ACTE UPDATE

Sometimes things work the way they were intended. Remember when corporate travel innovations would start in one country and take months to hit all four corners of the globe? With tech today, when a light bulb goes off in one region, it can become a worldwide trend in a matter of minutes.

Our world is constantly changing. Changes in travel content sources and pricing; and changing entrants in the booking, flight, lodging and ground transport segments. But perhaps the biggest change of all is how we pay for everything.

The tsunami of change forces ever more strategic thinking. Often, that means looking a year ahead when you know something may be obsolete by month’s end.

This reality requires that business or travel programmes be as nimble as start-ups while having a long-term playbook, similar to what goes into making an aircraft carrier. Challenging? You bet. Hard to do? Yes – but increasingly important.

You must hit change head on. Be an early adopter, read white papers, network, pore through magazines like this, attend conferences and join industry groups. Your company and your travellers will thank you.

Robert Alley has been appointed Chief Operations Officer at Roomzzz, overseeing guest experience, commercial approach, sales and marketing and financial controls.