Gateway Magazine - Issue 5

GATEWAY The magazine of Corporate Traveller Issue 5 • Winter/Spring 2019

MEET SAM YOUR POCKET TRAVEL ASSISTANT

By t a n he w Pa ice in ay, I ris te ’ve 15: rac als 48 tiv o p e g re uid pa e a red bo ut

Hot topic:

5 must-try travel

Destination Zone:

2019 TECH TRENDS

HACKS

MELBOURNE

Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland Experience warm, friendly service and modern, comfortable facilities in 45 locations across the UK, Ireland and Czech Republic Guests can enjoy: • Majority of hotels 4 star graded · Excellent, central locations · Spacious bedrooms with comfortable bed, Flatscreen TV and spa toiletries · Stylish Bar and Restaurant · Health and Leisure Clubs at select hotels · Complimentary, high-speed WiFi • Close to local and major city train stations

For more information or to make a booking, call 0844 847 5533

W ELCO M E & CO N T EN T S Keeping up with all the latest technological advances is hard work.

For this issue’s Hot Topic, we’ve roped in tech journalist Martin Cowen to highlight all the developments that business travellers need to be aware of in 2019. There’s also plenty of info on Sam, CT’s own personal travel assistant on the move.

As new research puts a multi-billion-pound cost on wasted hours, our top-10 tips should help organisers to make the most of work meetings.

The wonderful city of Melbourne is our Destination Zone focus and we’ve got five more travel hacks, as well as a round-up of what’s going on around Corporate Traveller’s UK offices.

I N T HI S I S S UE 4-6

News: What’s happening in the world of business travel

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Interview with a Frequent Traveller: Kevin Power of Cornerstone Office Search

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Hot Topic: Technology trends you need to know about

12-13

Get Ahead: Effective meeting planning

14-15

Destination Zone: Melbourne

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Travel Hacks: New products and tips for corporates

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Charity update: CT’s good causes

18-19

Village Voices: Around CT’s UK regional offices

Apart from a brief mention in our news section on page 4, we’ve managed to make this issue a Brexit-free zone!

Lisa James

Editor editorgatewaymagazine@corptraveller.co.uk

CONTACT D E TA I LS Editor:

Lisa James

Designed by: Popi, Unit 11 West Point Business Park, Aylesford, ME20 6XJ www.popi.co.uk Contact:

Corporate Traveller, 11th Floor, CI Tower, High Street, New Malden, KT3 4TE corptraveller.co.uk

Email us at:

gatewaymagazine@corptraveller.co.uk

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N E W S & D E V E LO P M E N T S CORP ORAT E T RAV E LLE R NE WS C T L AUNCHES PERS ONAL A SS I S TANT ON T HE MOV E

CT AT BT S

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he Corporate Traveller team is looking forward to meeting up with partners and clients at this year’s Business Travel Show – the international event for business travel.

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orporate Traveller has launched Sam, a groundbreaking mobile app for clients, which supports them on the move before, during and after trips with all aspects of travel.

CT will be on stand B30, where there will be a drinks reception after close of business on the first day of the show.

Itinerary

Sam blends artificial intelligence and the expertise of CT consultants to deliver personalised relevant information via a conversational interface with travellers on their smartphone.

Sam

Sam

BTS celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The show takes place at Olympia, London, on February 20 and 21.

See you there!

CT ON BRE X I T Yes, please

Sam is a highly interactive, travel-savvy and anticipatory ‘Smart Assistant Manager’ that makes recommendations and performs actions that are relevant to an individual’s trip.

Sam assists business travellers with everything from itinerary management, air and hotel bookings, online check-in, flight updates and local weather forecasts to security notifications, taxis, transfers, city guides and destination information.

Sam can query, process and respond to data from a multitude of sources and suppliers virtually instantly, providing a ‘personal assistant’ service on the move.

Sam picks up on cues and updates travellers accordingly. For example, the night before a flight, Sam sends the weather forecast for the traveller’s destination; reminds the user to check in online; advises how long it will take to get to the airport; alerts the user if their flight is running late and tells them their flight’s departure gate.

CT UK general manager Andy Hegley said: “Sam is dedicated to making life easier for the business traveller throughout the whole process, giving the traveller a much more enjoyable experience whilst on the move, helping reduce the stresses and strains of travelling on business, and supporting employers’ duty of care responsibilities.

“Sam aggregates all the information a traveller needs in one place at the point when the user needs it. It is fully integrated with our booking and expense management systems so that all bookings made via Corporate Traveller’s consultants automatically appear in the traveller’s itinerary.

“We are the only TMC that is providing this level of support for SME clients’ travellers.”

Find out more about Sam at the Business Travel Show, and on page 11 of this issue.

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espite uncertainty over leaving the European Union, Corporate Traveller expects to make more travel bookings for clients this year as a result of Brexit.

CT UK general manager Andy Hegley said: “Our SME customers who trade overseas will still need to travel whatever the outcome of the Brexit deal, in order to cement existing relations and establish new ones. If anything, they will need to travel more.

