment.

“We decided to make the awards Generously sponsoring the People presentation a more relaxed evening affair Awards this year are HotelHub, United for 2021 and knew within the first 10 Airlines, Agiito, FREE NOW for Business, minutes that it was the right decision” says Reed & Mackay, Focus Travel Partnership, Kirsty Hicks, Publisher of The Business Travel Sirius Talent Solutions, ATPI, TripStax, and Magazine and organiser of the awards.

Virgin Atlantic with Delta Air Lines.

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For more information visit TheBusinessTravelPeopleAwards.com

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awards AWARDS

THE FINALISTS Account Management team of the Year

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion

Diversity Travel

Chris King (they/she), Lightning Travel Recruitment

Agiito

Carolyn Pearson, Maiden Voyage

Corporate Traveller

Carol Fergus, Fidelity International

Venues and Events International

Sustainability Champion

TAG

Account Manager of the Year

Mark Corbett, Thrust Carbon COCO+ Team, COCO+

Lisa Swithenbank, Agiito

Kirsty Given, Agiito

James Connell, Situ

Nico and Elkie Nicholas, Trees4Travel

David Luney, Inntel

Sally Higgs, American Express Global Business Travel

Joanne Hopwood, ATPI

Vivi Cahyadi Himmel, AltoVita

Operations Team of the Year

Travel Technology Innovator

Operations Support Team, Agiito

Jack Dow, Grapevine

Corporate Traveller, Stage Screen & Sports Team, Corporate Traveller

Chris Lewis, Travelogix

Lowestoft Operations Team, ATPI

UnderTheDoormat Group, Under The Doormat

Synergy Operations Team, Synergy

Vivi Cahyadi Himmel, AltoVita

Film Production team, BCD Media and Entertainment

Operations Manager of the Year

Rising Star Georgia Suttie, Agiito

Katy Johnson, Inntel

Sinead Ryan, ALTOUR UK

Pat Barber, Agiito

Laura Garton, Synergy

Michael Savage, TBR Global Chauffeuring

Shining Star

Meetings & Events Team of the Year

Tony Peckham, Reed & Mackay

Reed & Mackay Events Team, Reed & Mackay

Gillian Robson, Agiito

Venue Find and Events Team, Agiito

Seth Hanson, Situ

Major Events Team, TBR Global Chauffeuring

Lynne Griffiths, Sirius Talent Solutions

Business Transformation Initiative of the Year

Linda Bekoe, APLBC / Bekoe.com

TMC of the Year

Agiito Focus Travel Partnership

Blue Cube Travel

Avis Budget Group & Nexus Vehicle Rental

Agiito

Duty of Care Initiative of the Year Mark Stevens (leader of the Project Nexus team), Agiito Robyn Joliat, 3Sixty PwC, supported by Global Secure Accreditation, PwC/GSA

Change Champion Leader Dana Moore, Agiito Jen Fackelman, Nomadic Technologies Lynne Griffiths, Sirius Talent Solutions

American Express Global Business Travel Hotel and Travel Solutions (HTS)

Travel Buyer of the Year Eloise Ferrara Neched, Royal Mail Group Cristina Chimenti, Sky Natalie Gardner, Electronic Arts Alice Linley-Munro, Oil Spill Response Ltd

Industry Contribution Award James Parkhouse, Agiito James Foice, The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage Travel Partnership

Book your tickets now at TheBusinessTravelPeopleAwards.com

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The 2022

TECH HOTLIST

Here are the innovators and innovations shaking up the industry…

TRIPSTAX Just like the rocket they use in their marketing, the energetic team at TripStax have blasted into the travel management space this year with their fully-connected stack of applications. Promising “tech to make your business boom”, their secret weapon is The Core, a central powerhouse that drives the technology by managing booking, profile and invoice data across the entire TripStax eco-system, which includes a stack of modules – Approve, Profile, Track, Analytics, Content, Docs, Mobile – plus other integrated third-party technologies.

Aimed at SME TMCs, the tech is affordable too because while most

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legacy travel technology providers charge TMCs transaction fees based on the consumption and storage of data, TripStax only charges TMCs once for ingestion of data, regardless of how many times

“The energetic team at TripStax have blasted into the travel management space this year ” that data is processed within the stack, which can mean big savings.

Although the TripStax brand is new, the stack comes from good stock, having been initially developed by the highly-experienced tech team at ATPI. Now being steered by CEO Jack Ramsey (ex ATPI and Travelport), its mission is not only to sign up new TMC clients but also to enhance the stack by finding exciting new partners. It's got off to a strong start as early in July it announced the acquisition of TapTrip (in our 2021 Tech Hotlist), adding an innovative online booking option to the mix. tripstax.com

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TRAVELOGIX GEO It’s more than 11 years since Chris Lewis and Gary Jones founded Travelogix with the simple mission to “empower TMCs across the globe with accurate, accessible, real-time data that drives success”.

Their suite of cloud-based solutions has been expanded and enhanced over that time and the latest arrival, Geo, has earned Travelogix a spot in our 2022 Tech Hotlist. Responding to the new age of business travel, Geo is a duty of care platform "designed with TMCs, for TMCs” and provides them with an intuitive user interface containing all traveller data, travel plans, locations, real-time security alerts, live country information and health

updates. It’s the “arm around the shoulder” that each traveller truly deserves, says Lewis. Available to Travelogix clients “at the flick of a switch” and via a “swift onboarding” for non-clients, it gives SME TMCs an alternative to the more expensive and intrusive GPS-driven platforms aimed at the enterprise market. In time, Travelogix says Geo will act as a command centre for all TMCs and their travellers. travelogixltd.com

TRIPBAM FOR AIR Back in our list for a second year, the innovative team at TRIPBAM is making big in-roads with its new product for flight bookings. Like its gamechanging hotel tech, TRIPBAM for Air provides fare re-shopping, contract auditing and benchmarking, both directly to corporate clients and through reseller agreements with TMCs. The result, says TRIPBAM, is that it is able to find lower fares for more than 10% of tickets used, with an average saving of £110.

Not only that, because the rebooking is automated there are no agency fees associated with changing air tickets and, furthermore, all GDS

search fees are covered by TRIPBAM. Alongside the savings, TRIPBAM can also grade suppliers, assessing airlines or city pairs against the market or peer set, and do enhanced analysis on market share, which can help corporates in their negotiations. Once an agreement is reached, TRIPBAM’s Contract Auditing works 24/7 to monitor every booking against contracts to make sure suppliers are honouring the terms and to check that agreed rates are available and loaded in all systems. Crucially, it can also make sure travellers are policy compliant. tripbam.rocks

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The 2022

TECH HOTLIST GRAPEVINE PREMIUM

MYSA’S MYO

Like all good innovators, the brainy bunch at Grapevine haven’t been resting on their laurels since making it into our Tech Hotlist last

Transparency, control and confidence are words that warm our hearts, especially in the current environment, and that’s what’s being promised by Mysa CEO and Founder Gary Hurst with his latest venture, Myo. Designed to alleviate all the challenges and frustrations experienced by corporate buyers that Hurst has “listened to over the past 10 years”, the Myo platform simplifies processes and strives to give corporates the same level of control and confidence in procuring, auditing, booking and managing

year. Instead, they’ve been busy developing their latest product – Grapevine Premium – and it’s got them firmly back on our list again in 2022. While their tech so far has been directed at TMCs, Grapevine Premium is a corporate-focused, pre-trip email that not only tells travellers everything they need to know about their destination pre-trip, but also empowers corporates to deliver on all the essentials – duty of care, risk, sustainability, wellbeing and DE&I – all in one email. It works in conjunction with Grapevine’s core product, powered by AI engine Marvin, and will be sold via TMCs. You heard it here first. grapevine.travel

serviced accommodation as they get with hotels and airlines.

Not only that, it creates a “collaborative community” of property operators and corporate partners, promising new standards in safety, quality and duty of care – three other attributes that are music to any corporates ears. To top it all, Myo promises to cut out the additional cost and complications of dealing with intermediaries. Oh, and we like the simplicity of the name too. mysa.global

“The Myo platform simplifies processes and strives to give corporates the same level of control and confidence in procuring, auditing, booking and managing serviced accommodation as they get with hotels and airlines”

“It not only tells travellers everything they need to know about their destination pre-trip, but also empowers corporates to deliver on all the essentials” 14

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GRASP Ironically, one of the key reasons why Grasp is in our list is because of the way it helps corporates deal with all the other new innovative tech providers entering the travel arena and being incorporated into corporate travel programmes – all of them producing data that’s going untapped.

