Providing insight into alternative accommodation for travel risk management and business intelligence.
UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS – BCD Travel is now working with Airbnb for Business to provide corporate travel clients with rich data in a new security and risk management offering that can track the location and trip patterns of business travelers who book Airbnb listings. Airbnb's data will be integrated into BCD Travel's proprietary DecisionSource business intelligence and security solution, allowing clients to interact with maps and detailed reports in real-time and bring Airbnb accommodation bookings into view for managed travel.
Recent natural disasters, political unrest and terrorist attacks have placed travel risk management among corporate travel professionals' top priorities. BCD Travel's enhanced risk management solutions prepare travelers for potential risks before their trip, keep track of travelers around the world and help companies connect with travelers in the event of a crisis.
"The sharing economy offers new, innovative travel options for business travelers. However, in the event of a crisis, it's a company's legal and moral responsibility to ensure employees are safe no matter where they are," says Torsten Kriedt, vice president, Corporate Intelligence, Product Planning & Portfolio Management. "As demand for alternative travel grows, we're working a step ahead to offer clients the best approach to modern travel and risk management."
"Airbnb is excited to be partnering with BCD Travel and bringing Airbnb for Business to a whole new group of clients and managed travel programs," says Lex Bayer, Head of Global Payments and Business Development at Airbnb. "By partnering with BCD Travel on this initiative we expect travel managers to gain better insights into the cost savings, comprehensive global inventory and flexible travel options that Airbnb offers to their travelers."
The move by BCD Travel and Airbnb to integrate data of their shared clients extends beyond travel risk management.
"With the data feeds from alternative accommodations, travel managers will have a more comprehensive view of travel program spend," said Leslie West, senior vice president of BCD Travel. "They can capture and analyze spend with travelers staying in rooms booked through Airbnb to enable better, more-confident program decisions."
BCD regards its initiative to integrate Airbnb into managed travel as a significant first step toward a much broader offering. "Content is evolving, content sources are changing, and our clients want content that's available through a variety of channels," said Ana Pedersen, BCD Travel vice president of Global Hotel Strategy. "DecisionSource and our proprietary, corporate-booking channel, TripSource, let clients bring any content under travel management. Clients are no longer bound by traditional approaches. If something improves your travel program, we can manage it."
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
