Seek and Find, Not Show and Tell
Education sessions are developed by Steering Committee members whose executive experience in managed travel provides direction for addressing the most important and relevant topics in the industry. Through engaging learning activities, expert panelists, and interactive Q&A sessions, you will gain the tools and strategies that will allow you to re-energize your travel programme.
11:00-12:00 Thursday, 6 December 
T102 Proposed Major Reforms Affecting the Industry and Business Travel Programs
T101 Capture the Resource Sector Travel Opportunity | Insights and Learnings
The mining and resources sector has had a major impact on the Australian economy over the last decade and its demand for travel services is a significant influencer in the businesses of travel suppliers across all travel product categories. This session will address the unique logistical, technological and financial demands of the resources sector - with a particular focus on how the world of resource travel "really" works.
- What sets resource sector travel programs apart? (i.e. unique needs and the extraordinary standards for other needs as compared with a vertical of similar significance to the economy)
- What role does site operations and fly-in, fly-out management play in the travel management chain? Is this key component of getting people on-site being adequately represented in discussions happening in the corporate travel space around resource sector solutions?
- What are the likely and/or possible paths forward with respect to integrating the travel management world with the site management world? Where are the opportunities and what are the risks and challenges?
- What changes to travel programs can be expected given the present business outlook for the sector?
Moderator:
Kenneth Phua, Director, Travel Mobility Technology
Panelists:
Tony Hampton, Managing Director, Cube Consulting
Katrina Harris, Asia Pacific Travel Manager, BP
Kurt Knackstedt, Global Category Lead, Travel and Expense Management, Rio Tinto
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Payment surcharges and taxi costs can add up to significant amounts. This session highlights the proposed RBA lead changes to payment surcharges and welcome taxi reform that will directly affect the travel industry and business travel programs.
Presenters:
Richard Allsop, Research Fellow, Institute of Public Affairs
Elizabeth McNess, Principal Advisor, Financial Services, Choice
Compliments of:
T103 Actively Managing and Marketing Your Career | Expert Advice on Reinventing Yourself to Meet Changing Market Demands
In an uncertain economic climate and a changing landscape of business travel, the importance of taking responsibility for your personal brand and career advancement has never been stronger. This session will assist in preparing and responding to change, building structural resilience into your career, and actively marketing/networking to build your profile.
- Being the marketing director for yourself
- Innovation, research and development strategies for individuals
- Reinventing yourself to meet changed market demands
- Using social media to advance your career
Presenter:
Peter Black, Business and Executive Coach & Group Chair with The Executive Connection (TEC)
Compliments of:
14:00-15:00 Thursday, 6 December
T201 Risky Business | Duty of Care & Travel Risk Management - Responsibilities, Legislation, Advice, Solutions
Business travel is an extension of the legally defined 'workplace', from the moment the traveller leaves their front door until they arrive back home. For most organisations it places its people at their highest risk. In regards to managing this risk, this session will provide great comfort to some and strike fear into others. The good news is that it’s never too late to start or improve.
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Updated employer legislative responsibilities.
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Risk trends including kidnap for ransom, illegal detention and extortions that are affecting Australian/NZ business travellers and expatriates in growing numbers.
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Proactive management of this risk including prevention, insurance and response strategies to help organisations meet their duty of care legislative obligations to both travelling staff and locally hired employees of Australian organisations.
Presenters:
Anthony Moorhouse, Founder & CEO, Dynamiq.
Tracie Thompson, Kidnap & Ransom Underwriting Manager, Accident & Health International.
T202 Strategic Meetings Management Program | Framework for Success
Meetings/Events can represent significant costs and its management can consume many people within an organisation. Often it is area that is quite separate to a Business Travel Program whereby preferred suppliers are under-utilised, expenditure is not maximised and risk exposure is increased.
A successfully implemented SMMP saves money, reduces risk, increases efficiency and improves customer service. The journey, however, is not an easy one nor will it happen overnight. This workshop will fully illustrate the processes required to create an effective SMMP and what’s needed for your business plan to your senior executives. Also learn about new available technologies and how suppliers can show added value and understanding to their client’s requirements.
Presenters:
Kevin Iwamoto - Vice President, Enterprise Strategy at Active Network | Business Solutions
T203 Leisure Time for Corporate Travel | Why can’t business travel planning and booking be as dynamic as leisure travel?
Why can't business travel planning and booking be as dynamic as leisure travel?
Presenters:
Yeoh Siew Hoon, Editor and Founder, WIT - Web in Travel
Kurt Knackstedt, Global Category Lead, Travel and Expense Management, Rio Tinto
Kei Shibata, CEO and Co-founder, Venture Republic Japan
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15:30-16:30 Thursday, 6 December
T301 Accommodation Pricing Under the Magnifying Glass
General accommodation occupancy rates are at their highest ever, whereby some cities on popular days seem to be booked several weeks in advance and attract double digit price increases. Gain key factual based insights from 3rd party professionals into the pricing, loyalty, hotel development pipeline, and why you should expect to be paying more. A quick introduction will be followed by a frank panel discussion involving accommodation corporate buyers and hotel representatives.
Moderator:
Rutger Smits – Director, AHS Advisory
Panelists:
Michael Bourne, General Manager, Hilton Sydney
Hartmut Fink, Asset Manager, Eureka Hotels
Elizabeth Ford, Director of Sales Corporate & Government, Accor Australia
Brian Jefferys, Group Procurement Manager ICT, Boral
Bryon Merzeo, STR Global
Dan Stevens, Managing Director, Business Travel Consulting Group
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T302 Travel Program Optimisation - From Objectives to Deliverables, Extracting Greater Value and the Crucial Art of Change Management
The procurement and management of an organisation’s Travel Programs is seen as a strategic investment towards growth and no longer just a cost centre. Lessons from the GFC showed that simply reducing travel hurt a company’s bottom-line. In a returning tightening economic climate, organisations have to travel smarter. The need to extract greater value from travel programs and ensure greater ROI has never been more focussed. This will usually involve change and its important management. Hear from a leading Travel Management Advisor on simple tested and new ways to extract greater value; from suppliers costs to process efficiencies, essential steps and pitfalls to avoid.
Presenter:
Virginia Fitzpatrick – Director, TMS Travel Management Solutions
Patrick Kuziw, Global Operations Manager – Travel, International SOS
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