Articles tagged “ctir”

Travel management companies are working to rebuild the complicated systems that actually let them sell and manage travel. Those who decide to stick with their existing technology stack will likely be left behind.

Airline distribution is one thing, but travel management companies need to totally revamp their systems to provide comprehensive tracking and service across all elements of a trip. It's unclear whether these baby steps will turn into a giant leap for the sector.

Corporate business remains strong for both hotels and airlines despite ongoing trade wars around the world. This seems unlikely to hold up in 2019.

It will be interesting to see if Lola's fortunes change as its partnership with American Express Global Business Travel ramps up. We're quickly finding out how big a market there is for the variety of apps catering to business travelers from small- to medium-sized companies.

Lola was a good idea with solid execution that fell flat. By partnering with the biggest company in corporate travel, Lola will find out whether its service is actually a fit for businesses around the world. And if not, maybe the mobile-first future isn't quite here yet.

Investors are paying attention to the companies trying to capture the travel spending of small- to medium-sized businesses. As these startups attract increased venture funding, though, it's important to remember that corporate travel at large is extremely resistant to disruption.

While China is an attractive market, it’s traditionally been a tough place for corporate travel. Joint ventures between global travel management companies and Chinese travel providers are combining local market expertise with travel management standards to reduce friction for corporations.

China is expected to remain a hotbed of both domestic and international business travel. Chinese corporations are attempting to keep costs down even as the need for business travel increases.

While corporate travel at large claims to have a major focus on safety, research shows that women who travel for business routinely face safety threats. More needs to be done by companies to protect women and empower them to thrive professionally when traveling.

Women who travel for business need more resources and support from the companies that dispatch them around the world. Raising awareness of the issues they face can only do so much.