Delegates advised to take honest approach

Institute of travel management conference

Delegates advised to take honest approach

Report by LYDIA WILSON

its US sister organisation, the National Business Travel Association, Rosenbluth International chairman Hal Rosenbluth said that collusion and an emphasis on competitive relationships had built up barriers and led to a lack of trust within business and customer relationships in the industry.

“Collaboration and honesty must be re-established,” he said. “There is no reason for adversarial relationships in this industry. We need to be straight and honest to avoid confusion.”

Virgin Atlantic commercial executive director Paul Griffiths pinpointed investment in product and innovation as the key to winning customers, while British Airways north American sales and marketing executive vice-president Dan Brewin outlined key trends that travel managers could expect to face in the future.

“Judging by what has been experienced in the US, key trends faced by the UK airline industry include deregulation, a growth in new carriers and growing calls for consumer protection,” he said. “I also predict that the need for European airlines to ally themselves with the big US carriers will become more pressing.”

Among other issues debated at the conference were the consolidation of airline suppliers, the popularity of on-line bookings, future legislation on passenger rights and the importance that business travel management is assuming in procurement.

SPEAKERS used last week’s Institute of Travel Management conference to drive home the need for product investment, good training and honesty between travel management companies and their clients.

Speaking to delegates in London at the recent joint global conference of the Institute of Travel Management and its US sister organisation, the National Business Travel Association, Rosenbluth International chairman Hal Rosenbluth said that collusion and an emphasis on competitive relationships had built up barriers and led to a lack of trust within business and customer relationships in the industry.

“Collaboration and honesty must be re-established,” he said. “There is no reason for adversarial relationships in this industry. We need to be straight and honest to avoid confusion.”

Virgin Atlantic commercial executive director Paul Griffiths pinpointed investment in product and innovation as the key to winning customers, while British Airways north American sales and marketing executive vice-president Dan Brewin outlined key trends that travel managers could expect to face in the future.

“Judging by what has been experienced in the US, key trends faced by the UK airline industry include deregulation, a growth in new carriers and growing calls for consumer protection,” he said. “I also predict that the need for European airlines to ally themselves with the big US carriers will become more pressing.”

Among other issues debated at the conference were the consolidation of airline suppliers, the popularity of on-line bookings, future legislation on passenger rights and the importance that business travel management is assuming in procurement.