TMCs achieve SAP Concur Elite status

Buying Business Travel | December 16, 2019

Business Travel Direct and BCD Travel have each gained TMC Elite status in the SAP Concur Partner Programme, becoming two of three companies headquartered outside of the US to earn the accreditation. SAP Concur has recently revamped its  Partner Programme into a multi-levelled system, with partners now classified in one of three accreditations – Partner, Select, or Elite. Business Travel Direct said it has been working closely with the firm, having held TMC Certified and Preferred Partner status for the past five years. Its team has also delivered 50 Concur implementations, including five global clients. In addition, BCD Travel earned Elite status in November and claimed it was already one of SAP Concur’s biggest reseller partners, with the relationship dating back to 2001.

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Choice Hotels Completes Radisson Hotels Americas Milestone, Integrating Loyalty Programs and Full Booking Capabilities On ChoiceHotels.com

prnewswire | July 28, 2023

Choice Hotels International, Inc. one of the world's leading hotel franchisors, announced today that all nine Radisson Hotels Americas brands – including Radisson Blu, Radisson, and Country Inn & Suites – are now available to be booked on ChoiceHotels.com. This adds nearly 600 hotels onto its world-class central reservation system ahead of schedule and less than a year since its acquisition of Radisson Americas closed. Choice also announced the successful integration of the Radisson Rewards Americas loyalty program into the award-winning Choice Privileges program. This enables the nearly 60 million Choice Privileges members to earn and redeem points at over 7,400 hotels across 22 brands in 45 countries and territories. "We are excited to offer travelers hundreds of additional hotels to choose from on ChoiceHotels.com, including numerous upscale and full-service properties, as we welcome our Radisson franchisees to Choice's powerful reservation engine," said Pat Pacious, CEO, Choice Hotels International. "Integrating nearly 600 hotels and the Radisson Rewards Americas program in such a short period of time is a testament to Choice's advanced technology and integration expertise and shows our commitment to providing franchisees with opportunities for optimal success and offering travelers ways to easily find the right hotel to meet their travel needs on one website." Integration Milestone Marks More Bookable Options on ChoiceHotels.com More upscale and full-service hotel options located in the U.S., including in 90% of the top 25 markets. Examples include: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel (Chicago, Illinois) Radisson Panama City Beach-Oceanfront (Panama City, Florida) Cambria Hotel Boston Somerville (Somerville, Massachusetts) Heights House Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection (Houston, Texas) 4,000 midscale, economy and extended stay locations located within one mile of an interstate exit, many with pools. Examples include: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Charlottesville-UVA (Charlottesville, Virginia) Sleep Inn & Suites Lancaster-Platteville (Lancaster, Wisconsin) Comfort Suites Natchitoches (Natchitoches, Louisiana) Quality Inn Murfreesboro-University Area (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) Fantastic selection of hotels outside of the U.S. Examples include: Radisson Blu Hotel Toronto Downtown (Toronto, Canada) Radisson Blu Aruba (Palm Beach, Aruba) Clarion Hotel Post (Gothenburg, Sweden) Comfort Hotel Jeddah King Road (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) hotel around TAKAYAMA, Ascend Hotel Collection (Takayama, Japan) Radisson RED Hotel Miraflores (Lima, Peru) Quality Hotel San Martino (Garbagnate Monastero, Italy) More options for members of Choice Privileges, including the opportunity to earn and/or redeem points at casinos, luxury resorts and vacation rentals through Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Penn Casinos and BlueGreen Vacations. Examples include: Margaritaville Resort Casino (Bossier City, Louisiana) Bluegreen Vacations Fountains, Ascend Resort Collection (Orlando, Florida) Circus Circus Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, Nevada) Integrated Loyalty Programs Bring New Choice Privileges Member Benefits, Co-Brand Credit Cards & More Diamond Elite members of Choice Privileges, the highest Elite level, starting today, are entitled to free breakfast for two at Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, and Park Plaza hotels in North and South America and LATAM. Click here for a full list of benefits. Members of Choice Privileges now have more accommodation options to choose from where they earn and redeem points, as well as two new co-branded credit card options which launched earlier this year, that accelerate the number of points earned to get to a redemption night faster. Cardholders can now earn points on everyday purchases, including at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement and phone plans, making this the fastest way to earn points during stays at participating Choice Hotels properties. About Choice Hotels Choice Hotels International, Inc is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. A challenger in the upscale segment and a leader in midscale and extended stay, Choice® has more than 7,400 hotels, representing over 625,000 rooms, in 45 countries and territories. A diverse portfolio of 22 brands that run the gamut from full-service upper upscale properties to midscale, extended stay and economy enables Choice® to meet travelers' needs in more places and for more occasions while driving more value for franchise owners and shareholders. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program and co-brand credit card options provide members with a fast and easy way to earn reward nights and personalized perks.