That’s where Grasp steps in, by essentially ‘grasping’ new data streams alongside travel data to give corporates insights into travel costs

and traveller activities, which in turns helps them to optimise savings, improve compliance and "manage the unmanageable". Built by

“Built by travel people for travel people, Grasp overlays TMC data with off channel data, so that the full trip is captured”

travel people for travel people, Grasp overlays TMC data with off channel data, so that the full trip is captured. Grasp can leverage data from the GDSs, back office, and off-channel data sources like Traxo, or it can take data directly from Atriis, bypassing the need for agent and GDS intervention, giving TMCs huge time and cost savings, which (hopefully) they’ll pass on to their clients. grasptech.com

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The 2022

TECH HOTLIST IMPALA Equality is a quality we’re passionate about so our interest was piqued when we saw this line in Impala’s submission: “With Impala, even the smallest travel agent can now reach out to the biggest hotel chain.” Impala is driving a new ‘open distribution’ approach to hotel distribution, enabled by modern API infrastructure, which removes the barriers of old travel technology. The booking platform launched in March 2021 and now sells over 1.5 million rooms, with an average growth of 1,000 rooms a week. For hotels, the platform allows them to regain control of their distribution, reach new partners and markets and connect directly with

room sellers without any gatekeepers in the way. In turn, agents can access the technology and inventory with no barriers, no upfront costs, and easy integration. It’s a win-win that’s won Impala a spot in our 2022 list. impala.travel

7RDESKTOP It’s a product that’s been around for many years but which came into its own during the early days of the pandemic and is proving its worth again now as TMCs look to re-grow their teams, with many people opting for home-working or working on a hybrid basis. Allowing travel industry professionals to operate from anywhere, 7rDesktop gives users access to all the tools and data they need to do their jobs whether in the office or not, with all GDS, accounting systems and office automation systems

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supported. Every element of 7rDesktop, from CPU to user support, is modular, which allows customers to expand, or contract, in an affordable and structured manner – something vital as TMCs adapt their businesses to support growing demand.

Scott Pawley, Managing Director Global Travel Management, describes 7rDesktop as “The best IT decision I have made in 25 years of business” and if you check out the company’s website, there are more glowing testimonials.

7rgroup.com

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Untitled BTM Ma

THAT

IN-POLICY FEELING It’s clearing your inbox as you turn on your out-of-office Don’t lose that feeling to out-of-policy hotel bookings Give travellers everything they’re looking for, so they won’t book anywhere else

Get the feeling at hotelhub.com

The 2022

TECH HOTLIST See businesstravelmag.com for video entries from the 10 innovators who made it on to our 2022 Tech Hotlist

GROUPS360 Booking group travel isn’t easy but Groups360 is working hard to change all that with the help of new technology. Based on the level of support it's already won from industry heavyweights, it must be on to a good thing. In 2019, Accor, Hilton, IHG and Marriott invested US$50 million to speed the development and rollout of its solution, GroupSync, and earlier this year Blackstone and two other private equity firms invested another US$35 million to fuel the company’s international growth. The web-based solution provides greater access to

hotel group rates and inventory for faster, smoother booking and includes a proprietary RFP-free group booking option called Instant Booking. Thanks to the rapid adoption of GroupSync technology, soon 20,000 of the nearly 200,000 RFP accessible global properties will be equipped to offer instant booking for group rooms and space. Hilton, Omni, IHG and Premier Inn are offering GroupSync’s Instant Booking capability across some or all of their estates and Accor is set for a worldwide launch later this year. groups360.com

ATRIIS + RETRAVEL.IO It’s still early days but this new pairing has the potential to make a big impact on the sector. Back in May of this year, Atriis, an open travel marketplace, acquired reTravel.io, an autonomous traveller retention technology. The reTravel technology is being integrated into the Atriis platform and will help it to reduce leakage, which Atriis points out is more vital than ever “as corporate travel rebounds into a chaotic, disrupted, and understaffed industry”. For example, many travellers are not booking taxis or parking and, in some cases, not even hotels at the same time. The reTravel technology uses AI and

machine learning to define what products a traveller is most likely to purchase, and at which point during a trip. At the right time, reTravel will contextually engage the traveller with the right offer through the right channel, factoring in corporate policy and preferences alongside valuable traveller information. In a nutshell, this technology turns the process on its head by bringing the managed channel to the traveller rather than the other way around.

Simple but game changing. atriis.com

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HOT TECH TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS

Ready to supercharge your travel management technology? tripstax.com | info@tripstax.com

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THE nEWS rEviEW

S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y

N E W S

BloCKCHain-poWErED SCHEME SET To BooST SaF proDuCTion

Trees4travel deals take root TREES4TRAVEL has partnered with Agentivity, the travel industry management app, and with CMAC Group, the managed ground transport company.

Agentivity will offer Trees4Travel's calculation and carbon positive compensation services to all of its agency customers and their corporate clients, alongside the reporting already offered by its partner Unlocked Data.

CMAC’s partnership will see Trees4Travel calculate and grow the number of trees necessary to absorb the CO2 emissions produced by CMAC employees during travel, alongside facilities and events, and will also be available to CMAC customers who want to neutralise emissions based on the journeys their travellers take through their managed ground transport solutions.

SHELL, Accenture and American Express Global Business Travel have joined forces to launch Avelia, a blockchain-powered digital book-and-claim SAF solution.

The three companies claim it will be the largest SAF book-and-claim pilot at launch, offering around 1 million gallons of SAF, which is enough to power almost 15,000 individual business traveller flights from London to New York.

A pilot phase, with Aon, aims to show the credibility of the model, which uses blockchain technology to ensure secured allocation of

FinnaiR siGns deal FoR susTainaBle aviaTion Fuel FINNAIR has signed an agreement with renewable fuels producer Gevo for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as part of plans by the Oneworld Alliance to purchase up to 200 million gallons of SAF per year from the Colorado-based company.

The agreement, starting from 2027, outlines the purchase of seven million gallons of SAF per year for the duration of five years.

[ SUSTAINABILITY NEWS BITES ] >> CORPORATE TRAVELLER has teamed up with Thrust Carbon

and Trees4Travel to strengthen sustainability offerings on its booking platform >> SAP CONCUR has partnered with CHOOOSE to integrate its carbon emissions management solution, which automates flight-related carbon emission measuring and reporting >> LONDON CITY AIRPORT has published a new sustainability roadmap in a bid to become the first net zero airport in London by the end of the decade through various measures, including ensuring all airport vehicles switch to electric >> VICTOR, the on-demand private jet company, has partnered with Neste to offer members the chance to purchase Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel for every booking around the world >>

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SAF’s environmental attributes to companies and airlines after the fuel has been delivered into the fuel network.

It is hosted on a public blockchain system, where the code is available for any third party to review, ensuring transparency.

"This data security and credibility is key to reaching consensus that SAF book-and-claim is a valid mechanism for decarbonising the aviation industry, preventing double-counting," says GBT’s Vice President Global Sustainability, Nora Lovell Marchant.

11%

- the extra passengers would pay to offset their flight

Airline passengers travelling for business and leisure would be prepared to pay, on average, 11% of their ticket price to offset carbon emissions from their flight, according to a survey by air transport IT provider Sita

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Summer of discontent

GloBal hoTel BookinGs have suRpassed pRe-pandeMic levels accoRdinG To The laTesT FiGuRes FRoM hoTelhuB, ReachinG 120% oF 2019 voluMes in June and up By 108% in euRope

oneworld airlines switch at Heathrow IBERIA has moved its London Heathrow operations from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3.

Fellow Oneworld member and joint business partner American Airlines has made the same move, having relocated to T5 in July 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

The switch follows an announcement from British Airways at the end of June that it would be moving all of its current long-haul T3 departures to T5, as well as over half of its short-haul services. All of BA’s flights to and from Spain now operate from T5.

Iberia business class passengers and Iberia Plus Gold, Platinum and Infinita card customers will have access to the Galleries Club or First lounges at Terminal 3.

As we came out of the dark days of the Covid-19 pandemic, we hoped for a resurgence of international travel in general – business or leisure.

The uptake was far swifter than any of us imagined. The business travel sector was starting to flourish once more. Our promises of a global Britain were starting to bear fruit.

Then, things took another turn for the worse that we hadn’t predicted. Airport technology failed, staffing pressures increased and queues stacked up across the country.

Now we find ourselves in the middle of the so-called “summer of discontent.”

This isn’t just about international travel: it’s train strikes, tube strikes and the ever imminent threat of the next strike.

The business travel sector has always taken pride in looking after its staff, its customers and providing almost frictionless travel to its corporate customers.

Today, that’s become a difficult pledge to deliver.

