CWT Enhances Automation For European Midmarket, Small Clients

Carlson Wagonlit Travel last week began offering small and midmarket companies in 13 countries throughout Europe most of the automated travel management capabilities the company already offers in the United States. Some countries still lack the infrastructure the company needs to properly synchronize profiles with online booking tools.

CWT's new Connect Express and Connect Business offerings expand on the capabilities that the global travel management company offers through its CWT Corporate Select product, available in Europe since 2003. CWT Connect Express was created for small companies that do not have a managed travel program. CWT Connect Business was designed for midsize companies with managed travel policies and negotiated supplier agreements. It features the integration of travel policy into both online and offline booking, meetings and event support and account management, as well as global reporting and information and enhanced risk assessments and security information. In addition, both solutions offer a more user-friendly interface, a reduced number of screens and clicks to access content, multichannel fulfillment options and availability in English and local languages.

Céline Guerton, EMEA midmarket director for Carlson Wagonlit, told Business Travel News, "The product is a fully restructured architecture, linked to our key strategy to expand our midmarket solutions."

Carol Ann Salcito, president of Norwalk, Conn.-based Management Alternatives Inc., which has more than 550 clients throughout the world, said she views CWT's new offering as an "excellent" product. "Companies are looking for a tool in a controlled environment, such as Carlson Wagonlit," she said. "It's a one-stop shop and it's simple. That's really the key."

Tom Wilkinson, senior vice president of Partnership Travel Consulting in Princeton, N.J., said the value of the product is that it defines the spectrum of options available to companies depending on their size and demand for managed travel. "It does a nice job of explaining the options," Wilkinson said of the TMC's two offerings. "I like this approach. This makes a ton of sense, it's a nice message and nicely delivered—though it's not the first time I've seen this message delivered."

One industry source echoed that sentiment, stating, "It sounds as if CWT is packaging existing technology. Other major TMCs also offer portals with links to proprietary profile databases, online booking, reporting and other content. However, I'm not sure anyone has specifically targeted the small to midmarket sector in Europe and I don't know how attractive CWT is making the pricing."

CWT Connect Express and CWT Connect Business now are available in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.