Savings is the key
Carlson Wagonlit Travel Indonesia general manager, Ms Rita Rompas
Every company has a travel policy and our role is to give them advice and see that the policy is adhered to. The travel policy is “the bible”.
Creativity lies in ways to save as much as possible. We have an active account management team to check the best available fare every day.
Indonesia has more than 20 domestic airlines, the majority of which are flying the trunk Jakarta-Surabaya routes. They are competing very hard. In this market, you will be surprised to find that sometimes you get better fares when you book at the last minute than if you reserve a seat in advance. When airlines see the seats are still empty, they will drop the price at the last minute.
There for the clients 24-7
Travelex Hong Kong general manager of corporate travel, Ms Eliza Ma
Creativity is difficult to apply because this is restricted by tight budget nowadays as well as shorter trips.
What we do is offer as many choices as possible for air tickets and hotel/air packages, even for a simple round-trip arrangement. We provide highly personalised and efficient services. For instance, clients get instant product/service update by emails and in case of flight delays, they will be informed without delay. We would take care of clients’ query even at midnight. Additionally, we make ourselves familiar with clients’ preference ie, mileage programme partners, and we would automatically transfer points for them.
Zeroing in on the details
Holiday Tours & Travel Malaysia general manager, corporate/incentive, Mr Robert Lim
Working with a corporate client to manage its T&E budget has to be based on concise data which can include the following: travel policy, total spend (including air, hotel, car rental), number of transactions, payment patterns, number of travellers, etc.
With such data then we begin to recommend different approaches to manage the T&E, for example tripartiate arrangements, management fees, transaction fees or service fees.
It is not about creativity, it is more about being analytical with data and then applying them for a cost effective T&E budget, simplifying the process of travel arrangements and providing effective check and balances. It also means providing appropriate MIS reports.
Pricing gets in the way of creativity
Diethelm Travel Management Malaysia senior manager, Mr Edward Lee
Most clients expect creativity and innovation from their planners, but do not want to pay for it. Sadly, most of us are modelled by the competitive market and we end up undercutting each other.
Perhaps those of us in corporate travel planning need to re-evaluate our value standing in the eyes of clients who palm off our ideas yet force us to drive down our deserved rates.
We should be united in charging a standard industry fee for our corporate planning services in relation to our professionalism.
Over the years, I have applied some principles in enhancing my services as a corporate planner.
- I have developed a gut feel for my client’s thoughts and needs for the specific jobs. This enables me to anticipate create new experiences that meet their actual needs.
- In innovation, I have developed and reorganised work processes to meet the client’s work.
Creativity is a holistic approach
Carlson Wagonlit Travel Hong Kong general manager Greater China, Mr Greg Treasure
When we talk about creativity on T&E cost, it could be how to be more cost-effective on a particular transaction. For instance, if a client spends more on extra volume, how can we effectively drive costs down while getting them better value on what they spend?
To me, it is simply a holistic approach. Rather than applying it on a particular transaction,
we should look at how we can creatively manage a programme, itinerary or methodology.
In Hong Kong, it is still fairly commonplace for corporates to use multiple agencies. In some cases, secretaries handle bosses’ trip planning and they only drive the discount. This is the purchase mentality.
Beauty in simplicity
Travelex Travel Services Indonesia president director, Mr Edward Nelson Jusuf
In the context of Travelex Indonesia, which is not affiliated with any global travel management company, we can be innovative in creating our own system. We follow the basic principles of global travel management practices, and develop from there.
As the Indonesian market is still immature, the innovation we can do is to simplify the concept, but also customise programmes to suit the market. For example, we are aiming at a fee-based system, but we cannot apply it 100 per cent. We still use rebate system that depends on various factors such as the volume, amount of transaction and the destinations.
Acceptable savings
Business Travel International (BTI) Vayatour Indonesia sales and business development manager, Mr Andhie Saad
It’s how we find ways to save costs for companies, which are acceptable for them. We look at the needs of the companies and come up with several programmes to choose from.
Focus on T&E control, not creativity
American International Traveller Hong Kong national leader corporate traveller,
Mr Jonathan Kao
I am not very sure if there has been much creativity or innovation in corporate travel planning. The main underlying theme has been a tightening of T&E spend.
Many corporates are raising the requirements for business travel that is eligible for business/ first class, and cutting down the type of expenses that are allowed, especially in the entertainment section. Other trends are the implementation of corporate card or payment solution, setting up website/Intranet sites for online expense claim/reimbursement forms, linking all travel reporting system up to their own back office or enterprise resource management (ERM) softwares to lower the costs related to travel.
Be different and fun
Angkasa Travel Services Malaysia general manager, Mr John Tan
Creativity and innovation in this field is the ability to stand out, not only in the product but in being able to offer value in what you present to the client. Whether it is cost or presentation, you must be unique.
A good example is of a check-in process for a corporate group. Rather than a mundane affair, we turned in into a form of fun – we told the group that their keys were in the pool and they would have to go and fish for it. Some rooms would have a special surprise or they might just get a suite if they picked the right key. But they did not know until they got to their room.
