CWT To Launch Videoconferencing Strategy

Carlson Wagonlit Travel president Doug Anderson told BTN today that the company shortly would announce a videoconferencing management strategy, including a partnership with a technology provider.

"We are very close to making an announcement on a relationship with a strategic partner to offer our clients access to videoconferencing facilities," Anderson said.

Anderson added that CWT will help customers to develop policies and booking processes for integrated management of travel and videoconferencing. "I view it as no different than what we do to help clients with air, hotel and other supplier categories," he said. "We will help them to access the inventory, which in some cases will be that of our partner and in others the client's own facilities."

CWT saw a decline in travel bookings of 10 percent to 12 percent in the first nine months of 2009, with client spend down by more than 20 percent. Anderson said the United States has resumed growth, but Europe remains flat. Globally, Anderson does not expect significant improvement for another two or three quarters. Since the recession began, the travel management company has reduced its headcount from 21,000 employees to 17,000.

CWT has cut its investment 15 percent, although it did announce today a rollout of its CWT Room Select hotel booking tool to continental Europe after launching in the United Kingdom earlier this year.

Anderson also noted CWT has won $1.25 billion in new sales since January.