Business Travel Executive, October 2017

24 Taking on the World Teaming with the right TMC to create a truly global program starts with asking the right questions SPECIAL REPORTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE 12 Meetings on a Roll Well planned logistics and fleet management can make ground transportation an integral part of an events success 18 Tooling Up A consumer level booking experience for business travelers is getting closer but there are still obstacles 34 Winning the Long Game The corporate housing market is on the move with enhanced technology and refined products DEPARTMENTS 30 PHAT DATA The Future is Phat The Phat Data concept resides in two worlds The real world and a dream world thats closer than you think 46 TRAVEL BUYERS ROUNDTABLE World View What makes a travel management company truly global Its complicated So Think Tank buyers explain 40 TECH FILES Sky Links Inflight WiFi may be coming of age at last Concur unveils its Hipmunk service Bizly platform welcomes all corporate customers Addison Lee buys Tandem Technologies Business travelers carry four devices think AI and VR will enhance the journey Groupize and Concur integrate Alaska Air ramps up WiFi askBTE com Managed Travel Procurement Solutions Online Business Travel Executive magazine is published monthly twelve 12 times a year for qualified corporate travel management financial and purchasing executives in North America BTE helps corporations control over 100 billion in annual T E costs by delivering successful managed travel and procurement solutions processes expense reporting emerging technologies reporting new products and services while monitoring the ever changing managed travel industry Subscriptions Complimentary for qualified corporate travel management financial and purchasing executives All others are 144 per year Go to www askBTE com askBTE com offers managed travel and procurement solutions online featuring the current issue of BTE searchable how to editorial archives past issues and industry news askBTE com is updated weekly Subscriptions Industry and association news current issue and archived article overviews are free for all Full article access is 144 per year RedlineNews is the weekly e newsletter featuring timely industry news for the managed corporate travel professional Subscriptions Complimentary at askBTE com homepage click free e mail registration Special Combined Subscription Offer Combined annual subscription to monthly BTE and askBTE com is available on the web for the special price of 144 per year Go to Subscribe Now at askBTE com BTE Publishing Office Business Travel Executive Eleven Ryerson Avenue Suite 201 Pompton Plains NJ 07444 BTE Editorial Office Business Travel Executive 5768 Remington Drive Winston Salem NC 27104 Manuscripts and photographs are welcome but submitted at the senders risk Please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope for return of material Submission of letters implies the right to edit and publish all or in part Address Changes Fax a copy of BTE cover with mailing label and changes to 9738394390 Or email subscriptions@ askBTE com In Canada Publication Agreement 1420038 COVER STORY OCTOBER 2017 INDUSTRY NEWS Travelport launches Exclusive Rates program IHG introduces Avid brand 2018 meetings costs predicted to rise Preferred hotel rates 6 harder to find More companies OK sharing economy Star Alliance unveils OHare Connection Amex GBT completes Banks Sadler purchase Tougher hotel cancellation policies may cost companies millions Europe border regulations raise concerns Hyatt buys Exhale Spas American extends basic economy