“We have already seen more bookings, for example, in terms of inbound travel to the UK from US-headquartered clients, who use us as their European hub for business travel management.”

According to Andy, the top two priorities for CT’s clients in 2019 will be cost savings and duty of care.

“Savings will still be high on the agenda for SME businesses, both in terms of identifying missed and realised savings, particularly as the UK enters the Brexit phase after March this year.

So it will be even more important that they get the best value and advice on their travel policy and spend,” he added.

“Travellers are also increasingly concerned about their personal safety and work-life balance.”

2019 will also be a milestone year for Corporate Traveller UK as the TMC will mark its 20th anniversary. The Corporate Traveller story began in 1993 when the brand was launched as Flight Centre Travel Group’s first business travel operation in Australia, but it was 1999 when Corporate Traveller was introduced to the UK market.

MARRI OT T REVEAL S NE W LOYALT Y PROGRAM M E

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arriott International launches its new umbrella loyalty programme this month.

The hotel giant will combine its Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest programmes into one scheme, called Marriott Bonvoy.

The brand launch will be backed by a multi-million-dollar global media campaign and promotion at high-profile events such as the FIA Formula One World Champions, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, the Oscars, Dubai Jazz Festival and The Hong Kong Sevens.

For the most frequent guests, there are two new Elite-status tier names. Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite will replace Platinum Premier Elite for members who stay over 75 nights, while Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite will replace Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador.

This top Elite status tier recognises members who stay more than 100 nights and spend more than $20,000 annually.

The SPG and Ritz-Carlton Rewards apps are being deactivated and the current Marriott app will automatically update to the new Marriott Bonvoy programme.

The decision to go ahead with calling the loyalty programme Bonvoy has surprised some people as, when the name was leaked at the end of 2018, it wasn’t particularly popular.

In a poll of readers by loyalty expert The Points Guy, 92% of respondents said they didn’t like it.

TR A FFIC CONGES T I ON HI T S P ROD UCT I V I T Y

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ongestion on British roads is getting worse and is hitting firms in the pocket, with 41% seeing profits dip as a direct result.

Research from Close Brothers Asset Finance’s quarterly survey of businesses in the UK and Ireland reveals 83% of SMEs say traffic congestion is ‘a problem’, with many saying it impacts their ability to operate at full capacity.

In London the problem is particularly acute, where 62% are struggling to trade properly and 57% are losing profits.

Close Brothers CEO Neil Davies said UK drivers wasted on average 31 hours in rush-hour traffic last year.

“The UK is the world’s 10th most congested country and London is Europe’s second most gridlocked city after Moscow. Manchester, Birmingham, Luton and Edinburgh complete the UK’s top five major areas affected,” he added.

NE W S I N B R I E F Pointless meetings cost money The average employee spends two hours a week in ‘pointless’ meetings, potentially costing companies around the world more than US$541 billion and wasting 24 billion hours each year. Research by scheduling platform Doodle showed 72% of UK professionals reported regularly losing valuable working time to poorly organised meetings. For tips on getting more out of meetings, see page 12.

Holiday Inn Heathrow The Holiday Inn London Heathrow M4 Junction 4 has refurbished its public spaces, with an open lobby designed like a laid-back living room, where guests can unwind with comfy seating, games, TV and magazines. For those who need to prep for a meeting, work remotely or make a long-distance Skype call, the new E-Bar offers a great space to plug in and get connected with lots of power points.

New menus BA has introduced new menus for World Traveller Plus premium economy passengers, including a third main meal option and a more substantial second hot meal later in the flight. Customers can pre-order main meals on the BA website. A new World Traveller Plus seat will be installed in BA’s A350 aircraft, due to come into service later this year.

Off the rails Nearly half of rail commuters are ‘frequently stressed out’, according to research by Which? A poll of 4,000 people found 17% missed out on family time, 9% were disciplined at work and 6% said they had to spend more on childcare as a result of train delays.

Distrust of the rail industry has grown from 27% to 32% in the past year.

The negative impact on travellers is described as ‘shocking’ by Which?

Mondrian is renamed Iconic South Bank design hotel Mondrian London has been renamed Sea Containers London, paying homage to the history of the iconic building in which it sits. The property is now under management of Lore Group, a collection of independent hotels. Its popular rooftop bar has been renamed 12th Knot.

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N E W S & D E V E LO P M E N T S SNEAK PEAK AT LONDO N CI T Y’ S PL ANNED NEW T ERM I NA L

NE WS I N B R I E F Virgin and Delta launch self-serve bag drop Virgin Atlantic and code-share partner Delta have opened 18 self-service bagdrop units at Heathrow T3. Customers flying to the US can drop their luggage off in under two minutes. The self-service units are synched to the airlines’ bag tracking technology.

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ondon City Airport has released artist images showing how its new terminal will transform the customer experience.

