Business Travel Show 2008 Innovation Awards: WINNERS ANNOUNCED
February 6 2008
Following an intense short-listing process by a panel of leading business travel journalists and a final public vote, the winners of the seven Innovation Award categories were finally revealed as:
- Accommodation category
City Inn - In-room multimedia business and entertainment solution with iMac
- Air travel category
British Airways - Club World Cabin
- Corporate social responsibility category
Airplus - Carbon offset feature of the AirPlus Company Account
- Ground transportation category
Eurostar - High Speed Rail on Airline GDS Display
- Technology category
Hilton Hotels - Personalized Online Group (POG)
- Traveller service category
Sabre Holdings - Sabre Virtually There
- Travel management service
Carlson Wagonlit Travel - Programme Management Centre
Business Travel Show event director David Chapple said: "Innovation is at the core of every successful company within the business travel sector and these category winners illustrate how this innovation can dramatically move brands forward. Every year at the Business Travel Show it's great to see so many of our exhibitors creating new services and products that enhance the business travel experience at every level.
"We'd like to congratulate all of the industry's innovators, not just those recognised here today, but every company within the industry that strives, year in, year out, to make business travel more comfortable and profitable for every business traveller."
About the award winners:
City Inn - City Inn has created a fully integrated technology offering for customers: using IP to deliver the TV solution and WiFi to deliver the web options, these were brought together with a custom built interface, which allows the full suite of options (in-room computer with Microsoft-compatible software and secure/privacy solution, CD/DVD, TV, superior sound solution and web access) to be delivered via one integrated yet stylish solution - the iMac.
British Airways - Currently being rolled out across its long haul fleet, BA's new Club World cabin has been completely redesigned to meet the changing needs of our customers. As expectation levels increase and requirements evolve, the airline has had to innovate to devise a radically improved cabin offering customers a wealth of new features and services.
AirPlus - The AirPlus Company Account is a lodge card solution that provides financial settlement services for business travel purchases for corporates and sophisticated state-of-the-art reporting on travel spend. The carbon offset feature allows clients to automatically offset all their flights purchased via the Company Account. This is done through a donation, based on the actual CO2 emissions, as calculated by the carbon offset organisation selected by the client. The donation is automatically charged to the client and received by their chosen offset organisation and will appear on the client's AirPlus invoice alongside the flight transaction.
Eurostar - A lack of visibility on GDS was hindering Eurostar's strategic position to be aligned with the airlines. To overcome this barrier, Eurostar came to an agreement with the principal participants in airline industry distribution and signed an agreement with the technology supplier, Amadeus, and SNCF DSIV, the supplier for Eurostar Computerized Reservation System, Resarail, to build the Eurostar GDS Gateway that will link the Global Distribution Systems directly and in real time to Resarail.
Hilton Hotels - Hilton Hotels' Personalised Online Groups is an invaluable tool for meeting planners/event organisers. A unique web page fully customised for their event, the booker/organisers' attendees can view and book pre-secured rates at the chosen hotel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The POG is fast and free to set up and it's available for groups requiring ten bedrooms or more. This new innovation combined with Hilton's event expertise and award-winning service will support customers in creating a successful and hassle free event with a personal touch.
Sabre Holdings - 'Sabre Virtually There' mobile services brings features found on 'Virtually There', a web site providing real-time access to trip itineraries, to a leisure or business traveller's mobile phone or other web-enabled mobile device. It has numerous benefits for travel agents and travellers alike, with additional features such as destination information, maps and a currency converter. It currently has over 130,000 users and this number is rising rapidly.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel - Developed during 2007, the CWT Programme Management Centre is a powerful travel programme management tool that brings travel management metrics together in one seamless, customisable interface. The global, web-based tool provides a central gateway for easy access to all information needed - from exception reports to safety alerts; programme improvement recommendations to credit card integration. Special emphasis is placed on programme performance as compared to goals, with key metrics of importance to each user showcased, allowing travel management personnel to focus their efforts and spend their time wisely. It is a one-stop shop for all the content that a travel manager needs, and available in multi-language and multi-currency formats.
For more information:
Charlotte Le Rougetel
Bastion
32-38 Saffron Hill
London EC1M 6HJ
T: +44 (0) 20 7421 7600
F: +44 (0) 20 7421 7601
Charlotte@bastion.co.uk