Previous Winners

2007 Winner

Advantage Business Travel for its GDS CAT 35 initiative.

CAT35 allows airlines to upload their net discounted fares displaying all terms and conditions on the global distribution system. Previously this was not possible and agents had to either go through a third party or search for those specific fares. But now, thanks to CAT35, agents can save time searching as well as offer a comprehensive fare selection to clients; airlines can upload fares directly - increasing accuracy; and agents are no longer liable for expensive penalty charges.

Although the CAT35 initiative was launched less than a year ago with just six airlines, 43 airlines are now involved. And last year, Advantage members shared £2 million in rebates – an increase of 40 per cent on 2005.

Advantage also won the Innovation Award for its deal with Amadeus: the company has pioneered the use of Amadeus’ e-booking tool, which is offered to members who can, in turn, offer it to clients.

The third Business Travel Show Innovation Award was presented by Adam Coulter, chairman of the judging panel and editor of Travel Trade Gazette Business: “Advantage has shown how, by coming together, its members have driven through two outstanding initiatives.

“CAT35 is a step-change in terms of how its members search for fares, saving them time and money and enhancing their reputation with clients. Amadeus’ SBT allows members – many of whom could never afford such technology – to offer a sophisticated e-booking solution to their clients. This is a prime example of how a well-run and efficient consortium is bigger than the sum of its parts. And special mention must go to Norman Gage, Advantage Business Travel Director, and his team for driving through those initiatives.”

2006 Winner

Harry Weeks Travel for its online rail-booking tool Evolvi

The Evolvi system is a customisable corporate online tool, which books and prints rail tickets, gathers management information and supports individual travel policies. It has been in development since 2003 when it was invented as a solution to Harry Weeks’ evolving needs and the company has since pumped more than £1 million into the product. After final accreditation from the Association of Train Operating Companies, Evolvi hit the market in the early summer of 2005 and was instantly applauded by clients and peers.

Chairman of the judging panel, Mike Toynbee, commented: "We felt Harry Weeks Travel had come up with a genuinely innovative product that had involved a good deal of blood, sweat and tears during the two years it took to develop, involving considerable investment and risk on the part of the company. Aimed at both corporates and the trade, it was both needed and wanted and the initial take-up has been very encouraging. It is a small company with a big idea and deserves to succeed."

2005 Winner

British Airways for Manage My Booking self-service strategy

'Manage My Booking' empowers BA’s passengers to request a seat, select a special in-flight meal, check in online, print their own boarding card, manage their Executive Club membership and mileage, and arrange flight changes and upgrades.

Paul Robin, Event Director of the Business Travel Show explained: “’Manage My Booking’ is a more than worthy winner of our very first Innovation Award– the service has proved massively popular with customers since its inception. On face value, it’s a very simple idea designed to make life easier for both passengers and staff. But they say the simple ideas are always the best, and we have every confidence that this is an innovation that will be rolled out by other airlines in the very near future.”