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The topic of "Travel Management: Today and Tomorrow" drew the largest attendance of ranking travel management professionals to an Executive Forum ever conducted in Montreal by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). Eighty-seven registered participants, 31 percent of which were corporate leaders ranging in title from travel manager to director, attended the educational event at the Marriott Chateau Champlain in Montreal on 9 May 2008, to analyze the course of future business travel industry trends.
According to a statement issued by Monica Hailstone, Regional Director, ACTE Canada, the event accurately gauged the mood of the profession, in which a growing number of executives are seeking a more proactive role in directing the future, and choosing ACTE as the vehicle of change.
"This event was the confluence of theory, technology, data, and experience," said Hailstone. "Travel management professionals are less willing to accept economic forecasts and business predictions without their own perspective. This event built on that perspective and energized everyone with new ideas."
The program opened with the session on "Emerging Trends," in which a panel of experts; Scott Allison, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Marriott Canada, John Dunn, Executive Vice President, Tourisme Montreal, and Vivian Mouradian, CTE, Manager, Travel Services, CAE, addressed the future of the hospitality industry, travel and expense technology, and tourism in Montreal.
Allison stated that while there was tremendous opportunity for hotel and brand growth in Canada, the hospitality industry was anticipating 10,000 jobs (over the next five years) that it would be struggling to fill. To this end, he applauded ACTE Canada’s Scholarship Initiative, and other outreach programs – for bringing these opportunities to high school students. Allison also concluded that Gen X will develop fierce brand loyalty if offered the right experience (i.e. customer friendly lobbies that encourage meeting in groups and support being connected).
Mouradian discussed implementing automated expense reporting, explaining that the greatest challenge was factoring the taxes and the process of the accounting follow-through.
According to Mouradian, the advantages of an automated expense management tool are significant. It ensures SOX compliance; provides the opportunity to improve on and standardize policies and processes across the departments, offices and countries; and frees up time for other tasks. Other benefits include greater flexibility and easier adjustments (i.e. if a per diem changes), while providing for true spend data, end to end integrated data, and consolidation.
Dunn delivered three interesting statements regarding the evolution of tourism in Montreal. Over four million room nights were sold in 2007, with more than 40 percent coming from business and conventions, generating a total of $2.5 billion for the city and supporting 75,000 jobs. Environmental considerations will become a major factor for convention planners and "Generation X-Y" is driving this move. Tourism offices are expanding their interests and getting involved from a tourism perspective in diverse subjects such as road construction, airport expansion, and other transportation issues. According to Dunn, travel and tourism represent a $733 billion industry worldwide.
The second session, "Effective Change Management," was conducted by Myra Ouwendyk, Business Manager, HRG North America, and Lina Rivera, Buyer and Administrator, Corporate Travel, sanofi-aventis Canada Inc.
With the focus on launching an online booking tool, Rivera stated that you must calculate what you are going to save, as success lies in the ability to measure savings. Both speakers advised participants to consider a number of implementation strategies, including incentive programs, rewards; road shows and information sessions. Also advised were targeting key user/focus groups and effectively communicating the value of booking online to travellers and travel arrangers and most effectively, a company mandate.
The demonstrated results spoke for themselves. A 64 percent increase in adoption on the Montreal–Toronto route represented a fee savings of 74 percent per ticket. Other benefits included convenience for travellers and increases compliance in the travel policy.
"Your Business Footprint" was the title of the third session, presented by Kuehnel of The CarbonNeutral Company & Canadian Business for Social Responsibility. Kuehnel’s presentation made it clear that climate change is no longer an environmental issue and that it must be considered as part of the overall business strategy, including the development of best practices for Corporate Social Responsibility. Kuehnel concluded by encouraging all participants to measure their own carbon footprint and also evaluate their position on CSR in order to work towards achieving a "triple bottom line" which incorporates the environment, social issues and economic viability.
This year marks the third anniversary of the ACTE Canada Education Conference, 16-18 November 2008. The event in Toronto will offer attendees the opportunity to learn the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Canadian business travel community, link with senior-level industry colleagues, and lead their organizations into 2009.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
