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Launch of “intuitive” business travel booking system
A system designed to simplify business travel arrangements has been launched by Ickenham Business Travel.
Blueprint has been developed by the independent travel management company as an “intelligent” travel portal offering self-booking.
Ickenham claims the system “mimics the intuitive way that travellers think when planning a business trip”.
Blueprint technology allows the system to create comprehensive trip itineraries based on simple information such as the date and time when the business traveller needs to be in a particular destination.
Features include the ability to search 70 websites for scheduled and no-frills airlines, access to locally negotiated hotel rates, full management and control of travel and entertainment budgets, passport and visa requirements, foreign currency ordering, airport parking and advice on subsistence allowances.
Blueprint has been created by the agency’s e-service director Mike Fill, who sent 20 years at Cap Gemini Ernst Young heading its international travel and tourism sector.
He said: “We have taken into account the reality of how business trips are actually set up and booked. From my personal experience as a frequent business traveller I was all too aware that I had to do quite a lot of work before I could get a trip booked.
“With Blueprint we have dispensed with all this as all a traveller now has to do is say ‘I want to be at the Singapore office on Thursday at 10 am’ and the system does the rest. It will calculate what time travellers need to leave for the airport, pick the flights to ensure they get there on time and also remind them to book airport parking, hotel accommodation and even give directions to the local office.”
He added that the system helps companies get the most out of their travel budgets.
“We know that 95% of companies have a travel policy and 95% of business travellers have never read the policy,” said Mr Fill. “Companies can make cost savings by looking at each individual element of a business trip. All too often a hotel rate can look attractive until you take into account the cost of meals and taxis to get to meetings. With Blueprint we analyse each element and make the most cost effective solution available to everyone within the organisation.”
Report by Phil Davies
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