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Contact UsExecutive Edge Tel: +613 9519 7777
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Corporate Newsletter: Issue #16 Welcome to Edge Intelligence for September/October 2009Letter from the Editor Social media is unquestionably the fastest growing communication vehicle of our generation. Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, etc are quickly and conveniently becoming woven into the fabric of our daily lives. In this issue of Edge Intelligence we examine the impact social media is beginning to make on the travel industry - see Industry News. No one can disagree that travel is an essential business enabler. There is simply no substitute for face-to-face interaction with customers, colleagues or business partners and prospects. Nevertheless, the current economic climate necessitates corporations decrease travel expenses. One of Executive Edge Travel’s primary aims is to assist our corporate clients in monitoring travel spend and achieving savings targets. We help clients spend their travel dollar wisely and present operational options to facilitate this goal. Read “Ways to Reduce Corporate Travel Expenditure” in Industry News for more details on how to start saving today. Tired of paying exorbitant additional fees for excess baggage on international flights? Edge Intelligence outlines a cheaper alternative using Jetta Express, an Australian-based excess baggage delivery service. As always, we are pleased to have you all as clients and we thank you for your loyalty. Kimberly Rosbe |
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INDUSTRY NEWS
BUSINESS HOTEL NEWS
EDGE INTELLIGENCE
EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
INDUSTRY NEWSSocial Media and the Travel IndustryRegardless of your age, demographic or gender, social media is taking over the world. If you haven’t heard of and use Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc, you are in the ever-growing minority. Particularly in America but also across the globe, social media is becoming intricately woven into the basic fabric of our lives. “Friend me,” “Follow me on Twitter” and “Check out my blog” are such common phrases prevalent in our global society today that we no longer think twice about uttering them on a regular basis. To understand this vernacular and utilise social media to your personal advantage is to be hip and current. Social media is unquestionably the latest and greatest ubiquitous communication vehicle of our times. In fact, the statistics of growth are staggering. But the most relevant of these statistics for the travel industry illuminates that the demographic driving the exponential growth of social media is not young media-savvy kids but instead the established 25-54 year old population. This demographic is also the most likely to travel. Tourism Australia has been quick to capitalise on this trend and is reporting excellent results with its presence on Facebook and Twitter. Using the premise of a shared love for Australia and holidaying in Oz, Tourism Australia’s social media sites are creating a strong word-of-mouth advocacy for Australian destinations and a way for people all over the world to connect instantly. Currently fb.australia.com has more than 260,000 fans and the base is growing at a rate of almost 1000 per day. Most valuable to Tourism Australia, their followings are very powerful in convincing people why they should choose to holiday in Oz. Ordinary people promote the country and entice foreigners to visit. No advertising necessary. Some travel agencies are also cleverly getting into the social media game. One Australian travel operator secures deals with wholesalers, hotels and airlines and then quickly “tweets” them onto his site. Clients follow the tweets, ring to book and business is booming. Don’t be surprised if Executive Edge gets in the game someday soon...Have you signed up for Twitter and Facebook yet? Join the revolution today. Ways to Reduce Corporate Travel Expenditure Travel is an essential business enabler - there is simply no truly effective substitute for face-to-face interaction with customers, colleagues or business partners and prospects. Virtually no one in the international business world disagrees with this fundamental point. Nevertheless, we are experiencing unprecedented times. And the current economic climate of today simply necessitates that corporations find ways to decrease the cost of travel expenses. Being more informed and strategic about your travel options coupled with an aggressive cost down policy will enable achieving savings targets. First of all, focus on consolidation. There are incredible deals for clever businessmen who are willing and able to consolidate the number of preferred hotels. Also, take advantage of dynamic pricing for the best rates. Incentives and value add ons are two other cost down initiatives. Not to mention the conferencing, meetings and incentives hotels are offering endless specials at the moment. Of course, downgrading classes is always an option from First to Business or Business to Economy Plus. However, be wary that enabling an employee to travel in First or Business Class on international flights allows them to function at full capacity upon arrival. Another consideration is lead time. The farther in advance a company books, the more likely that rates can be leveraged