Business Travel Executive, December 2018

TECH FILES 34Business Travel Executive DECEMBER 2018 BCD Travel Adds Groupize to Its SolutionSource Marketplace BCD Travel has added Groupize to SolutionSource its marketplace for clients With the new partnership customers can work with their account managers to access this solution for their Simple Meetings programs Groupize enables visibility and management over a segment of group spend that represents 60 to 80 percent of meetings BCD clients can maximize their investment in their travel programs and SAP Concur to bridge the gap between managing transient travel and meetings Travel Managers See Benefits Disadvantages to NDC According to a new study the majority of travel managers expect to see some benefit from IATAs New Distribution Capability standard The study The Evolution of Air Distribution produced by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives in collaboration with American Express Global Business Travel GBT showed that over twothirds 64 percent believe NDC could improve the booking experience and over half 56 percent believe it could help contract negotiations with airlines On the other hand the survey found 89 percent of managers fear that fragmentation created by NDC could threaten cost control 87 percent said it would negatively impact policy compliance and duty of care 77 percent Greeley Koch executive director of ACTE Global said NDC is a response to market demands and could make for better traveler experiences through personalization But it may leave travel managers scrambling to figure out how to maintain control of their programs if NDC becomes the norm Courtyard Becomes First All Solar Powered Marriott The Courtyard by Marriott in Lancaster PA has installed a 135200 square foot solar array to become the first Marriott to generate 100 percent of its electrical needs from solar energy Guests will have access to view the solar power produced in a real time meter in the lobby The solar array is slated to produce more kilowatts than the 133 room property hotels requires The balance will be sold back to the utility BTE