More Tech Talk from the NBTA Meeting
Who doesn’t hate doing expense reports? A spate of deals announced at the National Business Travel Association’s annual conference in Houston will ease and automate the process for many corporate travelers. Part 2 of our roundup of announcements from the conference looks at what online business travel agencies are offering their clients.
Several large travel management companies have signed up to offer Concur’s mobile solutions to their business travelers. Among them are Adelman Travel Systems, Inc., Atlas Travel International, Azumano Travel Service Inc., Fox World Travel Inc., The Travel Authority, Travel and Transport Inc., Travel Destination Management Group Inc., Travel Incorporated, World Travel Service Inc. and World Travel Inc. The travel management companies will use Concur’s mobile APIs to provide itinerary data that will be integrated with Concur’s mobile platform. Business travelers will be able to view their itineraries with their Android phones, BlackBerry phones, iPads, or iPhones. The platform also integrates select third-party mobile applications such as GateGuru’s airport-specific dining and shopping information. By using Concur’s mobile application, travel management companies can help drive compliance and minimize program leakage by ensuring the mobile transactions stay within their managed travel services.
Marriott International hotel brands, including Marriott Hotels and Resorts, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn and Suites, TownePlace Suites and Marriott Vacation Club International, will provide detailed folio data and e-receipts to Concur Express clients. They will be available for download directly into the traveler’s expense report.
Orbitz for Business said it will integrate travel reservations data into IBM’s Global Expense Reporting Solution in order to offer its corporate travel customers more flexibility and choice in how they manage and report travel expenses. IBM GERS will give Orbitz for Business customers a standard, scalable expense management option that supports multiple currencies, languages and corporate cards. Key features and functionality include real-time visibility and analysis for booking and expense data; automated credit card expense and travel reservation matching; easy-to-use interface that helps accelerate online tool adoption; enhanced corporate travel policy control and compliance, and global coverage supported by country-level travel policies and practices.
Orbitz for Business also is giving travelers the option of synchronizing their bookings with TripIt’s trip management platform with a click within the familiar Orbitz for Business interface. Benefits to travelers include comprehensive travel itineraries with integrated maps, directions, weather, seating advice, online check-in and calendar synchronization; mobile access to itineraries through TripIt’s iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and other mobile applications; the ability to see where and when other employees at their company are traveling, and preferred access to TripIt Pro, TripIt’s premium service.
Travelocity Business introduced “a first step” in improving visibility into airline ancillary fees. It is able to break down ancillary fees by carrier, then by category, and to report the carrier with the highest prices by category. Travelocity Business also has developed an algorithm that looks at credit card reports from customers and determines what charges are attributable to ancillary fees, giving the customer better information with which to negotiate with suppliers and to set policy.