Our members (TMCs) are

dealing with changes to one in four bookings. This is up from 1 in 11 bookings pre-pandemic. And many of these bookings require multiple changes rather than just one.

Airline or rail bookings are only the start. Every action has a knock-on consequence and our colleagues in the hospitality, car hire and events industries are working hard to service the needs of the corporate traveller.

Conversations, wait times and changes take longer.

But, they are happening.

As we face more disruption, we ask the corporate traveller to understand the work our members are doing on their behalf and to understand this is a short-term problem.

To airlines, rail networks and all those considering going on strike, we need to come through this post-pandemic period together.

We need to support recovery and create a climate where profits can be shared, pay rises given and a new boom in British business is supported.

Clive Wratten Chief Executive Officer

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SErviCED aparTMEnTS SECTor SET For FurTHEr groWTH THE SERVICED apartment sector has continued to grow its share of corporate accommodation spend despite the pandemic, says a new report.

According to the Global Serviced Apartment Industry Report 2022, 15% of surveyed UK businesses increased their overall use of serviced apartments during 2021, while 52% of corporates and 60% of TMCs say their use of serviced apartments for relocation purposes has risen since 2020.

The report says the trend looks set to continue, with 9% of UK

companies having added non-hotel accommodation options to their travel programmes since Covid.

Based on recent figures, the report predicts business trips in 2022 will continue to be fewer in number but longer in duration. It found the proportion of trips of seven to 14 nights in 2021 was double that of 2019 and that 39.2% of business trips in 2021 were of eight nights or more.

It also says 68% of operators plan to open more apartments in existing locations, the highest number since the report began.

iTM To hold inauGuRal auTuMn conFeRence in london ITM is holding its first ever one-day Autumn Conference on October 3 at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London.

The agenda will focus on what travel buyers should be doing to unearth opportunities and optimise their programmes when faced with current industry challenges, such as resource constraints amongst suppliers, the residual effects of Covid, border considerations and the cost of living crisis.

22%

of UK execs are travelling more than pre-pandemic

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A survey commissioned by risk management specialist World Travel Protection, of 500 UK business travellers who travel internationally for business at least once a year, found more than a fifth (22%) are now travelling more than before the Covid pandemic

yotel goes cockney with london opening BUDGET chain Yotel has opened a 161-room hotel in London's Shoreditch, its fifth city centre hotel in the UK. The property has an all-day bar, restaurant and co-working space, Komyuniti, where all menu items offer guests their ‘Cockney rhyming slang’ names, such as Jack the Rippers (Chicken Strippers) and the Mona Lisa (Pizza Margherita).

Guests on the go can opt to ‘build your own breakfast’, taking a breakfast bag which contains a breakfast burrito, choice of pastry, yoghurt or granola pot, fruit juice, fruit and tea or coffee.

YOTEL London Shoreditch also incorporates YOTEL’s signature design and technology features with self-service stations allowing guests to check in in under a minute.

[ TMC NEWS BITES ] >> AMERICAN EXPRESS Global Business Travel has introduced a virtual assistant capability on its mobile app, including natural language and free text input for requests >> GOOD TRAVEL MANAGEMENT has been appointed the official travel and accommodation partner and supplier to Medilink UK, supporting it at trade fairs and exhibitions globally >> CWT has introduced a new subscription fee model, promising its customers simple and transparent pricing and billing and with fees based on several criteria, including forecasted transaction volume and any value-added products and services >> ATPI has expanded its Africa and European footprint with the appointment of four new network partners in Gabon, Rwanda, Liberia and Israel >>

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I T M C O M M EBNTTA U P D AT E

Surviving the perfect storm These are, even by our standards, extraordinary times for the business travel industry. The giddiness many of us felt with the return of travel has rather been replaced by a need to rapidly respond to disruptions and challenges that have hit the headlines.

Many of ITM's buyer members are reporting the need to internally defend their appointed partners and suppliers and we are assisting them in terms of benchmarking and fact-checking. Very few, if any, sectors and players have not been severely impacted and there are multiple reasons why we are in this tricky position.

Travel was amongst the first industries impacted by the pandemic, with a sudden and prolonged stoppage, with few exceptions. Travel was also the last major industry to be allowed to restart, with very short notice. Large assets like hotels, airports and planes take considerable effort, resource and expense to switch on.

When the time came to bring staff back or new staff in, other industries had

Scott Davies Chief Executive

been able to tempt people away with the suggestion of more stable, flexible and predictable job prospects.

And just in case we needed any further hurdles to overcome, the UK is now considerably less able to bring in EU-based people to fulfil essential positions and security clearance for many roles is taking longer too.

More recently, multiple instances of industrial action have joined the perfect storm.

In the medium to long term, of course, those companies who nurture strong cultures that value their people will be the most successful in attracting and retaining the talent needed to build robust operations and deliver great service.

As we look to compete for talent, it is incumbent on us all to sell the travel industry as a career. But, for now, we must do what we have always done; dig deep, rise to the challenge and keep each other going.

Although the difficulties we face today are immense, I for one prefer this current situation to the one we were in two and half years ago.

TripStax takes over ownership of TapTrip TRIPSTAX has announced the acquisition of TapTrip and will add TapTrip's online booking platform to its tech solutions.

The deal will see TapTrip co-founders Tom Young and Jack Timblin and all existing staff join TripStax.

ATPI has an interest in both companies, having invested in TapTrip in March 2020 and being responsible for developing the TripStax technology before it was spun off as a separate entity earlier this year.

Under this new deal, TripStax is acquiring TapTrip from its multiple shareholders, which also include Barclays, Techstars, and Founders Factory. The ATPI Group, as an investor in TripStax, will retain a financial interest through the acquisition and, as a TMC customer of TripStax, can use TapTrip as one of the modules within its tech stack.

CoviD CHECKS HinDEring TECH aDopTion aT airporTS MORE airline passengers are embracing mobile and touchless technologies but Covid checks are hampering the rate of adoption, according to research by aviation IT specialist SITA. Its 2022 Passenger IT Insights report shows an increase in the use of mobile devices for booking, on board the airplane and for bag collection in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2020.

Passengers are also more likely to use automated gates for identity control, boarding and border control.

But the report also found that health verification is a pain point that has slowed end-to-end automation. Despite some uptake of technology, over half of passengers still do their own research on health verification requirements and manually submit documentation.

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CTM buys independent travel group

IN BRIEF Easy does it

EasyHotel, the low-carbon, affordable hotel chain, has acquired its first site in the Spanish city of Valencia.

The 95-room hotel, with parking, is expected to open in 2024.

Stay alert

Risklike has launched TravelPrep, available via subscription, to give travellers pre-travel advisory emails two weeks and 48 hours before their departure and risk alerts during their trips.

Doubling up

Qatar Airways will increase its services from Doha to Melbourne from once daily to double daily from October 1.

Travel tool

Cytric by Amadeus has been chosen by Microsoft to manage its employee travel. The tool will enable Microsoft employees to plan, book and change their journeys.

Direct link

Eurostar will add a fourth direct train service from London St. Pancras to Rotterdam Centraal and Amsterdam Centraal stations from September 5, with tickets from £39 one way.

Back in focus

Channel Island-based TMC, Island Business Travel, one of the founding members of the Focus Travel Partnership, has re-signed with the business travel consortium 20 months after leaving, mainly to take advantage of its competitive fares.

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Business FIRST ticket holders on the Heathrow Express are now able to use priority lanes at airport security thanks to its Business First Fast Track service

CORPORATE Travel Management has acquired 1000 Mile Travel Group, a network of independent travel experts specialising in SME business travel services across Australia and the UK. CTM founder and Managing Director, Jamie Pherous, said CTM has been partnering with 1000 Mile Travel for nearly a year through the provision of its proprietary Lightning online booking technology.

“During that time, we have recognised a strong alignment between our businesses based upon shared values, common technology systems and high growth objectives, and we believe – through the leadership of 1000 Mile Travel – we are well-placed to expand the 1000 Mile Travel model into our largest markets of North America and the UK,” he said.

Ben Ross, founder and Managing Director of 1000 Mile Travel, said the acquisition paves the way for significant growth.

Travel risk platform launches for SMEs

APP considers CARBON, cost and calories

A NEW travel risk management platform, aimed at individual travellers and SMEs, has launched in the UK. Mia Bazo, created by John Scott and J Laurence Sarno, provides a number of services, including traveller tracking, expense management, document storage, travel security, and tax and visa compliance. The founders have also added carbon management, available for free, to help businesses calculate their carbon footprint and purchase carbon offsets.

