Asia Pacific is currently the largest corporate travel spender with a 39% global market share. The figure is projected to rise by another 3.5 points through to 2019, according to a GBTA report. While regional growth continues, new technological possibilities are also emerging.
In the Sabre Corporate Travel Practices Survey 2015, a number of key themes emerged – from tightening of corporate policies to acceptance of itinerary management apps as mainstream and higher expectations for agents to be as connected as their customers.
Rebecca Daniels, regional managing director of Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific, shares her top three tips for corporate agents looking to get ahead in today’s evolving APAC travel landscape.
Duty of Care: Keeping it Simple
In today’s more volatile travel environment, corporations are seeking greater reassurance around the security measures in place when they send employees overseas. Corporates need a platform that integrates duty of care and reporting tools to help track employees at all stages of the journey, monitor and manage employee safety. They also need a crisis-cum-business intelligence application to help mitigate operating risks, protect employees’ well-being.
More Choice, Less Complexity
With greater traveler connectivity and rising expectations around choice and service, corporate agents need booking tools that can handle a more sophisticated customer while simplifying daily work processes. Intelligent booking capabilities and add-on applications need to be integrated directly into an agent’s workflow to extend the functionality from simplifying workflow, delivering efficiencies and driving more revenue to enhancing customer service in one place.
Mobile Experience
Mobile penetration is already at over 50% of the population in Asia Pacific and, just like the number of corporate travelers, this figure will continue to rise along with mobile bookings which already account for 39% of the regional online market here; projected to reach $71.7 billion by 2017 according to a Phocuswright study. Itinerary management travel tools can help agents improve the whole travel experience. Keeping agents more connected with their travelers through confirmation emails, branded documents and in-app agency managers, the tools can simplify travel program management and enhances the overall travel experience.
