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March 31, 2010

Egencia's Strategic Meetings Management Delivers Framework for Success

News Release Issued: March 31, 2010 9:00 AM EDT

Egencia's Strategic Meetings Management Delivers Framework for Success

Survey shows cost savings as focus for meetings and incentives in 2010 with opportunity to improve visibility and control of total spend

BELLEVUE, Wash., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Egencia™ Meetings & Incentives, the full-service meetings and incentives management division of Egencia, reaffirmed the company's commitment to the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) industry by formalizing its Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) service.  

"Egencia has a strong legacy of service and expertise, and we've been delivering those strengths to our meetings and incentives clients for many years," said Karen Weegar, Strategic Account Manager, Egencia Meetings & Incentives. "We understand the increasing importance of consolidating meetings spend and are well-equipped to help companies gain control of their programs through our Strategic Meetings Management service."

The Egencia SMM service provides effective end-to-end meetings solutions, driving value and delivering comprehensive recommendations that boost ROI throughout a company's total travel spend. The service is instrumental in helping to maximize the savings and efficiency of MICE programs.

In a recent survey of more than 200 travel managers, Egencia found that for 70 percent of respondents, the main focus for meetings and incentives programs in 2010 is identifying cost savings opportunities, which in turn will help improve ROI on meeting spend.

Also underscoring the importance of understanding meetings spend, NBTA released the results of a separate survey in February 2010 reporting that less than one third (27 percent) of travel buyers surveyed believe they have clear insight into their corporate meeting spend.  Thirty-three percent also admitted they do not have clear insight into where and how all of their meetings-related funds are being spent, making it difficult to recognize ROI-enhancing opportunities that can improve their bottom line.

To help companies consolidate meetings spend, Egencia SMM identifies opportunities to increase cost savings, visibility and control. Egencia works with clients to provide proactive, customized solutions that:

  • Deliver a comprehensive view and ROI analysis of meetings and corporate travel programs

  • Leverage scale with preferred supplier programs to extract more value

  • Create a well-designed meetings implementation plan to streamline processes

  • Develop MICE corporate policy and drive organizational compliance

Visibility into total meetings spend is important as it allows companies to analyze whether supplier spend is being appropriately distributed and adequately leveraged. In Egencia's survey, 30 percent of companies currently do not leverage their scale and those that do, do so infrequently.

"Without visibility into total spend, companies risk missing out on lower rates and value-added amenities," said Debbie Grossi, Director of Egencia Meetings & Incentives North America. "Complete spend visibility provides companies with the business intelligence they need to create greater value and increase the effectiveness of their MICE programs."

Backed by Egencia's global resources, experts and industry-leading technology, Egencia SMM service evaluates every component of a meetings program from start to finish. Egencia Meetings & Incentives combines professional full-service expertise and market-leading technology to give companies complete oversight and control over planning and spend, from procurement services and events (design, production and logistics) to program optimization and analysis.

For more information on Egencia Meetings & Incentives, go to www.egenciameetings.com.  

About Egencia, an Expedia, Inc. Company

Egencia is the fifth largest travel management company in the world. As part of Expedia, Inc., (Nasdaq: EXPE), the world's largest travel marketplace, Egencia helps businesses get ahead by offering the only truly integrated corporate travel service. Egencia's industry expertise helps drive results that matter, delivering meaningful advancements that have a real impact. By combining a powerful offline and online service, Egencia delivers a complete corporate travel offering supported by global market expertise and a best-in-class technology platform.

For more information, go to www.egencia.com.

Egencia and the Egencia logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

© 2010 Egencia, LLC.  All rights reserved.  

SOURCE Egencia, an Expedia, Inc. Company

Posted by Tom at 7:29 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

March 12, 2010

British Airways Cabin Crew Set Strike Dates

When it comes to planning a strike, the Europeans seem to handle it with a little more civility and panache; they actually provide the beginning and end dates for the strike or labor action.

That said, officials at British Airways have posted the following information on the airline's site:

Unite, the trade union that represents the majority of British Airways (BA) cabin crew, has announced its intention to take strike action on the following dates:

  • 20, 21 and 22 March 2010
  • 27, 28, 29 and 30 March 2010
  • At the moment all of our flights are continuing to operate as normal.
  • If a strike does go ahead, we are intending to operate a range of flights.
  • Not all our flights will be cancelled.

For more information go visit: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/strike-ballot/public/en_gb

 

Posted by Tom at 8:59 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

March 3, 2010

British Airways: Implementing Plan B

In an apparently preemptive move, British Airways has outlined its plans to continue operations during a cabin-crew walkout before strike dates have been announced.

In other words, they’re letting cabin crew know how they’re going to beat them before the game officially begins.

It’s a move that could work out well for the airline, as the ultimate injury isn’t work stoppage —  it’s a lack of traveler confidence, resulting in a long-term drop in sales.

In a March 3 press-release, British Airways CEO Willie Walsh wrote the airline plans to operate all flights from London City Airport, all long-haul flights and about half of the short-haul flights at Gatwick, and a “substantial proportion” of long- and short-haul flights at Heathrow.

Walsh also said the airline has trained nearly 1,000 volunteer employees as cabin crew and has arranged to secure seats from other carriers. Unite has until March 15 to announce any strike dates, and must give seven days advance notice before walkouts.

Union representatives were, as expected, disappointed by the British Airways announcement. The Guardian  quotes the union’s main negotiator, Len McCluskey, as saying "it is deeply regrettable that BA's CEO has chosen to adopt this inflammatory and confrontational stance at a time when we are engaged in meaningful talks with the company."

British Airways might not be calling for strike action, but it’s definitely calling the union’s bluff.

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