Mia Bazo shares its technology with sister platform, Voyage Manager, which has been providing similar travel risk services to large organisations since 2010.

"We created the self-service Mia Bazo platform so individuals and SMEs could access the same technology at an affordable price," says Sarno.

THE MILES Consultancy claims it will revolutionise how corporates manage multi-mobility ground transportation with its new Mobility ‘super-app’, Mobility iQ. Launching this summer, the app is designed to promote more responsible traveller behaviour by allowing corporates to manage all available methods of ground transportation, including car rental, ride, taxi and rail, based on company preferences surrounding cost, calories, carbon and clock.

It will also use AI to deliver real-time trip alerts and travel recommendations.

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agiiTo EXpanDS parTnErSHip WiTH rail ConTEnT SpECialiST

iTM buyers make plea to suppliers TRAVEL MANAGERS are urging TMCs and other suppliers to be more transparent over staff shortages in the face of ongoing servicing problems.

ITM members are demanding more open communication on operational issues, staffing limitations, recruitment plans and timeframes for scaling up businesses as buyers struggle to manage the expectations of their travellers and internal stakeholders.

At an ITM Buyer Knowledge Exchange in June, some said their travellers are opting to book directly with suppliers after becoming frustrated with TMC wait times, which is causing further issues around compliance and duty of care.

TRAINLINE'S B2B arm, Trainline Partner Solutions (TPS), has secured a long-term extension with Agiito and further expanded its partnership with the TMC. The agreement will give Agiito's clients access to UK rail content on Platform One, Trainline’s tech platform, including Splitsave as part of the future partnership.

Liz Emmott, TPS Global Distribution Director, said Agiito was a perfect fit for its ongoing strategy of promoting rail as the simple and sustainable choice for business travel within the UK.

[ AIRLINE NEWS BITES ] >> BAMBOO AIRWAYS, the new Vietnamese airline, will start a non-stop weekly service from London Gatwick to Hanoi at the end of October, serviced by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft >> AIR CANADA has announced the launch of a daily non-stop seasonal service between London Heathrow and Mumbai, running October 29 to March 24 2023, subject to receiving government approvals >> EASYJET has launched flights to Liverpool from George Best Belfast City Airport, with daily departures every day except Wednesdays >> JETBLUE is introducing a second daily flight between London Gatwick and New York JFK from October 29 >> OMAN AIR has confirmed it will join the Oneworld alliance in 2024, with Qatar Airways acting as a sponsor >>

venue daTa cenTRe, venuediRecToRy, is acQuiRed By cvenT CVENT has taken over VenueDirectory, a data centre of venue information for the UK MICE industry. It will continue to operate as a standalone business unit.

Announcing the deal, Cvent said it would provide additional support and resources so VenueDirectory can connect more venues with corporate event planners across Europe and “elevate its position as a regional leader in the venue sourcing space”.

Both parties will share insights and support the ongoing sustainable shift towards rail within the corporate business travel sector.

Josh Collier, Head of Proposition Rail & Ground Transportation for Agiito, said: “We know our customers will value gaining access to Trainline’s thought leadership and industry-leading technology features in the future, such as their impressive SplitSave feature, which will ensure they have access to the best value fares available."

23%

will seek a new role if travel schedule doesn't improve

A SAP Concur survey of 3,850 global business travellers has identified growing pressure due to companies taking a "more travel on fewer shoulders” approach, with 23% of frequent travellers saying they’ll look for a new position if their travel schedule doesn’t improve

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EVENTS AUGUST 14-17 2022

GBTA CONVENTION San Diego Convention Centre convention.gbta.org

SEPTEMBER 13 2022

BUSINESS TRAVEL PEOPLE AWARDS Leonardo Royal London City Hotel

DAN WOODBURN

SALLY HIGGS

XIAN MAYES

JOINS: Festive Road AS: Travel & Events Sustainability Manager FROM: American Express GBT

JOINS: CAP Worldwide AS: EMEA Brand Partner Manager FROM: Suitehub

JOINS: Advantage Travel Partnership AS: Chief of People FROM: IMServ Europe

Sally Higgs, formerly Strategic Account Manager for American Express GBT, has joined Festive Road as Travel and Events Sustainability Manager for an outsourced practice.

CAP Worldwide Serviced Apartments has appointed Dan Woodburn to its expanding global management team. He joins from Suitehub and also worked for Citybase.

Xian Mayes has joined Advantage as Chief of People from Milton Keynes-based IMServ Europe, a data and energy metering specialist, where she was HR Director.

TOM ROWLANDS

GRANT SMITH

thebusinesstravelpeopleawards.com

SEPTEMBER 26-27 2022

BTA CONFERENCE Belfast thebta.org.uk

OCTOBER 3 2022

ITM AUTUMN CONFERENCE Grand Connaught Rooms itm.org.uk

TARA JERRARD

PROMOTED AT: FLEETCOR TO: MD Global EV Solutions FROM: VP Strategy Europe

JOINS: Sabre UK AS: Senior Sales and Account Manager FROM: Amadeus

JOINS: ACE Travel Management As: Head of Sales and Marketing FROM: Traveleads

FLEETCOR, the parent of Allstar Business Solutions, has promoted Tom Rowlands to head up operations for FLEETCOR’s EV product solutions worldwide.

Grant Smith, who was previously Senior Commercial Account Manager, OTA UK & Ireland for Amadeus, has joined Sabre as Senior Sales and Account Manager.

After briefly leaving the travel industry due to the pandemic, Tara Jerrard has joined ACE Travel Management as Head of Sales and Marketing, replacing Martine Holland-Robinson.

OCTOBER 3 2022

DINNER CLUB Corinthia Hotel, London thebusinesstravelmag.com

NOVEMBER 8-10 2022

GBTA EUROPE CONFERENCE Square Convention Centre, Brussels

ALSO ON THE MOVE... >> Locomote has appointed Cathryn Cole, APAC Director of Sales and Account Management Airplus International, as Enterprise Solutions Director >> Chris Wayne-Wills, CEO of Crerar Hotels, has taken over as UKHospitality Scotland Chairman >> Festive Road has appointed Marc Zuber, previously Global Travel Category Lead at Nestlé Group >> MAG has announced the appointment of Chris Woodroofe as the new Managing Director of Manchester Airport >> CWT has made a series of appointments, including Doug Vincent as VP, Enterprise Sales Defense & Government, Patrick Burke Director, Sales NORAM, Thomas Nicholson as Director of Sales NORAM, Sergiu Les as Director of Sales EMEA, and Uschi Koch and Joanna Brewer as Sales Managers, EMEA >>

europeconference.gbta.org

DECEMBER 5 2022

E X P E RTS AT TA L E NT R ECR U I T MENT, D E V E LO P M E NT A ND R E T ENT I ON.

CHRISTMAS DINNER CLUB Corinthia Hotel, London

Dedicated to the business travel sector.

thebusinesstravelmag.com

Contact us to discuss our solutions. +44 (0)1932 562007 | hello@siriustalent.co.uk | www.siriustalent.co.uk Untitled-2 1

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The Business Travel Magazine

Dinner Club

The champagne was flowing

Corporate travel buyers and representatives from TMCs and travel suppliers gathered at the Corinthia Hotel, London, in May for a threecourse dinner and networking, followed by a captivating talk on managing travel risk by Bob Quick, Executive Director and Founder of Global Secure Accreditation (GSA).

The event was kindly sponsored by HotelHub, South Western Railway, Reside Worldwide and Sixt Rent a Car.

The Dinner Club ▼

There were smiles all round ▲ 19.5.2022

Pre-dinner networking For more photos from the event visit thebusinesstravelmag.com

Guest speaker Bob Quick captivated the audience

PHOTOS BY PHILL GAMMON

With thanks to our event sponsors

In association with

Travega Travel Marketing Solutions Worldwide

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Faced with a recruitment crisis, the corporate travel sector must find new ways to attract and retain the best people. Bev Fearis reports

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RECRUITMENT

I

t never stands still. It’s a way of life, not a job. Once it’s in your blood you’ll want to stay a part of it. I just can’t see myself working anywhere else.

It’s not particularly well paid and has had more than its fair share of knocks over the years, but ask anyone why they work in business travel and the responses above (all genuine) are typical.

Even after the terrible trials and tribulations of the pandemic, the travel industry is still held close to the hearts of those working in it and is managing to entice back many of those who were forced to leave.

“It’s in their blood,” says Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association. “Many people have gone away and missed it and are now coming back. They can see there is now more security and that the industry has got through this period. That’s really encouraging for us as a community.”

But not everyone has returned and as business travel recovers, faster than many predicted, the well-documented talent shortage – and the knock-on effect on service levels – remains a significant challenge.