The airport says the work, which is part of an overall £500 million development, will provide four times the size of floor space, with better facilities including new shops, restaurants and bars.

The major overhaul forms part of the £500 million City Airport Development Programme, which began in 2017 and also includes eight new aircraft stands and a parallel taxiway, next to the runway.

LCY’s existing 1987 structure was built to accommodate around one million passengers a year. Passenger numbers have grown at a rapid rate and, in 2019, the airport is on track to welcome five million passengers for the first time.

Once the transformation is complete, in 2022, the airport will be capable of accommodating a further two million passengers a year and 30,000 additional flights.

London City Airport CEO Robert Sinclair said: “We welcome millions of visitors every year right into the heart of London and we want to create an unforgettable first and last impression of London, showcasing the very best of the capital and demonstrating it is open for business and thriving.”

DREAML I NER JOI NS HK ROUT E

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tihad Airways will introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its daily scheduled service from Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong from the end of March.

The two-class aircraft, with nextgeneration business and economy cabins, will replace the Airbus A330-200 aircraft currently operating the route.

Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft features innovative, award-winning cabin designs and products, complemented by the airline’s acclaimed service and hospitality offering.

Flights include food and beverage managers in business class, with 28 ‘business studios’ offering direct aisle access, a fully-flat bed of up to 80.5 inches in length, and an increase of 20% in personal space. Each business studio is leather-upholstered and equipped with an in-seat massage and pneumatic cushion control system, which enables guests to adjust the firmness and comfort of their seat. Studios also have an 18-inch personal touch-screen TV with noisecancelling headsets.

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PremiAir class Manchester Airport plans to be the first major UK airport to open a private terminal, offering a ‘private jet experience’ to passengers flying on commercial airlines. New designs of the planned terminal, called PremiAir, have been released. The terminal is available for all passengers, irrespective of class or destination. Passengers get a personalised welcome, speedy baggage processing, an elegant lounge with complimentary food and drink, and a dedicated security channel before being driven straight to their aircraft in a private car.

New Canary Wharf hotel Hilton has opened the Lincoln Plaza London in Canary Wharf, part of its upscale Curio Collection. The hotel has a fitness centre, flexible meeting rooms as well as several dining outlets, cocktail bar and outdoor terrace, which is open year-round, with external heating and umbrellas provided.

Sleep well Air New Zealand is promising business passengers will sleep better and wake up extra refreshed with an intelligently designed eye mask featuring moulded indentations that allow for natural eye movement and a quirky birdlike beak that provides a comfortable seal against the face to completely block out light.

Dubbed the ‘Bird Mask’, designed by Allbirds from sustainable products and is available exclusively in ANZ’s business premier cabin on selected routes, including its London-LA service.

And finally…

Frontier Airlines has defended its policy of asking passengers to tip flight attendants, saying good service should be rewarded. The carrier’s card payment screen says: “Gratuities are appreciated”, with default tips set at 15%-25% although customers can also set their own rate.

D O YO U CO M E H ER E O F T EN? O N E C T C L I E N T R E V E A L S W H AT T H E Y R E A L LY T H I N K A B O U T T R A V E L L I N G ON BUSINESS

Boxing fan Kevin Power, director and co-founder of Cornerstone Office Search, London, says life on the road would be more fun if he could take the office dog My alarm goes off at…

While on business I miss…

5.30am.

My own bed.

My job is…

I pass the time on a long flight by…

Helping businesses of all sizes find their dream office space. One day

Watching a film I’ve not seen yet.

we can be guiding a small start-up to get their very first office and the

My most memorable business travel experience was…

next be dealing with a large corporation acquiring a whole building.

Upgrading from business class to first class on a trip to the US with British Airways. The crew was so attentive and it was worth every penny.

A typical week involves…

Lots of networking and meetings to create future opportunities.

It’s a competitive market so I spend a lot of time building mutually beneficial relationships.

The best part of business travel is…

After many years of jamming myself into economy it is a pleasure to be able to enjoy good food and drink in the comfort of business class.

But it’s stressful when…

There’s the ever-present threat of cancellations and delays or – my pet hate – the person in front reclining their seat fully as soon as the fasten seatbelt sign goes off.

The one thing I’d like to change about my travel policy is…

Free travel for the office dog, Lady, to come with us on business trips!

My worst business travel experience…

My broken seat on a trip to Las Vegas, which meant I had the same conversation with every flight attendant during take off and landing about not being able to put the seat into an upright position. The person behind me wasn’t best pleased either.

Apart from friends or loved ones, the person I’d most like to sit next to in business class is…

I’m a huge boxing fan, so it’d have to be promoter Eddie Hearn.

I never travel without…

A good book.

My preferred airline is…

British Airways or Virgin.

The best hotel I’ve ever

“ MY PE T HAT E IS T HE PE R SO N IN F R O N T R E CL IN IN G T HE IR SE AT F U L LY AS SO O N AS T HE FAST E N SE AT B E LT SIG N G O E S O F F ”

stayed in on business was…

Constance Moofushi in the Maldives.