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Business Travel

Team Novo Nordisk Selects Spotnana to Manage Global Travel

businesswire | September 01, 2023

Spotnana, the world’s first Travel-as-a-Service platform modernizing the infrastructure of the travel industry, announced today that it is sponsoring Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, and is supporting Team Novo Nordisk’s global travel through its award-winning Travel-as-a-Service platform. Team Novo Nordisk is using Spotnana to manage travel for all its sporting and operational travel needs, freeing up the team to focus on its mission to inspire, educate and empower people affected by diabetes, as well as promote an active and healthy lifestyle while competing against the world’s best cyclists. Spotnana is dedicated to supporting causes that advance progress and equality around the world. Our sponsorship of Team Novo Nordisk represents a commitment to our core value to build globally and service locally. “We are delighted to sponsor Team Novo Nordisk and provide unparalleled travel experiences to its team of professional cyclists and their supporting staff,” said Johnny Thorsen, Spotnana VP of Partnerships. “We serve customers across the globe, and our global mindset, including our celebration of diversity, informs the way we build our products and service our customers.” In addition to the pro team that competes in more than 30 countries around the world, Team Novo Nordisk maintains an active pipeline of talent across a wide range of countries through a development team and talent identification camps, together with an ambassadors program with athletes with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes competing in different sports all around the world, all of which require travel support. “We’re extremely pleased to be working with Spotnana,” said Sergey Davidenko, Team Novo Nordisk VP of Operations and Sponsorships. “Spotnana solves long standing problems for travel-intensive organizations like us. They allow us to compete around the world and focus on our goals, knowing we have 24/7 support for our travelers when we need it. “The Spotnana Travel-as-a-Service platform is visionary,” added Davidenko. “Spotnana embodies the innovation of tomorrow, while addressing the pressing technological needs of today.” Learn more about how Spotnana’s sponsorship is empowering Team Novo Nordisk to focus on its mission and goals by visiting Spotnana’s website. About Spotnana Spotnana is the travel platform that connects humanity. We are modernizing the infrastructure of the travel industry in order to bring freedom, simplicity, and trust to travelers everywhere. Our Travel-as-a-Service platform makes travel simpler and more affordable for corporations, while enabling our ecosystem of agency, supplier, and technology provider partners to increase operational efficiency, unlock new revenue sources, and accelerate innovation. About Team Novo Nordisk – Racing to Drive Change in Diabetes Team Novo Nordisk is a global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists spearheaded by the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team. In 2012, Phil Southerland, co-founder and CEO of the team, and global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, came together to create Team Novo Nordisk, based on a shared vision to inspire, educate, and empower people around the world affected by diabetes and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

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Business Travel

Atrium Hospitality Completes Multimillion-Dollar Makeover at Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque in New Mexico

