Challenge
Absolute Software (Absolute), a technology/communication company based in Vancouver Canada with offices world-wide, began developing business plans to expand globally. With this growth, international travel was inevitable. At the time, they were using a hotel booking solution that wasn’t providing the outcomes they were expecting. Fundamentally, their travel program required considerable reservation support, significant traveler satisfaction, and the ability to handle Absolute’s complex international travel. Traveling internationally also meant it was vital to have ample reporting with the ability to consolidate data.

Absolute realized these shortcomings were not an efficient use of time and money. That’s when they decided to switch to us—American Express Global Business Travel (GBT)—to help build a travel program with a comprehensive travel policy, increased consolidation, captured spend/activity, all while producing cost savings.

Solution
After settling in with a new travel program with us as their new Travel Management Company (TMC), we conducted an annual business review that identified the opportunity to improve Absolute’s hotel booking process.

Significant change came about by adding EXPERT AUDITOR; a highly flexible, automated pre-trip approval system that recommends hotel bookings for trips that did not have an attached hotel reservation. EXPERT AUDITOR’s built-in logic allows Absolute to optimize their travel policy by monitoring data fields captured in the reservation, and ensures compliance to auditing parameters.

“Absolute was able to consolidate hotel spend to increase savings, initiate negotiations directly with hotels for the best available rates, and meet their main goal—expand their business internationally,” said Leslie, American Express GBT Client Manager.

Renovating program impact
Absolute’s travel program changes incorporated additional benefits, including:

  • Cost savings by booking hotel stays at PREFERRED EXTRAS properties
  • Improved security oversight and duty of care by consolidating hotel bookings
  • Enhanced travel policy control through reporting


Training a new mindset
We knew how important it was that all aspects of the solution were clear and understandable. First, we trained travelers on how to add a hotel stay to an existing air reservation. Next, we worked with their procurement department to demonstrate how they could optimize reporting and controls of the program.

“With Absolute, it was crucial that we sufficiently educated travelers so they would adopt the changes,” said Leslie. “Providing training and documentation is one of the most important elements in revamping a travel program, and without it, Absolute’s new travel program would not have been a success.”

Results
Absolute saw the results they were looking for.

  • Improved hotel attachment usage from eight percent to an impressive 24%¹ and growing
  • Increased hotel savings resulting in a return on investment ratio of 5.7 to 1¹
  • Incorporating American Express GBT’s MEETINGS EXPERT to optimize savings by booking meetings and travel together


[1]
Source: American Express Global Business Travel

  • Industry: Technology
  • Travel Spend: $1-$3M USD
  • Travelers: 50

CHALLENGES

  • Insufficient hotel program
  • International expansion was limited
  • Lack of robust reporting

SOLUTION

  • Revamped hotel program with EXPERT AUDITOR
  • Optimized travel spend with PREFFERED EXTRAS
  • Expanded reporting capabilities

RESULTS

  • Impressive 16%¹ improvement in hotel attachment
  • Increased hotel savings with ROI ratio of 5.7 to 1¹
  • Optimized savings by booking meetings and travel together

 “Absolute consolidated hotel spend to increase savings, negotiate directly with hotels for best rates, and meet their main goal—expand their business internationally.”  – Leslie, American Express GBT Client Manager