“The whole economy is currently suffering from a labour shortage, including business travel, and it’s not difficult to understand how we got here,” says Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO Advantage Travel Partnership.

“The travel sector is an historically low-paid sector. Skilled workers who were made redundant during the pandemic haven’t returned but found roles outside of the industry, and as we are already seeing it is not possible to simply plug new starters into those roles and expect them to be up to speed overnight.”

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Generous packages

In their bid to attract the best talent, TMCs and suppliers are becoming more creative and flexible, and some are even managing to increase salary levels.

Lynne Griffiths, Founder and CEO of Sirius Talent Solutions, has noticed a significant shift. “Six months ago employers were saying to us we want people in the office five days a week and we’re going to pay X amount,” she says.

“Then we started to see salaries go up by 10% and employers more open to hybrid working, and then we saw salaries rise by 20%

– some even by 30% – and companies saying people could be purely home based.”

Lo Bue-Said has recognised the same trend among the Advantage membership. “A lot of TMCs have had to adapt their stance on homeworking and flexible hours,” she says.

“Some that traditionally had a very strict stance on operational staff having to be in the office have now recognised that the last couple of years have made a lot of people take stock of work-life balance and what they want from their career in the future, and if they don’t allow a greater degree of flexibility, there will be another TMC that will. Obviously, that goes hand-in-hand with the fact that the pandemic enabled a lot of people to prove that homeworking can work successfully, if given the chance.”

TMCs are increasingly looking outside of the traditional talent pool to fill vacancies, she adds. “They are either taking on experienced consultants from other industries and looking to cross train, or people that have recently finished their travel studies and have the passion but not the experience.”

However, neither are quick fixes. “While it has led to them getting close to pre-pandemic head counts in many cases, the skill level is not yet there,” she admits.

Donna Fitzgerald, Chief Operating Officer Agiito, believes widening the net to other industries is essential to get the sector back on track. “We’ve got to stop thinking that only those who have worked in travel will have the skills needed and the ability to multi-task and be able to act quickly to last minute changes,” she suggests.

“There are lots of skills that are transferable from other jobs, such as sales assistants, customer service teams in a utilities company, those working in a call centre environment or in marketing.”

The latest apprentices hired by Agiito learned quickly, she says. “These guys have astounded me. It was fantastic to see shy 18/19-year-olds come out of their shell and acquire new skills.”

While Agiito is now more open to home working, new recruits with no previous travel experience must be office based for the first six months. The company helps with relocation costs if necessary.

“They need to understand our culture and  get on-site support from our teams, but

CASE STUDY

A warm welcome back TARA JERRARD, ACE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT HEAD OF SALES AND MARKETING "I started my travel career with KLM, then joined Ian Allan Travel where we faced challenges with SARS and 9/11. After four years I went back to airlines, working at Alitalia then Etihad. In 2015 I joined TBR Global until 2019 and then returned to the TMC arena joining Traveleads six months before the pandemic. Sadly, due to the lockdowns, most of the sales team lost their positions. As travel was halted I looked at industries that were in demand and ended up working for a funeral directors. You could say I was still in travel but to our final destination!

As travel opened up again an opportunity arose to join ACE Travel Management and to return to an industry I am passionate about and where I can fully utilise my commercial skills. Working in travel I’ve built up a strong network over the years. At the recent Business Travel Show it was great bumping into so many familiar faces and getting a warm welcome back. The pandemic has shown, once again, the resilience of the business travel sector. Recovery will bring new exciting opportunities. I know it was the right decision to come back."

Tara Jerrard ACE Travel Management

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once they’re on-boarded, they can work from home,” explains Fitzgerald.



CASE STUDY

It's never boring JULIE COPE, MANAGING DIRECTOR TAKETWO TRAVEL SOLUTIONS "I love this industry, even though it’s full of challenges and can be bonkers at times. I have thought about throwing in the towel several times, especially when yet another global disaster impacts negatively on the travel industry. But I can’t see myself working anywhere else. One thing is for sure, it’s never boring.

You can learn so much and grow professionally as there are so many different aspects and sectors within business travel. I started my travel career typing invoices and itineraries, then I learnt how to make bookings – a very manual process in those days. I was actually very good at bookings and was soon asked to look after VIP clients. I was always asked to take on more and more responsibility wherever I worked. I guess I just thrived on it all. Now here I am. This industry is full of amazing people. I know so many people at different companies who I consider to be friends, not just because we may have worked together at some point in the past but also because our paths cross at industry events. Plus, I love the interaction with our clients. Even on days that are busy and challenging, this industry is fun to work in."

Julie Cope TakeTwo Travel Solution

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Culture fit

Creating the right culture is key to attracting good talent, particularly in the current market.

Giving staff a bonus day off on their birthday and offering car valeting on site for those who come into the office are examples of how Agiito is making its people feel valued. “And each time we do something internally in the office, we make sure we include those working remotely,” says Fitzgerald.

For example, when various fun events were held in Agiito's offices for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, those unable to come in were sent gift packs with a choice of drinks and other refreshments.

“Culture has always been really important to us and is even more important since we’ve had to rebuild back,” she says. “People will stay with you if the culture and environment is right, if they feel they’re supported with mental health and wellbeing and, ultimately, if they come to work and enjoy it.

“It’s been a painful time and it’s still painful.

People are still grafting so we need to make sure they have a bit of fun.”

If the existing workforce is happy, it can also help attract new talent. “We have a really successful ‘recommend a friend’ scheme where each side is given a bonus payment, but ultimately you wouldn’t encourage a friend to work somewhere if you didn’t believe it was a good place to work.”

First impression

In a candidate-driven market, companies must create the right impression from the start, says Lynne Griffiths at Sirius.

“We’ve had candidates who’ve had their interviews cancelled three times at short notice. If that’s the first impression they get, they’re not going to want to work for that company.

“Likewise, we have big employers who sit on CVs for two or three weeks. By that time, the good candidates have already been snapped up. Employers must be thoughtful and considerate.”

She believes 90% of the business travel consultants who were forced to leave the sector during the pandemic have now returned. Those that haven’t are unlikely to

ever come back, which means there is a lot of movement between companies.

“We’re seeing a lot of counter offers, but through experience I can get a good understanding if people are seriously looking or just trying to get a salary increase with their existing employer,” she says.

“If push comes to shove, companies don’t want to lose their existing people. Recruiting someone costs time and money. You’ve got to do the on-boarding, get them set up with IT, and all of this is more difficult now with people working remotely.”

She advises companies to review the salaries and packages of their existing workforce. “It’s a case of making your existing staff feel valued and shutting the stable door before the horse has bolted.”

Sales roles are proving to be the most difficult to fill, Griffiths notes. “Many sales people have moved to technology and payment companies where they can feel more confident of meeting their targets and getting their bonuses,” she says.

We've got to stop thinking that only those who have worked in travel will have the skills needed and the ability to multi-task and act quickly" “When packages are heavily reliant on bonuses, some travel companies are increasing base salaries to entice people back into the industry or retain existing teams.”

Career progression

Demonstrating a clear career path is also important to attract new candidates and keep existing staff, says Catherine Logan, GBTA Regional Vice President EMEA. “Employers need to show people the opportunities for advancement in their organisations, should they want it, and retain the people they’ve got by nurturing them and investing in their development."

Coming out the pandemic, she believes there are even greater career opportunities for many travel managers.

“The role of the travel manager has become

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A way of life

more strategic, expanding into areas such as risk management, sustainability, wellbeing, procurement, communications, technology, and helping companies to make decisions on where and how people should work and when and how they should travel and meet. As a result the potential career path is widening,” she explains.

With this in mind, ITM has set up a taskforce looking at ways to remind people of what’s great about working in the travel industry, particularly the broad level of skills that a corporate buyer will build as part of their role.

“There is no other industry that presents such a plethora of opportunities to build so many different skillsets in different roles,” says ITM Head of Programme Kerry Douglas.

“Whatever your strengths or weaknesses, there is a role for everyone in business travel. It’s also the only industry that is connected on such a global scale that is so dynamic and constantly changing, which opens up new doors for career progression.”

Stu Booy, Customer Service Director at Diversity Travel, believes working in the travel industry still holds appeal.

“Travel is such a great sector, even despite the challenges we’ve faced this year,” he says.

"Selling this to people from outside of travel should never be a challenge, as many perform similar roles but in potentially less fulfilling environments. For example, one of our most

successful recent recruits came to us from booking lessons for a driving school!”

Glowing reference

One of the best ways for the industry to attract talent is for travel professionals, especially those who left and have returned, to become advocates for the industry.

