“We are on the front end of a boom of on-line adoption by corporate markets,” believes Kurt Ekert, CEO of Travelport Corporate Solutions.
“Another big thing in the market is that a massive convergence is happening, “ he told TravelMole.
Companies are increasingly looking to integrate the disparate parts of travel, simplify them and offer them at a single source, he said.
The travel experience of booking on line is coming closer to off-line, but companies competing on price alone are not going to be successful, he added.
“You have to have a full vertical solution,” he said, including elements such as ease of access and a user-friendly nature.
Cost will obviously continue to be an important factor in business travel choices, he said, but it can’t be the only element.
Travelport, owned by Cendant, is said to be the only industry competitor offering all elements of business travel from a single source. It has advanced technology, easy-to-use products and 24/7 customer service from a single location.
Mr Ekert said corporate clients using the complete Travelport service save an average of 32%, but that the savings would be far less valued if that was the only company offering.
Another market trend he noted is that corporations are increasingly implementing global programs.
Report by David Wilkening