Most recent trip: St Lucia Next trip: Dubai Would love to go back to: Maldives Never again: Morocco. I got terrible food poisoning there Pack light or for all eventualities? For all eventualities Travel policy stickler or rule breaker? Stickler. I’m the boss, so I have to set a good example!

Thinking of getting a new office?

Get in touch, quoting Corporate Traveller. cornerstoneofficesearch.com 0203 933 8792 enquiries@cornerstoneofficesearch.com

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H OT TO P I C : T E C H N O LO GY 2 0 1 9 You don’t need an app to tell you technology continues to shape how we live our lives, not only at home, but in the office and on the road. Travel tech journalist Martin Cowen picks out a few topics and trends that are already playing a part in the lives of CT clients…or soon will be

GDPR The first anniversary of GDPR this May might not be cause for celebration – it certainly won’t be at Google HQ as the search giant wheels out its vast legal team to challenge a €50 million fine from the EU, which claims it broke new European privacy laws.

By going after Google so quickly, the European Court is showing it’s serious about making sure the tech giants play fair. But the regulations apply to businesses of all sizes. Becoming GDPR compliant is not a one-off activity, it needs monitoring.

DATA BREACHES GDPR was intended not only to police how personal data is used, it also upped the ante in terms of keeping personal data out of the hands of hackers. Businesses that allow criminals to access and extract information about customers will face heavier fines than before.

The Marriott/Starwood hack, which hit the headlines at the end of last year, was one of the biggest to come to light – over 380 million records were stolen between 2014 and 2018. Investigations into this continue. Elsewhere, BA’s poor customer service response last September to a breach impacting 400,000 online transactions was criticised as much as the hack itself.

SMEs can ensure they aren’t dragged into a PR twitterstorm by keeping their systems secure. Staff training can keep some of the entry-level hacks at bay – use strong passwords, don’t open attachments from unfamiliar email addresses, make sure people who leave do not have access to the systems. To repel the serious hackers, however, there are many sophisticated fraud prevention products on the market.

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PERSONALISATION We are all familiar with the Amazon, eBay and Netflix marketing mantra ‘people who bought/watched this also bought…’

This also applies to travel: Think the menu-pricing approach introduced by the low-cost airlines, search filters on consumer travel booking sites, or the ability to select a double room or suite on a hotel’s own website. And in 2019, IATA’s New Distribution Capability initiative is expected to start delivering on its personalisation promise.

Clients of Corporate Traveller and sister company FCM Travel Solutions will be among the first to experience truly personalised air shopping and booking.

However, there’s still a ‘data sharing disconnect’ at play.

Studies have found Brits like the idea of having an offer targeted specifically for them, but are reluctant to share the data required to make that happen.

SELF-SERVICE Business travellers have been using online check-in for flights ever since it was possible to do so, and tech advances mean travellers can handle many other aspects of their trip. For example, mobile check-in at hotels is increasingly common; booking a cab is now done by an app rather than via the concierge; flight disruptions can be handled automatically; receipts can be scanned and expenses filed from your phone.

This focus on online self-service means that when the traveller needs off-line help or advice – in advance of, during or after the trip – the quality of service must be first class and seamless. Travellers appreciate that however good the tech, sometimes an expert is needed.

CHATBOTS Messaging platforms such as Facebook Messenger and WeChat are the consumer-facing front end for some very clever technology behind the screen. Advances in natural language processing mean that it’s possible to have a text message conversation with a virtual assistant – or chatbot – which can flow as smoothly as an exchange with a ‘real human being’.

As well as recognising what is being said, today’s chatbots are connected to various databases and can answer questions directly. A well-designed chatbot can not only understand: “What hotels are available in London tonight and are within policy?” but also answer the question accurately and in some cases even take the conversation through to an actual booking.

Many chatbots have been programmed to recognise their limitations. They know at which point the conversation needs to be passed onto a human being. The common wisdom, at least among the travel focused startups in this arena, is that 80% of queries can be dealt with by intelligent automated responses while 20% need a high-touch human interaction.

Another development is that chatbots can be proactive and help manage existing bookings. A chatbot can remind the traveller about departure times and gates, share weather updates or offer an upgrade.

Corporate Traveller clients in the UK can now experience artificial and human intelligence working together following the launch of its Smart Assistant for Mobile (Sam) developed by and already widely used by sister company FCM Travel Solutions (see page 11 for more about Sam).

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H OT TO P I C : T E C H N O LO GY 2 0 1 9 VOICE Tech giants such as Google, Microsoft and IBM have developed voice recognition software that is almost 100% accurate, meaning that the technology is now good enough to become a mainstream global phenomenon. Businesses can find uses for voice search in the office environment as easily as the well-groomed modern families seen in the TV adverts for smart speakers in the home.