as well as ensuring availability. Finally, utilising an online booking tool devised through your travel management company helps to manage corporate travel programs more closely and maintain savings for the long-term. Airlines Have Changed for Good Although aviation is always temporarily impacted by global events and trends to an extent, this global financial crisis has profoundly and potentially inalterably changed the shape of aviation forever, most experts predict. Not only has the way companies travel changed, but also the pattern of how leisure consumers travel has seemingly permanently changed - some say forever. Accordingly, airlines are rising to the challenge to survive. Three notable strategies have been devised by airlines recently to help manage the changes in the way consumers fly. First of all, almost all airlines have or are in the process of reconfiguring their seating. Second, a clear alliance and merger trend is accelerating. Star Alliance is very active recruiting and adding to its already strong group of worldwide carriers. Lufthansa Airlines has just acquired Swiss Airlines and Austrian Airlines to strengthen its fleet. And in America, whisperings of a merge between United and Continental could prove necessary and lucrative. To adapt to the changing shape of travel, airlines are also now selling ancillary services at check-in such as upgrades or baggage allowances which is accounting for millions in additional revenue. Finally, airlines are actively increasing their direct distribution through e-commerce channels. Qantas bookings online domestically now account for more than 60% of bookings. Travel agencies will not become obsolete however, experts are quick to clarify. Although there are fewer agencies now, the volume of travel bookings that goes through travel agencies is not drastically decreasing. Airlines need agencies too as the average revenue they receive from the agencies is higher than they receive from direct channels. World’s Top Airports Although everyone who travels extensively has their opinion regarding the best airports in the world, the final word on the subject goes to the World Airport Awards, the premier quality accolade for airports across the globe. The World Airline Awards are given yearly representing “the travellers choice” which is widely considered the quality benchmark for the airport industry. This year more than 8.6 million passengers from over 95 nationalities participated in a 10 month survey of 196 airports measuring 35 elements of each airport experience including check-in, arrivals and transfers then ascertains quantifiably how well each airport stacks up against their customers’ expectations. So the results are in! And this year’s winner is Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. Unfortunately all Australian and US airports were conspicuously absent from the top ratings with Auckland coming in closest to the top at number 10. World’s Top 10 Airports in order from 1 to 10: Incheon International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Singapore Changi, Zurich, Munich, Kansai, Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam, Centrair Nagoya and Auckland. BUSINESS HOTEL NEWSFeatured Business Hotel: The Peninsula Beverly HillsAlthough not your typical business hotel, The Peninsula Beverly Hills offers wonderful corporate perks for the Australian conducting business in Los Angeles. My favourite benefit? Guaranteed 7am availability of your room. And for those of us who have become very unpleasantly accustomed to waiting hours to check in to our LA hotel after the Qantas flight from Melbourne arrives as the sun comes up, the Peninsula’s policy is sheer heaven-sent. Its location is the best in the city in the heart of Beverly Hills just 3 minutes to Rodeo Drive but the hotel even offers complimentary Rolls-Royce service to nearby LA locations. The hotel feels more like an eighteenth-century French country estate with its antiques-furnished rooms set amongst tropical gardens and quiet hideaway ambience. And the staff is truly impeccable embodying consummate professionalism. Enjoy dining in the formal dining room or alfresco on the roof-top, sun-soaked terrace. Now that is the way to conduct business in America. 9882 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to Open 9 New Hotels by 2010 Shangri-La Hotels is the Asia-Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group and despite the downturned economy, is full steam ahead. So far in 2009, the company has already opened 6 hotels in Monjo, Tokyo, Boracay, Vancouver, Dhabi and the Maldives. The company’s spokeswoman has now ambitiously proclaimed that Shangri-La will open another three resorts in Ningbo, Guilin and Cha Ching by year’s end. The company’s focus is clearly expansion with plans to open a Shangri-La in Paris next year debuting the hotel chain in Europe. Another goal of the corporation seems to be capturing the large MICE market with a number of new promotions and packages now available. The newest innovation of the group is a program called ‘Custom Stay.’ Instead of dictating a savings package to consumers universally, Custom Stay allows clients the flexibility to create their own hotel experience which is tailored to their specific needs. In fact, Shangri-La is the only large hotel group which offers guests the ability to choose their room online then add the services and comforts they most use - airport transfers, dining credits, spa treatments, etc.