businesswire | July 13, 2023

Enjoy the Land of Enchantment in the newly redesigned guest accommodations at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque. Operated by award-winning Atrium Hospitality, our centrally located hotel in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, has completed a four-phase, multimillion-dollar transformation of all 261 two-room guest suites. Alpharetta, Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality, one of the nation’s largest hotel operators, manages a portfolio of more than 80 hotels in 28 states and approximately 3 million square feet of event space. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque’s tastefully updated guest suites and bathrooms — including a presidential suite — feature new furniture and fixtures in a modern style. Attractive textile coverings and wall art in an inviting color palette of gray, white, and hues of apricot and brown complement Albuquerque’s natural beauty. Each two-room suite features new 55” televisions, luxurious bedding, a mini-refrigerator, a microwave, a large desk, WiFi, and a full-size sofa bed in a separate living area. This Embassy Suites offers a premium upgrade to Pure Wellness suites, which incorporate science and technology to treat the surface and air in rooms, creating a wellness environment. “We’re excited to offer freshly renovated guest accommodations at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque as our full-service hotel continues to serve as a hospitality staple in downtown Albuquerque,” said Steve Ator, Vice President, Operational Strategies West Region, Atrium Hospitality. “Our guests and team members are enjoying the new, modern look of our hotel’s transformed spaces and appreciate the beauty and comfort of our redesigned guest suites.” Plentiful Space to Gather The Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque features 30,000 square feet of flexible event space comprised of 19 meeting rooms that are A/V capable. Our hotel’s more than 12,000-square-foot Sandia Ballroom, named after the area’s scenic Sandia Foothills Open Space, can accommodate up to 1,500 guests. Our experienced events team is ready to help plan the ideal gathering. Our full-service Embassy Suites is one mile from the Albuquerque Convention Center and the University of New Mexico and three miles from the Albuquerque International Airport. Several popular area attractions are nearby. Serving With Atrium SPIRIT Atrium Hospitality’s six core values of Service, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork guide the Atrium SPIRIT for creating a welcoming environment for all, encouraging the personal and professional growth of the company’s Associates, and being a responsible community partner. Atrium Hospitality supports the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Responsible Stay environmental initiative, which complements Atrium’s commitment to preserving the planet’s natural resources and being efficient in the operations of the company’s properties nationwide. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque participates in LightStay, Hilton’s award-winning, comprehensive platform to measure and manage energy, water and waste. Atrium-managed properties nationwide are proud to take part in Project SEARCH, a school-to-work program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with numerous program graduates hired by our hotels. Five participants recently graduated from the Project SEARCH program hosted at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque, and six program participants are slated to begin at our hotel in fall 2023. In addition, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque conducts monthly volunteer service with a range of causes, including community cleanup projects and food drives for a local food bank, among others. “For 18 years, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque has served as a collaborative community partner in New Mexico’s largest business center,” said Scott Cape, Area General Manager, Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque. “We strive to grow hospitality career journeys and are excited to have been recognized in the New Mexico Top Workplaces 2023.” Scott continued, “The redesign of all of our guest suites was inspired by New Mexico’s remarkable beauty. Our renovated spaces create an inviting atmosphere to work or relax and offer views of Albuquerque’s wonders.” Located at 1000 Woodward Place NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque all-suite hotel offers two-room suites; a free made-to-order breakfast; a complimentary evening reception with drinks and snacks; a business center; a 24-hour fitness center featuring a Peloton® bike; an on-site restaurant, lounge and café; room service; and an indoor pool. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque is part of the Hilton Honors award-winning guest-loyalty program, which offers Digital Key for accessing your guest room. For more information, to make a booking, or to schedule an in-person or virtual tour, call (505) 245-7100, go to the hotel’s website, or connect with the hotel on Facebook. About Atrium Hospitality Atrium Hospitality is ranked as one of the nation’s largest hotel operators. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, the company manages a portfolio of 82 hotels in 28 states, representing well-known brands such as: Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham, among others. Atrium operates 20,463 guest rooms/suites and approximately 3 million square feet of event space. Atrium Hospitality’s six core values of Service, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork guide the Atrium SPIRIT for creating a welcoming environment for all, encouraging the personal and professional growth of the company’s Associates, and being a responsible community partner. Atrium is conserving the planet’s natural resources and being more efficient in support of the company’s commitment to sustainability, all while providing exceptional guest experiences. In 2022, Atrium Hospitality added another Atlanta Top Workplaces win to the company’s accolades and celebrated being recognized by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for a second year. Atrium supports a range of civic and community activities, and Atrium-managed properties nationwide are proud to take part in Project SEARCH, a school-to-work program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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