Travellers will increasingly find voice assistants in their hotel rooms. Amazon has launched Alexa for Hospitality – a dedicated version that helps guests ‘play music, order towels, control in-room temperature or lighting, find local restaurants and attractions, make calls and even check out’. Marriott International is rolling it out at certain properties across its portfolio.

The next step in voice recognition is real-time translation.

Human experts will always be in demand for the high profile and highly-sensitive tasks, but instant automated translation products for travellers on the road is starting to happen.

HYPERLOOP Self-driving cars seem old-fashioned and quaint when compared with the advances in ‘hyperloop’ technology. At the risk of oversimplifying years of research, think of it as a Japanese bullet train, made of super-strong plastic, in a magnetic vacuum tube, capable of travelling faster than a commercial aircraft.

Virgin Group has a stake in Virgin Hyperloop One and Sir Richard Branson’s well-oiled PR and publicity machine will ensure that the public are kept up-to-speed on its developments. Liverpool to Manchester in seven minutes, anyone? And if you think this is unrealistic, think again.

US-based Hyperloop Travel Technologies (HTT) is working with authorities in the UAE and aims to have some sort of hyperloop line ready in 2020, according to its CEO.

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ROBOTS Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing has progressed from mass production, to assembly lines, to automation, to industrial robots.

In the hotel and hospitality industry, robots and automation have been part of the conversation for some time. More than 20 years ago, restaurant chain YO! Sushi introduced UK diners to conveyor belts bringing food to the table and robots serving drinks.

Since then, robotics has progressed to the point where, in 2015, a hotel chain in Japan was able to open a property staffed (almost) entirely by robots.

But at the start of this year, the owner announced he was taking many of the robots out of service. He realised robots were not very good at guest relations and were in fact adding to the workload for the human staff.

This is not to say that the humans have overcome the threat. Chinese internet and technology giant Alibaba has opened Fly Zoo in Hangzhou, a 290-room hotel that serves as a showcase and live test environment for many futuristic hotel concepts, including robots.

WHAT’S NEXT? No-one really knows what the next big thing will be – quantum computing? 6G? Hypersonic flights? Rest assured there are more gamechangers to come, and travel will be one of the early adopters.

MORE ABOUT SAM Sam is fully integrated with Corporate Traveller’s YOUR.CT technology platform. It currently gives users the following features: ooking of flights and hotels as YOUR.CT Assistant connects to Corporate B Traveller’s online booking tool Seeqa I tinerary management: Users can view all their flights and hotels for each trip in one place Weather updates Traffic notifications Online check-in The option for the user to contact their CT consultant via chat interface Travel alerts

Today, 13th of December

By the way, I’ve also prepared a nice interactive guide about Paris 15:48 You’ll find info on currency, tipping, things to see, recommended restaurants…

15:48

Destination city guides Taxi and transfer booking options (via Uber and Lyft) Trip synching with the user’s smartphone calendar

About Paris

Practical stuff and guide

Facility to share trip information with colleagues un yearly stats, such as: “You’ve spent 87 hours flying – that’s equivalent F to watching 9.6 Star Wars films,” or “You’ve travelled 12,277 miles – that’s enough distance to travel the Tran Siberian route.”

In 2019, additional features will be added to Your.CT Assistant via Sam including:

15A 125V AC Plug

French Language

3.92$ Coffee

View more about Paris

Additional booking capabilities for rail and ground transport

Sam will notice if the user has only booked a flight without a hotel reservation, and will recommend a suitable hotel for example where other colleagues are also staying Maps of airport terminals

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GET AHE AD: EFFECTIVE M B U S I N E S S K N O W- H O W, T I P S A N D M OT I VAT I O N TO H E L P YO U A C H I E V E YO U R G O A L S

The average worker spends two hours a week in ‘pointless’ meetings, which waste money – over US$541 billion globally this year, according to meetings scheduling platform Doodle – as well as time

Doodle’s State of Meetings Report 2019 found two out of every three meetings are ‘pointless’, with 72% of UK workers regularly losing valuable working time to poorly organised meetings.

More than a third of people surveyed for the report believe unnecessary meetings are the biggest cost to their organisation and almost half said endless meetings mean they don’t have time to do the rest of their work.

Here’s Gateway’s 10-step guide to effective meeting planning.

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Plan it The saying ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ applies to meetings too, as those that aren’t well planned won’t be very successful. Ask a few questions beforehand, such as: What’s the purpose of the meeting, what needs to be accomplished, what decisions need to be made, who’ll make them and who needs to attend.

Is it necessary?

Does the meeting actually need to go ahead? If it’s to get weekly updates from colleagues, could they email them over instead or take part in a WhatsApp conversation, which would take less time and hassle?

Ditch distractions One surefire way to hinder the smooth running of meetings is participants scrolling through emails, checking Instagram posts, polishing off that power point on their laptop or being called out of the conference room to take a phone call. Make it a rule that all phones and laptops are switched off and put out of the way.

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E MEETING PL ANNING

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Who needs to be there?

