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Carlson wagonlit travel : "We want to be within reach of our clients"
The provider of travel management services wants to be close to its clients.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has set up its BTC (Business Travel Center) at the heart of
Louvain-la-Neuve on the place de l’Université. The multinational already operates a BTC in Antwerp
and another in Brussels.
Around fifteen employees are currently taking calls and dealing with the e-mail requests of client companies, but between now and the end of the year, between 50 and 60 people should be manning the lines. « We are doing exactly the opposite of our competitors. We are against all this offshoring of services. In certain call-centers, your call lands in Morocco or India”, explains Baudouin Gillis, Vice President of CWT Belux. “We want to be within reach of our clients. We have decided to set up right at the heart of Wallonia, to answer calls from the Walloons. » The scales tipped in favour of Louvain-la-Neuve due to its accessibility and « favourable employment pool » that is receptive to travel and languages. « Furthermore, we are here in a university environment and in a booming economic area », adds Mr Gillis.
With this new site in Wallonia, the company, which specialises in the organisation of business travel (negotiation and reservation of flights, hotels, cars, etc.) is obviously intent on attracting new regional clients. « We are mainly targeting companies, both large and SME or SMI”, explains Carine Beer, entrusted with the task of scouting for these new clients. With this center in Louvain La Neuve, we are playing the local card while working with a large-scale tool, as it can only pay its way if we process big volumes ». For the centre to be profitable, each of the employees will have to generate turnover of around one million euros per annum. The Business Travel Center in Wallonia is already the biggest issuer of airline tickets in the Region but, depending on the results, the centre in Louvain La Neuve could expand further. In fact, Carlson has taken an option on a neighbouring office space of 400 m². In two years, this could mean a total of around 150 people working on the site, which could also host training courses.
LA LIBRE - 24.10.07
