Georgie Farmer, the APAC Travel Manager for Microsoft Corporation's Asia Global Procurement Group, and Regional Council Chair for ACTE Asia Pacific, presented her world view at ACTE's recent Regional Conference in Singapore.
Generally:- In 2009 there has been a 50% reduction in Travel and Expense spend
- Travel managers (TM's) are busier than ever before and in high demand
- There's been an unprecedented pressure to reduce operational spend
- Almost every company has had to renew or revise their travel policies in the past nine months
- All TM's have had to go to market to fine tune their supplier contracts
- TM's have had to learn to be experts in communications and education
Technology wise:- TM's have recognised the need for more timely and meaningful data as financial controllers want to know about it before it happens
- Travellers have not come to terms yet with flying economy class and staying in a lower standard of hotels
- The focus is on traveller security, knowing their whereabouts and being prepared to act in case of emergency
- Mobile solutions are coming to the fore as a key driver to change, with TM's assessing how they can make the most it.
Yeoh Siew Hoon, one of Asia's most respected travel editors and commentators, writes a regular column on news, trends and issues in the hospitality industry for 4Hoteliers.com.
Siew Hoon, who has covered the tourism industry in Asia/Pacific for the past 20 years, runs SHY Ventures Pte Ltd. Her other writings can be found at www.thetransitcafe.com
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