There’s no point having a meeting if key people aren’t there, for example, to make a financial decision. Similarly, if it’s not essential for someone in the team to be there, then don’t insist they attend.

Communications expert and founder of the Latimer Group, Dean Brenner says: “We all have too many meetings to attend; take it off someone’s to-do list.” Make sure everyone who is there knows what the objective is and who is responsible for running the meeting.

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Speak plainly Ditch the jargon, don’t beat around the bush and get to the point! Experts suggest spending a few minutes beforehand thinking about the message that needs to be put across. If discussions transgress into last night’s TV, then calmly bring everyone back to the topic on the agenda. In his book Principles: Life and Work, financier Ray Dalio, founder of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, suggests keeping everyone on track by writing the objectives on a white board.

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Keep time We’ve all been to meetings that don’t start promptly because people haven’t turned up. We also know those meetings that don’t get started until the small talk’s out of the way.

The most productive meetings start on time, end on time and stick to the programme. Help things keep moving by assigning a timekeeper and, if there are lots of items on the agenda, allocate a set amount of time for each one, then move on. Ray Dalio suggests a ‘two minute rule’ – an uninterrupted period of time when one person can explain their thinking before someone else jumps in. Another tip: When scheduling meetings, leave a break between the end of one and the start of another.

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It’s a numbers game In large meetings it’s unlikely everyone will get a chance to be heard, in fact, the Harvard Business Review suggests bigger meetings are less effective and the bigger the size, the less people feel they have to contribute. If different parts of the agenda require different people, schedule the meeting so people can leave after their bit or come later. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk suggests cancelling large meetings or, if they must take place, keeping them ‘very short’.

Harvard Business Review suggests bigger meetings are not as effective and the bigger the size, the less people feel they have to contribute

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Take notes Making brief notes of what’s been said makes attendees feel their input is worthwhile. It also, of course, means nothing is forgotten about or misconstrued. Whoever is taking minutes should write them up and make them available to see as soon as possible.

Why am I here?

Set out an agenda and share it with attendees well in advance, so people know why they’re there in the first place.

Not only does this enable everyone to see what’s being discussed and how they can prepare for the meeting, it also saves time setting the scene, so everyone can get down to business straightaway.

Recap and define the next step Don’t just end the meeting and let everyone run out of the door. Instead, recap what’s been said, identify what needs to be done, who needs to do it and when it needs to be accomplished. According to Dean Brenner, this ‘could be the most crucial step to having a meeting pay off’.

He suggests outlining each action item, who is responsible, in what time frame. Send out before the end of the next day.

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT Avoid ‘same-old meeting syndrome’ by trying these ideas to make work discussions a bit different Let someone else lead the meeting Pass it over to a colleague who knows the subject well or a capable member of the team.

Change the venue The meeting doesn’t have to take place in a conference room.

If it’s a nice day, take the meeting outside or go for a stroll: Walk and talk!

Get a new perspective Bring someone in from elsewhere to give a new perspective on an issue. They might ask the obvious questions that those close to the topic can’t see.

Stand up!

Stand up meetings go quicker and are more productive, according to research.

If all else fails…walk out!

Tesla’s Elon Musk suggests ending a meeting or a phone call if it’s failing to serve a useful purpose.

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D E S T I N AT I O N ZO N E:

MELBOURNE Melbourne, Australia’s most cultural city, is fast becoming the nation’s business hub and Australian Bureau of Statistics data suggests it’s set to overtake Sydney as the country’s most populated city by 2030. Its forward-thinking business culture attracts many innovative start-ups and welcomes business travellers from around the globe. The Central Business District (CBD) is fairly simple to navigate, thanks to its logical grid layout, and the city has more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the world.

FY I Time difference: GMT+11 Arriving: Visitors will more than likely fly into Tullamarine (40mins by cab; $60-$80 out of peak time to the city centre).

Skybus services run direct to Melbourne CBD, St Kilda and other areas every 10 minutes. Tickets can be bought at the airport or pre-purchased online and cost $20 one-way.

Anyone travelling by Jetstar or Tiger Airways might pass through Avalon airport, a little further away. Skybus departs for the city every 30 minutes. Cabs costs $120-$150; an Uber costs $90-120.

Melbourne resident Carolyn Cruickshank – or CC as she’s known – works for CT’s sister company, Flight Centre Management, and shares her tips on where to go and what to do.

“Melbourne is such a vibrant hub of cultures and colour.

Discover its famous laneways decorated in street art, intersecting high-end avenues lined with boutiques and buzzing bar scene offering an array of nightcaps to finish off a hard day’s work.”

Tipping: No set rule in Melbourne. Suggest 10% in restaurants.

Working: There are plenty of shared office spaces for longerterm business travellers. Missing your pooch? Exchange in Richmond is a dog-friendly, medium-size office with flexible membership starting from 12 days.

EATING AND DRINKIN G Dining to impress The French Brasserie on Malthouse Lane is said to be the best French cuisine in the city, serving express lunches and decadent five-course meals, with delicacies such as escargot and freshcaught mussels. With open spaces and intimate seating, it’s the perfect place to chat business. After the meal, head out to the terrace for a glass of wine.