“We need those within the industry to talk about what they like about it,” says BTA’s Wratten who, like many, believes buyers, TMCs and suppliers need to pull together to make travel more appealing as a career choice.

“We need to work with suppliers to bring back fam trips and the other ‘perks’."

He believes the industry also needs to change the perception that corporate travel management is just about business people going to sign deals or sales people on a sales trip, and show that it’s also fashion designers going to a show, sports stars travelling to an event, or aid workers helping in a natural disaster. “And, ultimately, we need to get people to understand and appreciate the key role the industry plays in the success of a business and to the wider economy,” he says.

“If we could get, for example, the CEO of a big organisation to actually speak to a travel consultant and tell them how they were integral to that organisation winning a big account or to complete a major project, that would make a real difference.”

JANE NORTON, LEAD CONSULTANT AGIITO "Due to Agiito having to make redundancies in 2020, I chose to take voluntary redundancy. I’d been in the industry for over 15 years and it was the right decision at the time.

However, this type of profession never leaves you. It was always a way of life, never a job. After taking time out and exploring other opportunities, such as holiday lets and catering for primary schools, I felt the need to return back to where I belong. I’ve always kept in contact with work colleagues and when the industry was looking like there was a good chance of returning, I made the decision to see if there were opportunities for me.

I’m very happy to say that there were and I returned in April 2022.

It’s a bit of a cliché, but a lot of why I wanted to return to the industry is to do with my colleagues. Working alongside like-minded people makes for a good day. It’s a fast-paced business that changes all the time.

Due to the pandemic there is definitely a feeling of being in it together between Agiito, our suppliers and customers. Passion is an over-used word, but it' so true for this business. It can be challenging but so rewarding."

Jane Norton Agiito

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paymentS & Expenses

Expense

cl aim

New entrants are promising to remove the pain points of travel expense management but for many, including Bev Fearis, it’s still a chore

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paymeNTS & expenses

M

y name is Bev and I am a finance department’s worst nightmare.

As I write, an envelope sits on my desk stuffed full of train tickets and taxi receipts, some dating back to December 2021. No doubt there are more crumpled receipts in the corners of various handbags, or lost forever to the recycling bin. Despite my best intentions, and access to a fairly intuitive expense claim app, I am months behind and seriously out of pocket.

Researching this article has been a kind of therapy, making me appreciate what a headache my backlog must cause for our accounts department (sorry John!) and also confirming that I am not alone.

“Let’s face it, nobody likes expenses,” says the marketing video for TripActions’ new T&E solution Liquid.

Although we’ve moved on from the dark ages of filling in paper expense forms, stapling the receipts to the corners and taking them upstairs to the accounts department, the process for many is still time-consuming and tedious, and even more so for the poor finance teams who have to manually check and reconcile the claims and the travel departments struggling to get a grip on T&E spend.

“The majority of the work world just isn’t there yet,” says Michael Sindicich General Manager Liquid. “Expense reports aren’t just relics, they’re costing companies unnecessary time and money and

Expense reports aren't just relics, they're costing companies unnecessary time and employees find them exhausting and slow” employees find them exhausting and slow.

Plus, the manual process is wide open to inaccuracies and fraud.”

Changing the game

So, finance teams all over Europe must have rejoiced last December when TripActions launched Liquid in the region, promising “game-changing” technology that could reduce reporting hours by up to 66%.

Liquid policies are pre-set so that companies can impose spend controls upfront to prevent out-of-policy spend before it happens, with controls based on a traveller's role, expense category, business context or other criteria.

“With TripActions Liquid, employees can stop manually filling out and submitting expense reports because TripActions can instantly apply company policy and reconcile transactions the moment a purchase is made,” says Sindicich.

“That means expense reports are eliminated and, at the same time, finance departments no longer need to slog through the busy work of manual reconciliation, cutting time spent by up to 95% and empowering businesses to close their books four days faster.”

In March, TripActions enhanced the tool further, claiming it would revolutionise what has historically been a “frustrating, 10-step manual process” and saving companies “countless” hours.

Using AI, foreign language translation and fuzzy matching, each line item is categorised and assigned to a specific policy with more than 90% accuracy. Thanks to the use of machine learning, TripActions claims this accuracy will increase over time.

As business travel returns, the need for automation is even more vital, says Sindicich. “Businesses simply can’t afford to hold on to traditional processes any more.

At a time when companies are on the hook to cut costs and find efficiencies, modern solutions offer a path to get there.”

Rodolphe Ardant, CEO and founder of spend management specialist Spendesk, agrees. “What is most important for companies now is to have visibility and keep a close eye on their expenses and manage their spending efficiently," he explains.

"This is precisely what spend management software offers: saving money and time, providing an efficient and automated process for finance teams and employees and driving full visibility on spending.” 



Untitled-2and 1 expenses v11.indd 33 payment

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paymentS & expenSeS



Full integration

The emergence of virtual cards with pre-set spending limits and mobile apps where you simply take a photo of your receipt and ping it across to the finance team are helping to smooth the expense process but a report by Amadeus, based on research by Forrester Consulting, found that only a small percentage of organisations have an end-toend cloud-based T&E management system in place, with many still depending on outdated tools such as spreadsheets.

The report also identified widespread acknowledgement that improved T&E management processes and tools are critical to reduce costs, increase efficiency in business operations and improve employee experience.

Paul Dear, Senior Director Supplier Management at SAP Concur, believes bringing travel booking and expense

management together into one, integrated cloud platform is now more imperative due to the growing use of ‘sharing economy’ providers, such as Uber and Airbnb, where spending categories that previously came under company control are shifting to employee control.

“With this shift, sometimes finance departments within organisations cannot really see this spending until budgets have already been exceeded and forecasts have already been missed,” he says.

“With the help of an automated travel solution, businesses can now simplify the process and capture and manage more of what their employees are buying by staying connected to all their employees’ spending that’s happening through different systems and directly with suppliers.”

A stronger focus on employee wellbeing should also encourage more companies to

Sometimes finance departments within organisations cannot really see this spending until budgets have already been exceeded and forecasts have been missed" 34

invest in automated T&E systems.

Ami Taylor, Senior Director Global Product Strategy at SAP Concur, explains: “As companies continue to increase their business travel, there needs to be proactive consideration on employee wellbeing and care. Companies will need to take initiative with safeguarding and supporting their employees.

“Technology can significantly help to reduce the headache around filing expense reports and streamline booking operations, helping businesses to prepare for any challenges that lie ahead. Being aware of the various tools and technologies is a step in the right direction to help make travellers’ lives easier and adapt faster to regulation changes, such as post-Covid changes and cost-of-living uncertainties.”

Carbon checks

Payment and expense technology providers are also getting in on the action when it comes to helping corporates meet the sustainability agenda.

"As business travel continues to bounce back, organisations will also look for 

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Spend less on travel and expense.

Save time.

Save money. tripactions.com/uk

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payment &&Expenses paymentS Expenses

Businesses simply can't afford to hold on to traditional processes any more. At a time when companies are on the hook to cut costs and find efficiencies, modern solutions offer a path to get there”

 solutions and insights that can help track emissions associated with employees’ travel spend – meaning they can better understand purchasing behaviours and find ways to manage and reduce their carbon footprint," says Hana Lear, Head of Corporate and Strategic Sales, UK, for American Express.

Through its Carbon Footprint Tool, part of its Commercial Insights online reporting solution, American Express has created a dashboard so companies can see the estimated carbon emissions, not only from air travel, hotel, and ground transportation, but also from F&B and retail spending.

Earlier this year SAP Concur added the CHOOOSE Climate App to its App Centre, allowing its customers to track, manage and report travel emissions and access vetted carbon compensation programmes, and partnered with Thrust Carbon to give travel managers live emissions reporting and the ability to generate reports to share with government and industry bodies.

In June, Conferma Pay also enlisted the help of Thrust Carbon to help its customers collate 'carbon spend' information on hotel and airline transactions.

Business or pleasure?

Pointing to another wider trend, Amex research shows that 53% of business travellers are more likely to consider a 'bleisure' trip than pre-pandemic and 47%

36

are now more likely to bring family on trips.

"These elements all contribute to the blurring of professional and personal expenditure, so it’s more vital than ever before that payment providers offer the right tools to help travellers manage their account anytime and anywhere," says Lear.

On the move

Meanwhile the shift to remote working is putting more of a spotlight on digital expense solutions, potentially leading to new day-to-day expenses and business travel across an entire company rather than being limited to certain individuals or teams.

