CWT Solutions Group, the global consulting arm of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), announced yesterday at the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention in San Diego it is building a platform to engage and recognise business travellers for making decisions that support their corporate travel programs.
This unique offering leverages CWT Solutions Group expertise in effective travel spend management and customised, competitive, game-style elements to influence desired traveller behaviours, ultimately driving incremental savings in non-mandated travel environments.
By engaging the CWT Solutions Group through this offering, travel managers can drive program compliance without heavy mandates to capture incremental savings, which is the top-rated priority for travel managers according to CWT’s annual Travel Management Priorities survey.
Through this new offering, when travellers make good booking decisions, they’ll be recognised in a variety of ways which may include point accruals or acknowledgement on leader boards. They will also have the ability to track their individual performance against their peers, division, or company as a whole.
“As supplier pricing looks to increase across the globe in 2014, it’s more important now than ever for travel managers to explore innovative options that will help them control costs,” said Joel Wartgow, Senior Director, CWT Solutions Group, Americas.
“This offering uses traveller competition and virtual incentives to positively reinforce desired behaviours. We’re not just providing the technology needed to “gamify” a travel program, but are working with clients to determine what behaviours need to be changed and identifying the correct strategies to employ within their corporate cultures to generate results.”
In related news, CWT and technology firm KDS have revealed they have strengthened their reseller agreement, further underpinning their commitment to providing a smooth and seamless experience to travellers.
The new agreement includes the ability to resell KDS Neo, a door-to-door booking solution that delivers complete, bookable itineraries and predicts related expenses, as well as KDS Expense Management around the world.
Building on CWT and KDS’ successful relationship in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), CWT will work with KDS to help strengthen their capabilities in the North American and Asia Pacific markets, and will explore integration opportunities with other CWT products and services like CWT’s mobile application, CWT To Go.
“We are really pleased to be on the leading edge of bringing KDS Neo into new markets. Both companies are innovating new products, and we’re excited about collaborating on initiatives to create new services for our customers across our global network,” said David Moran, executive vice president, Global Marketing and Enterprise Strategy, CWT.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to capitalise on our mutual strengths to create a more compelling digital future for our travellers.”
Dean Forbes, chief executive officer, KDS, added: “We’re focused on working with CWT to develop products and services to make travellers’ lives easier.
“This agreement is a great opportunity for KDS to work with a market leader, with an unparalleled network, and we look forward to the new opportunities this will create for our customers,” Forbes said.
HM flew to San Diego with Qantas. The airline flies daily to Los Angeles from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney operating Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft, connecting to American Airlines flights to San Diego. On Qantas, expect top seats, entertainment, food, wine and service across every cabin. For bookings, visit www.qantas.com