More laid back Rosa’s Canteen, on the corner of Little Bourke St and Thomson St, is a friendly Italian offering authentic food, served by Nonna Rosa, that is perfect for a business lunch.

Getting around: Melbourne has a well-connected transport system. A free tram zone covers Docklands in the west, Flinders Street station to the south, Queen Victoria Markets in the north and Parliament House to the east. Anyone planning to cross the designated free-zone borders will need to tap their Myki smartcard, which can be purchased at the airport or participating retailers.

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True-blue Aussie option For fine dining and cooked-to-perfection Australian beef, try one of the three Rare Steakhouse restaurants in the CBD. More casual Try Crafty Squire, on Russell St, for casual lunch or a beer. It’s in the heart of the CBD and a short walk from the Yarra River.

Late-night option Cookie, on Swanston St, is a beer hall, eating house and disco in Melbourne’s CBD, serving Asian cuisine and cocktails in a large open space.

Cool and classy Bar 1806, on Exhibition St, serves cocktails in a vintage setting, while Beneath Driver Lane in Postal Lane, CBD, has a cool atmosphere.

S I G HTS E E I N G The laneways: Melbourne has an interesting network of cool laneways (narrow streets), including Hosier Lane, which is home to some of Melbourne’s greatest street art; Somerset Place, behind the busy Elizabeth Street, which has an eclectic mix of shops; and Market Lane, near Chinatown, a multicultural area that’s great for dumplings, Cantonese food or Bavarian beer.

Victoria Market: Open Friday-Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday, it’s a lively food hub.

W H E R E T O S TAY ?

Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders Conveniently located in the CBD, within the free tram zone, on the corner of Flinders Lane and Spencer Street. Holiday Inn has newly renovated rooms and is a short walk from Southern Cross Station and some of the best dining options and attractions that Melbourne has to offer. SmartSTAY extras for CT customers: Complimentary breakfast and wi-fi, plus 400 IGH rewards points per stay.

Park Hyatt Melbourne Overlooking St Patrick’s Cathedral, Fitzroy Gardens and the cosmopolitan mix of Victorian and modern architecture, Park Hyatt Melbourne offers exclusive, luxury accommodation in the heart of the city.

The five-star hotel is centrally located in Melbourne’s CBD, offering the city’s largest 240 guest rooms and suites. SmartSTAY extras for CT customers: Complimentary breakfast and wi-fi, plus room upgrade, if available.

Aerial view On the city outskirts, the Eureka Tower’s Skydeck is open every day with 360-degree views of Melbourne from 88 floors up.

Wow friends with a picture from inside the Vertigo green screen installation, which gives the illusion of holding on for dear life 285 metres above the ground.

Work it off Melbourne has one of the most picturesque 3.8km running tracks around the Botanical Gardens, called the Tan. Other attractions

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins This five-star hotel is in the heart of the shopping dining and theatre district of Melbourne city centre on the Parisend of Collins Street, named for the area’s old-world European character and cosmopolitan cultural attractions.

SmartSTAY extras for CT customers: Complimentary breakfast and wi-fi, 20% food and beverage discount, plus room upgrade, if available.

Take a day or night tour of the Yarra River.

Ride the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel at Docklands.

Visit the Arts Centre for shows and recitals.

Stop off at National Gallery of Victoria on the beautiful St Kilda Rd Boulevard for fine art exhibitions.

To find the best deals and see all available hotels visit www.corptraveller.co.uk/smartstay and check out our smartSTAY range.

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5 GENIUS

TRAVELLER HACKS Check out the latest apps, products and tips designed to make travelling on business easier

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Make flights and other travel journeys more bearable with noise-cancelling headphones. What Hi-Fi? magazine rates the Lindy BNX-60 as the best budget buy, for around £80.

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lindy.co.uk

GET SHIRT Y

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Say goodbye to ironing with Hardvark’s range of anti-bacterial, anti-wrinkle, ultra-breathable, temperature regulating business shirts. Founder JJ Symons came up with the idea after returning from a ski weekend then immediately packing for a business trip.

Knowing his newly-ironed work shirts would have to be re-done on arrival, he created alternatives made from lightweight merino, the comfy, stay-clean, base-layer material he’d worn on the slopes.

It’s more expensive than cotton, but, as web reviews show, it’s won many fans. First-time customers get 10% off.

Price: From £115 hardvark.co

SA M’S THE M AN

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We couldn’t leave out CT’s own new hack, Smart Assistant for Mobile (Sam), the pocket travel assistant that offers everything from itinerary management bookings, service and support. Sam uses a blend of artificial intelligence, integrated consultant support and expertise to get in touch anytime there’s something about a travel plan the user needs to be aware of.

