CWT ViewPoint 2012

Perspective on industry-shaping developments

Managing connectivity ‘next big thing’ in travel management | October 2012

While ground transportation and meetings and events are frequently regarded as areas of significant untapped opportunity in managed travel, another area exists that is totally unconsidered by many organizations today, despite the fact that in some cases it represents millions of dollars of spend. This area encompasses any costs associated with keeping travelers connected while they’re on the road for business, which the CWT Solutions Group defines as "connectivity." Below, the CWT Solutions Group’s Connectivity Solutions experts shed some light on what they believe to be the most significant "next big thing" in managed travel.

Strong government influence makes China travel unique | August 2012

As one of the world’s dominant economies – with influence that literally spans the globe – China is an increasingly important market for the world economy and subsequently, for many travel programs of all sizes. While China’s economic growth has slowed slightly in response to overall global economic conditions, it remains a strong performer and is expected to continue to drive progress domestically and worldwide. Travel levels will follow; in fact, a recent PhoCusWright study predicts that travel levels in China will have doubled between 2008 and 2013, and the country’s online travel market will grow an astounding 500% during that same time period. Nearly every imaginable industry is currently operating there or looking to expand into the country in the near future. Given this, CWT offers the below look at China and its nuanced travel landscape, with advice for travel buyers managing travel in this dynamic and rapidly evolving destination.

Continual monitoring holds the key for further hotel program savings | May 2012

While most travel buyers dedicate substantial resources to the sourcing of their hotel programs, some have yet to recognize the importance of optimizing those hotel programs on an ongoing basis, despite the fact that “optimizing hotel spend” continues to rank at the top of travel managers’ priorities in CWT’s annual Travel Management Priorities survey.

Airline joint ventures, alliances becoming more commonplace | April 2012

While the airline industry remains a highly competitive market, more and more airlines around the world have been finding ways to work with one another via joint ventures (JVs) and alliances, for their mutual benefit and to ensure their long-term viability. Today, these three alliances account for more than 60 percent of total passenger traffic. It is due to this increased activity that the CWT Solutions Group provides this update and related recommendations to assist travel buyers when working with airlines in an alliance or JV capacity.

Is your company resourced to provide complete duty of care to its traveling employees? | March 2012

The world today continues to get smaller. Companies have and continue to expand well beyond single-country operations and are offering their products and services to an ever-widening worldwide marketplace. With these new opportunities for business—and business travel—come new and increasing risks to traveling employees and their companies. With so many companies expanding in less-developed and higher risk countries, travelers may not be familiar with the cultural nuances & infrastructure limitations, let alone heightened security risks, tensions, local adverse weather hazards, or even natural disasters that can adversely affect a trip, putting the safety and security of travelers at risk.