It has prompted expense management software provider Expensify to broaden its product offering. “Employees are no longer beholden to a desktop software installed by IT or sitting next to an admin who books their travel for them, so they need new booking tools that are at least as good as Google Flights,” says a spokesman. “That's why we built Concierge Travel, our AI-driven chat tool that gives every employee access to their very own travel assistant.”

It has also introduced Expensify Lounges, where its members can “always count on a beautiful space, great coffee, a good cocktail, and other people getting sh*t done”.

Talking of which, I think it’s time I made a cuppa (or a margarita?) and filed those long overdue expenses.

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Helping you to be the best in the business ...with our award-winning content

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BUSINESS TRAVEL FORUM

RAIL SUSTAINABILITY

TIME TO TAKE STOCK Rail operators and travel managers put their heads together at the inaugural Business Travel Lunch Forum

T

ravel managers called for more data and better communication about the sustainability benefits of travelling by train when they met with rail operators at the inaugural Business Travel Lunch Forum.

The event, kindly supported by South Western Railway (SWR), took place in May over a three-course lunch in one of the elegant dining rooms at The Caledonian Club in London’s Belgravia.

Buyers engaged in an informal and lively discussion with representatives from SWR, Great Western Railway, Avanti West Coast and the Rail Delivery Group.

They learned how switching to rail from other modes of transport can play a major part in helping their companies meet their sustainability goals.

While rail accounts for 10% of journeys in the UK, it is responsible for just 1% of transport emissions.

Buyers were told that a high-speed train travelling at 250mph emits just one tenth of the CO2 emissions per passenger of the average aircraft, and half the emissions of an electric car.

But in a bid to strengthen its position as the most sustainable transport option, the rail industry is working hard to further decarbonise train travel through electrification and the use of hydrogen, batteries, and the latest green technologies.

It is aiming for 100% of its electricity to be produced from renewable sources by the mid-2030s. Currently, just over 40% of the UK rail network is electrified, although 70% of trains run on electrified tracks.

Buyers said they were keen to support the rail industry and encourage their travellers to switch to trains but said the rail industry must do a better job at spreading its sustainability message.

One buyer cited an example of how the hotel sector is changing guest behaviour with signage in bathrooms encouraging people to reuse their towels and spelling out the positive environmental impact of their actions. He suggested rail operators might share similar messaging on their trains or elsewhere, extolling the sustainability benefits of going by rail.

DID YOU KNOW?

THE SAME AMOUNT OF CARBON USED TO PRODUCE ONE PLASTIC BOTTLE CAN TAKE YOU 2KM BY TRAIN, WHICH MEANS THAT FOR THE NUMBER OF PLASTIC BOTTLES THE UK USES IN A DAY, YOU COULD TRAVEL BY TRAIN AROUND THE WORLD 1,750 TIMES

38

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BUSINESS TRAVEL FORUM

The rail industry is working hard to further decarbonise train travel through electrification and the use of hydrogen, batteries, and the latest green technologies”

This event was kindly sponsored

by South Western Railway

Buyers also called for more data and better reporting to allow them to compare the carbon emissions of travelling by rail with flying or driving. They said without clear visibility for the booker on what is the most sustainable choice, they will not change their habits.

Rail operators said significant investment was being made to make this information more widely available but admitted it was still lagging behind in this respect.

Rail operators argued that alongside their sustainability credentials, trains are ideally suited to new working trends, where people want to be able to work from anywhere.

Looking to the future, they said trains carriages would become offices, with laptop sockets, more space and quiet areas. They predicted flexible train interiors where configurations can be adapted according to the time of day, passenger loads and types.

Buyers said persuading travellers to switch to rail would also be easier if more information was provided on OBTs about the products and services available in the different carriages. “What we effectively want is an NDC for rail,” said one.

DID YOU KNOW?

THE AVERAGE BRIT SPENDS 3.5 HOURS ON THEIR PHONE EVERY DAY. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, THAT CREATES CARBON EMISSIONS HIGHER THAN A 1,970KM TRAIN JOURNEY – THE SAME AS TRAVELLING FROM LONDON CITY TO GLASGOW 3.5 TIMES

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DEPARTURES

Reality check APA R T HOT E L : T U R ING L O CK E , CAM BR IDG E THE APARTHOTEL

This new complex of

enough to host a party. A bright open-

180 modern, spacious apartments, from

plan living area had a well-equipped

Edyn's aparthotel brand Locke, is in a

kitchen down one side, a sofa, dining

newly-built sustainable district, called

table and a large flat-screen smart TV,

Eddington, two miles northwest of

which shows all the info about the

Cambridge city centre (15 minutes by

property. A large L-shaped balcony links

bike). It's set around a large, partly-

the living space with the two double

covered courtyard that feels quite

bedrooms and looks out over the leafy

tropical thanks to a lawn, palms and

courtyard. Bedrooms have ample

other greenery in giant pots. The 150-

wardrobe space and the bathroom has

room Hyatt Centric Cambridge is on the

a double sink and large walk-in shower.

opposite side and the two share an

THE BUSINESS

The lobby doubles

independently-run restaurant, Kota, and

as a work or meeting space with

a bar, Dutch. There's also underground

communal desks/tables and private

parking for £15 a night, 200 bike spaces

alcoves and natural light through floor-

and 20 EV charging points.

to-ceiling windows. There are two

A cute reception desk

THE CHECK-IN

sits in the middle of a funky, industrialstyle co-working space. We were warmly

separate meeting rooms, each seating 14 and which can be joined together.

THE FACILITIES

Dutch is a classy,

greeted by Des, who was our super-

New York-style bar with a colourful

friendly, super-efficient contact for the

cocktail menu (Mezcal is the speciality).

rest of our two-night stay. The front

It's popular with locals too. At Kota we

desk is manned at all times but our

enjoyed a delicious breakfast of sour

keycards gave us 24-hour access.

dough with crushed avocado. Unusually,

THE APARTMENT

Our two-bedroom

apartment, on the second floor, was big

THE VERDICT

A FABULOUS, SUSTAINABLE APARTHOTEL COMPLEX THAT'S FIT FOR A MOTOWN QUEEN

A fabulous,

sustainable aparthotel complex that's fit for a Motown queen, literally. We stayed during The Cambridge Club music festival and discovered (from fellow guests) that the headline act, Diana Ross, was staying at Turing Locke too - in the same corridor!

47 Eddington Ave,

THE DETAILS

there's no breakfast buffet. We hired

Cambridge CB3 1SE, lockeliving.com

bikes (for free) and there's a mini gym.

From £100 a night Bev

Fearis

H OT E L : YOT E L SHO R E DITCH, L O NDO N THE HOTEL

The former East

lighting made it feel cosy. There was a

London Hotel was rebranded as a

body-length mirror, a small coat hanger

YOTEL and opened in April 2022, the

hook and a Nespresso machine. The

group’s fifth city centre hotel in the UK.

bathroom was disproportionately large,

Despite its name this 161-room hotel is

with a rainfall shower. I liked the

in Tower Hamlets – Bethnal Green tube

bathroom mirror that lit up when you

station is a two-minute walk away.

approached it or squeezed hand wash

THE CHECK-IN

This was self-service.

At a station called 'Mission Control' I

from the Urban Jungle toiletries.

THE BUSINESS

Komyuniti, the

keyed in my name and booking

lobby area cum restaurant and bar, is

reference and my Smart key card was

set up for those needing to spend some

cut – except it wasn't. It didn't work for

time on their laptops. WiFi throughout

me but an assistant was on hand to

the hotel was super-fast.

check me in and point me in the

THE FACILITIES

There's a small bar

direction of my room. Guests can also

that doubles as a breakfast counter

use their mobile devices as Smart Keys.

serving yoghurt, apples, bananas,

THE ROOM

Although compact

THE VERDICT

croissant and a bacon and egg or veggie

Minimalistic by

design, this stylish hotel is comfortable

by design, the bed occupied all the

burrito (£10pp). Komyuniti's menu

space between the end of the bathroom

features a range of pizzas, curries and

wall and the window. It felt a touch

bar bites, plus local craft beers and

claustrophobic and the oversized TV at

spirits. The hotel doesn't accept cash.

the end of the bed was too close to

There are plenty of pubs, restaurants

make viewing comfortable. However,

and fast-food outlets nearby. The hotel

Shoreditch, 309-317 Cambridge Heath

the room made smart use of space and

doesn’t have a car park of its own,

Road, E2 9LH London. yotel.com.

was super comfortable. The white walls

though parking facilities are available

Premier Queen rooms start from £140.

gave it a nice clean feel and the mood

nearby at 27 Brubeck Street, E2 OEL.

