Evolving the Role of the Travel Management Company

whitePaper | November 15, 2019

Flight Centre Business Travel is part of the Flight Centre Travel Group, one of the world’s largest travel companies. This means we have global negotiation strength larger than many other travel management companies (TMCs). With this negotiation strength, we can access special corporate rates at a vast range of hotel options in all corners of the globe. And the longstanding relationships we’ve built with airlines and hotels means we have the ability to include extras in our rates, such as free wi-fi and free breakfast. These add-ons enhance business travel experience, improving comfort and increasing productivity while travelling for work, as well as passing savings to your company. This is all part of our global smartSTAY corporate benefits programme, and is offered as standard to all Flight Centre Business Travel customers

whitePaper | May 24, 2021

Optimism is growing for a return to business travel. 79% of Travel Managers and GBTA members say they would be “very comfortable” or “comfortable” traveling after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. 55% of Travel Managers say business travelers are “willing” or “very willing” to travel for business, up from 49% at the start of 2021. To help you lead the restart of business travel for your organization, here are 7 key steps to consider.

whitePaper | December 6, 2019

2019 was a year of expansion for hospitality worldwide. More people were travelling, as the growing global middle class flexed its spending power. Travellers became increasingly discerning as digital platforms gave consumers a greater ability to choose exactly what they wanted from their hotel experience. Anticipating even more growth, the global hospitality development pipeline hit a record high, with hundreds of thousands of rooms under construction worldwide.1 But what does 2020 hold for the hospitality sector? Against the background of an uncertain global economy, a wave of new capacity coming onstream and – above all – ever more discerning, digitally-empowered consumers to delight, how will hotels compete and maintain or grow their profitability? This article identifies five themes that will shape the industry over the next 12 months, and beyond.

whitePaper | April 6, 2022

Attractions, tours, and activities marketers face unique challenges within the travel space. As a travel vertical that often deals with last-minute bookers and walk-ups, and still invests heavily in out-of-home advertising solutions, online marketing can seem daunting, time-consuming, or unnecessary. However, there is a massive opportunity to capture online bookings: operators sold $44 billion worth of experiences through their own websites and online travel agencies (OTAs) in 20191 indicating that there are more dollars for the taking, and more ways to engage with your potential visitors

whitePaper | July 8, 2021

This whitepaper explains: Travel is an ultra-high-risk sector for card acquirers because most payments are for future delivery. If merchants fail to fulfill a service for which they have taken payment (often months in advance) customers can recover their money from the acquirer by initiating chargeback. Acquirers traditionally demand substantial cash collateral (holdbacks) or other financial security from travel merchants to mitigate this risk. Holdbacks lock away substantial funds for travel companies and can therefore be highly damaging to liquidity. High-profile collapses and the COVID-19 crisis have driven acquirers to impose harsher terms or quit the travel sector completely.

whitePaper | September 24, 2021

The hospitality industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Properties must solve for expanded and differentiated guest expectations driven by new technologies and changed traveler behavior, as well as create improved operating efficiencies through automated solutions. The emergence of COVID-19 sent shockwaves throughout the travel industry, forcing operators to think of innovative ways to provide guests with an environment that makes them feel safe while optimizing the operators’ finances. As a result, connectivity has become a major factor in guests’ overall experience and satisfaction. Many of these solutions rely on autonomous data collection and wireless control requiring low latency, increased connection capacity and high reliability -- the three pillars of 5G. Robust wireless connectivity enables properties to understand their guests’ behaviors and how efficiently their property is being operated.