- with a mere touch of a mouse. EDGE INTELLIGENCESave up to 50% on Excess Baggage using JettaWith the addition of new fees for luggage on many airlines, consumers are packing lighter or looking for alternatives. Jetta Express, an Australian national excess baggage delivery company, is offering that viable alternative at significantly lower rates than the airlines. In fact, Jetta’s rates are up to 50% lower than utilising the airlines services. With 15 years experience, Jetta Express is considered Australia’s leading national specialist in baggage service with offices in all major Australian cities. Jetta makes sending baggage to your travel destination simple and easy. With no ticket required, a Jetta representative weights and collects your excess baggage from your door and arranges to have the bags arrive when you do. All baggage is security cleared prior to sending overseas, customs forms organised and sent to the destination of your choice. Packing cartons or boxes can be arranged or simply use your very own luggage/suitcases/boxes. Jetta uses all 32 international airlines which originate from Australia to deliver your bags with cheaper rates to over 6,500 destinations in 240 countries. The organisation generally recommends that you allow 5-7 days before you depart and charges are prepaid by cash or credit card. For more information or to book a pick-up, call 1300 300 688 in Australia or use their online booking services at www.jetta.com.au/onbook (maximum weight per piece must be under 30 kilograms) Join AAdvantage Dining for FREE and earn 2,000 bonus miles American Airlines knows how important earning frequent flier miles is in this tough economy. So not only is the company constantly generating airfare deals but they have developed a comprehensive frequent flier program inclusive with a dining option. Right now, you can earn 2,000 AAdvantage bonus miles on your first dining experience with a minimum spend of $25. Simply register for AAdvantage Dining for FREE and then earn an additional 5 AA miles per $1 spent on the entire bill - tax, tip and dessert included. *Conditions and restrictions apply. See www.aa.com Avis Car Rental Deals for International Travel Avis is currently offering hot deals on car rentals for international travel including the following:
Terms and conditions apply for each promotion. See www.avis.com for more details or call your Executive Edge consultant to book. EVENTS AND CONFERENCESHot MICE Desitinations in Southeast AsiaIn growing numbers, companies from around the world are flocking to Southeast Asia for their incentive programs for a plethora of reasons. Primary reason? Price. Even in this challenging economy, companies still want to utilise incentive programs, however reducing costs is critical. Many destinations in Southeast Asia offer programs at a fraction of the cost of European or US cities, so are quickly becoming a viable option. Here are some Southeast Asian cities which are considered the hottest and most popular MICE destinations today: Phuket - Always popular for its hotel scene, Phuket is constantly adding new luxury properties which draw the MICE market. Direct flights and low-cost carriers from Australia have also greatly increased its accessibility. Bangkok - This neon-lit happening capital offers endless possibilities for staging an awesome incentive event. The combination of delicious Thai cuisine, abundant shopping and vibrant nightlife make it a logical choice for MICE programs originating in Australia. Siem Reap - This city holds the greatest potential for an emerging MICE market in Cambodia as an incentive destination with its growing number of 5 star hotels and the direct flight connections to other Asian cities. Hanoi - Vietnam’s capital city’s appeal lies in its natural and cultural heritage sites. Although room supplies can be limited, book in advance at the Sofitel Metropole, Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake or Sofitel Plaza to secure your group. Ho Chi Minh City - Merging old and new, long-haul corporate clients are singing the praises of this southern Vietnam city. Not only have visa requirements been relaxed but also increased flight connections and a good selection of international standard hotels are now available. Final Days to Book AIME 2010 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre The 18th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo is quickly approaching leaving dwindling time to book a space. Next year’s AIME will be held at the famed Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 2nd and 3rd, 2010. The deadline for companies that participated in AIME 2009 to reserve their preferred space is Friday, September 4th. Currently 92% of exhibitors from 2009 intend to return in 2010. Attendance figures from last year showed a 10% increase from 2008 with a total of 3,581 visitors including 71 media representatives and 467 hosted buyers. Exhibitor figures from 2009 set a new record with 854 companies from 50 countries participating and Australian exhibitors increasing from 354 in 2008 to 396 in 2009. To book - simply log onto the AIME 2010 website www.aime.com.au and download a floorplan, prices, stand options, furniture packs and information on the hosted buyer program. |
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