Steve Hartridge

40

IT'S NOT OFTEN A HOTEL IS DESCRIBED AS FUN BUT YOTEL SHOREDITCH WARRANTS THIS TAG

and great value. It is not often you would describe a hotel as 'fun' but it deserves this tag with its Smart technology and neat quirky touches.

THE DETAILS

YOTEL London

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DEPARTURES

FLIGHT: SINGAPOR E AIR L INE S BU SINE SS CL ASS, HE AT HR O W -SING APO R E I flew Business Class

THE FLIGHT

and cleverly-placed small shelves for

on flight SQ 317, an A380-800 series

drinks, earphones, phone, etc. The foot

aircraft. Flying time was 13 hrs, 10 mins.

cubby was positioned at an angle that

There were long

THE CHECK-IN

points towards the window, which took

lines for most check-in desks at

a bit of getting used to. Seat arm ‘wings’

Terminal Two, including for my flight. I

made it feel very private. Flattening the

was grateful I was flying Business Class

seat into a bed was quick and easy, with

and stood in line for less than 10 minutes.

a plush pillow, duvet and sheet which

BOARDING

I had an hour or so in

fitted over the head rest. Some centre

Singapore Airline’s SilverKris Lounge,

seats in the cabin opposite me folded

serving warm food and light snacks.

into a double bed for two. A free WiFi

Although mid-morning, there was none

package of 100M is available to

of the usual breakfast fare, bar a bacon

Business passengers and additional

roll that, with Covid rules still in place,

packages are available to purchase.

was served to your seat. Masks were

THE SERVICE

Superb from start

required whilst walking around the

to finish. Lunch was a sumptuous king

lounge. It was a short walk to the gate.

prawn and salmon starter with satay

Two cabin crew greeted me with smiles.

sauce, roasted halibut in parsley sauce

The entire top deck

THE SEAT

with perfectly-cooked sautéed green

THE VERDICT

Stunning! An attentive

and conscientious service with lots of

AN ATTENTIVE AND CONSCIENTIOUS SERVICE WITH LOTS OF SMILES THROUGHOUT

smiles throughout, an extraordinary high standard of cuisine and a seat with all

of the plane was dedicated to Business

beans and roast potatoes. Snacks such

Class. My window seat (95A) was in

as a salmon and cheese roll, crisps and

classy premium hand-stitched full-grain

nuts were available through the flight

leather in warm purple, grey and yellow

and an equally delicious breakfast, with

colours. It was spacious and ultra-

a fresh fruit bowl and egg-filled

comfortable, with multiple

croissant, was served two hours before

singaporeair.com

compartments for stowing essentials

landing.

Steve Hartridge

mod-cons, comfort and space made this a memorable and very enjoyable flight.

THE DETAILS

The lead-in return

Business Class London-Singapore fares is £3,472, Heathrow to Sydney £5,103.

HOT E L : BIR M ING HAM HILTO N M E T R O PO L E THE HOTEL

On the site of

brushed bronze artwork and, in the

Birmingham's famous N.E.C and just

suites, bronze drinks trolleys and coffee

five minutes from Birmingham's

tables. Good-sized desks have above-

international airport and train station,

desk power points and phone jacks and

The Hilton Birmingham Metropole

all rooms have a large LCD TV, speedy

opened back in 1976 and has, since

WiFi, tea and coffee making facilities,

then, welcomed untold numbers of

black-out curtains, hairdryer, iron/

conference delegates. But anyone who

ironing board – everything you need to

hasn't visited in recent years might not

get you through a conference.

recognise the place after a major

THE BUSINESS

The largest

makeover, giving it a new lease of life

residential conference hotel outside

with a stylish nod to the city's rich

London, the 31 spaces span more than

industrial history.

65,000sqft, the largest accommodating

THE CHECK-IN

The lobby, also

up to 2,000 people. This hotel is

home to the bar, was bustling when I

completely geared up for conferences

arrived, with most guests looking like

and you know you're in experienced,

events. A LivingWell Health Club has a

they were attending a conference.

safe hands. There's a modern, newly-

huge pool and 24-hour gym.

Check-in was super efficient.

renovated Executive Lounge too.

THE ROOMS

More than 600 of

THE FACILITIES

The Gild Bar in the

COMPLETELY GEARED UP FOR CONFERENCES, YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN EXPERIENCED, SAFE HANDS

THE VERDICT

Major investment has

ensured that this superbly-located hotel will continue to be a firm favourite for

the 789 rooms have been upgraded as

lobby stays open 24 hours, while

part of the refurb. Spanning across five

breakfast and buffet dining is in the

floors and at either end of the hotel,

Arbor, inspired by the creator of

the rooms have been designed to

Birmingham's Botanical Garden. A new

reflect Birmingham’s rich heritage

addition is Brightsmith on the Water,

(namely car manufacturing and canals)

with fabulous views of the adjoining

£90 a night.

with soft metallic headboard fabric and

lake and which can be hired for private

Bev Fearis

conferences and events.

THE DETAILS

Pendigo Way,

Birmingham, B40 1PP. hilton.com/ birminghammet. Lead-in room rate is

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DEPARTURES

On business in...

Manchester

Industrial charm will win the hearts of visitors to Manchester, last year declared the third best city in the world by TimeOut. From a vibrant music and arts scene to foodie options galore – oh, and a couple of pretty decent football clubs – this northern city has a lot to shout about, writes April Waterston

Third best city in the world?

S L E E P IN G

A fleet of buses, trams and trains

the city's accommodation options.

The ultra-cool re-purposed freight-

make travelling around Manchester

depot is just a two-minute walk from

a breeze. The Metrolink tram

Piccadilly station. The industrial

network covers four zones from the

known as the 'Jenga’ building,

space boasts a unique selection of

city centre to the suburbs. A single

or the "fun and affordable"

bars, a food market and varied

ticket costs from £1.40, or a day

Moxy Manchester City in

seating areas, all complemented by

pass for all zones is £7.10.

Manchester Piccadilly, fondly

GATEWAY TO THE NORTH

42

G etting about

Escape to Freight Island – literally!

Try the striking Leonardo Hotel

Getting there The 'Gateway to the North', Manchester Airport is just seven miles from the city centre.

It's the busiest UK airport outside of London and is well connected to Europe, the US and beyond.

For domestic travel, Manchester is easiest to reach by train, with over 50 services a day from London and a direct travel time from just over two hours. Avanti West Coast services many of the routes, with a one-way fare starting at around £70. Onward travel to the likes of Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield is also easy with regular and inexpensive services.

By car you're looking at closer to four hours travel time from London. Head up the M40 or M1 and M6 for an easy, straightforward drive.

EATIN G

A flurry of openings has broadened

the heart of Spinningfields with rooms from £99. Choose

live music and DJs. Or, for something a bit more boujee, OSMA brings a

M ust - see Sights

vibranT music AND arts scene

from not just one but two Hyatt

taste of Scandinavia to the city. Its

Head to the Northern

Hotels which opened just before

name is symbolic of the founder's

Quarter to get a feel

Covid hit – The Hyatt Regency and

hometowns (Oslo and Manchester),

for the city's artistic

Hyatt House – both in the Innovation

a heritage which is reflected in the

flair or explore Chinatown,

District on the Oxford Road Corridor.

menu. The Norwegian-Mancunian

the third largest in Europe. Or take a

For longer stays, there's a new a

fusion may sound like an odd one,

tour of one of its famous football

Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity in St

but OSMA consistently ranks as one

stadiums – Manchester United’s

Peter's Square and a CitySuites

of the best eateries in the city.

historic Old Trafford or Manchester

aparthotel in Embankment West.

City’s ultra-modern Etihad Stadium.

AF TER HOURS

Catch a gig at the newly-refurbed Band on the Wall on Swan Street, a venue ingrained in Manchester's famous music scene. The likes of Buzzcocks, the Fall and Joy Division played some of their earliest gigs at the venue back in the 70s, with today's shows offering a platform to up-and-coming local artists.

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A IS AV ENJOY LIFE IN THE FAST LANE Speed up your journey when you register with QuickPass.

Spend less time at collection and more time exploring.

Register using the most convenient option for you, whether online, via messenger or over the phone.

WELCOME TO BETTER CAR HIRE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR AVIS ACCOUNT MANAGER OR VISIT AVIS.CO.UK/QUICKPASS

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Don’t miss out.

Register by 28 September to save on Europe’s largest conference for business travel and meetings management professionals.

Join your peers and discover the latest trends and solutions with education and networking for today’s business travel professional.

(Re)Connect (Re)Connect (Re)Create at GBTA Conference 2022 – Brussels in Partnership with VDR, 8-10 November.

Register at europeconference.gbta.org

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