See page 11 for more information

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M A D E U P! No more rummaging around with this fabulous lightweight, waterproof, canvas drawstring make-up bag by Vavabox, which folds out flat so users can easily see all the contents. Inside there are two zip pockets for keeping jewellery or hair clips. When it’s time to pack, simply throw in all the bits, pull on the drawstring, then fasten with the Velcro from the outer pockets.

Price: Around £8 from Amazon and other retailers

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GET MORE ‘ B L E I SU R E’ T I M E If business travel dates are flexible, anyone wanting to add on a few pre- or post-meeting leisure days can maximise holiday leave during 2019 by thinking strategically. For example, there are three opportunities for getting a nine-day break by taking just four work days off (May 4-12; May 25-June 2 and August 24-September 1). Alternatively, enjoy a 10-day holiday by booking four days off work around Easter (April 13-22), or extend the Christmas break into a 16-day getaway by taking seven work days off (December 21January 5).

C H A R I T Y U P DAT E

JOHANNESBURG SCHOOL KITCHEN PROJECT HEATS UP Corporate Traveller staff’s fundraising endeavours have paid off and a total of £100,000 has been raised to pay for work on a new kitchen at the Qhobosheane Primary School in Soweto, Johannesburg.

CT’s parent company charity division, Flight Centre Foundation, is currently running a five-year ‘adopt a school’ initiative and money raised so far has gone to renovate classrooms and play areas at the school.

Now the deposit has been paid and work will soon start on a brand-new kitchen. This will replace the current ‘kitchen’ of a stove and sink in a shipping container, where lunch is prepared for almost 500 pupils every day. For some kids, the school provides their only meal.

Staff have taken on activities such as London and Brighton marathons, Three Peaks Challenge, sky dives and 100km walks, as well as office-based bake sales, World Cup sweepstakes and Royal Wedding celebrations to raise the funds.

Emily West, peopleworks support consultant at Flight Centre Travel Group said: “The kitchen designs have been approved and work will commence shortly.

“We had a couple of volunteers recently take a day out of their holiday to go and volunteer at the school and build one of the vegetable patches that will form part of the new kitchen and feeding scheme.

“We recently funded for all the children to have vision screening and comprehensive eye examinations. Twenty-nine children were identified as needing glasses, which were all provided using funds raised by staff.”

MIND – THE MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY CT is also continuing to support its UK charity partner, Mind Three members of staff are training for April’s London Marathon, fundraising for the charity’s mental-health projects.

In addition, the UK officers and CT’s ‘charity champs’ have worked hard to fundraise over the last few months, organising bake sales, raffles, pub quizzes and other money-spinning events.

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VILL AGE VOICES

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TE A M A P P-RA I S A L Team members from across the country came together to find out more about CT’s new assistant on the move, Sam. Pictured at the get-together are: 1: Donna Crampton and Luke Thickett 2: F rom left: Andy Hegley, Aisha Battersby, Hannah Clinton, Holly Cairns 3: From left: Peter Jamieson, Steven Bridger, Gary Ward 4: From left: Donna Crompton and Lisa Leonelli 5: Henry Jones and Cara Dzivane

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W O(R)KING FOR FREE Big shout out to the kind-hearted staff at CT’s Woking office, who forfeited their last hour’s wages of 2018 in a fundraising initiative organised by senior manager Chris Johns.

WE L L D O N E , A N TON Wimbledon office assistant manager Anton Kaniecki achieved his goal of running every day in 2018 to clock up at least 1,000 miles in 12 months.

In fact, Anton (pictured here on his final run of the year) smashed his target of £1,000 to raise a staggering £2,153, which has been matched by Flight Centre to make a grand total of £4,306.

Money raised will go to Mind.

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Through Corporate Traveller’s regional UK hubs, clients have access to a team of local experts to ensure they get the most from their corporate spend. Each issue, we’ll bring readers a round-up of office news – and ask some of the team a travel-related question.

This issue, we ask:

How do you combat jetlag?

Henry Jones Marketing manager, New Malden

Hannah Gillespie, Senior manager, Bristol and Oxford

“When travelling west make sure to stay awake until at least 9pm to ensure you’re fully rested for the next day.“ Edinburgh Glasgow

“I often take short trips to New York to visit my dad and want to make the most of every minute, so I take melatonin tablets. They help me sleep for a normal amount of time on the first night in the US and this completely resets my body clock. It’s naturally occurring in the body too, so you don’t wake up feeling groggy like you might with sleeping tablets.“

Newcastle

Leeds

Lisa Leonelli, Operational leader, New Malden

Hull

Manchester Liverpool Loughborough Birmingham

Melanie Saunders, Inside account manager, Bristol (works across the UK) “Start eating and sleeping on local time straightaway and get as much natural daylight as possible.“

Oxford Bristol

London

Woking Gatwick

“I set my watch on take-off to the local time at destination. I then try to nap, sleep and eat based on those times so when I land I have tricked my body into acclimatising to the new time.“

Clerkenwell Chancery Lane Vauxhall Wimbledon New Malden Waterloo

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