Buyers will probably keep negotiated hotel rates flat this year or see only a slight increase, said Margaret Bowler, director of global hotel relations for Hogg Robinson Group. Buyers are about split on their 2010 negotiating strategy: Some began the requests-for-proposals process early in the hopes of getting a better rate, while others are holding off in the hopes of a clearer picture of what the market will hold, she said. HRG in August released its annual six-month hotel survey for global markets, which showed double-digit percentage decreases in rates for most major cities, and Abu Dhabi was the only city not to see a rate decrease
(BTNonline, Aug. 6). A subsequent study of North American markets showed similar results, according to Bowler. "Very few cities are growing," she said. "One city that does stand out is Houston, which is no great surprise because of the oil business."
Travelport Integrates With IBM ExpenseTravelport GDS last month said it has integrated the IBM Global Expense Reporting Solutions with its Traversa booking tool for its largest client, IBM, and now is making the integrated expense and booking offering available to a wider market. Travelport GDS would work to integrate booking functionality with other expense providers, dependent on client demand, CEO Gordon Wilson said. "It's not exclusive," he said. "Not everybody uses GERS, so we're in dialogue with Concur and all the expense management systems. They all already interface with the GDS in some way since all of them are driven by data handoffs from the booking system into expense management. With the GERS and Traversa, it is pretty seamless." Travelport in July implemented its Traversa system for Microsoft's U.S. 60,000 travelers, Wilson said.
Accor Targets India For ExpansionEuropean hotel company Accor this month detailed plans to increase its presence in India tenfold over the next three years. Accor plans to grow its current portfolio of five hotels through new construction in India to 50 hotels, totaling 10,400 rooms, by 2012, the company said. This includes a new Ibis hotel in Pune later this year, seven new hotels in 2010, 18 new hotels in 2011 and 19 in 2012. "Accor has developed an expansion strategy, created relevant joint ventures and investment commitments to ensure that Accor will be the leading international hotel operator in India by 2012," Accor Asia Pacific chairman and CEO Michael Issenberg said. Hotel development will focus largely on the economy and midprice tiers, with Ibis and Novotel, but Accor also will introduce the upscale Sofitel and luxury Pullman brands to the country, according to Issenberg.
NBTA to Launch Strategic Meetings CertificationThe National Business Travel Association in November at Emory University in Atlanta will launch its Strategic Meetings Management Certification educational program. Candidates must complete two weeks of classes and elective programs that cover topics including meetings policy development, procurement, risk mitigation and contingency planning and data analysis. A task force of meeting buyers and suppliers including SAIC's Lee Ann Adams Mikeman, Xerox's Tracey Wilt, KK Strategic Solutions' Kari Knoll Kesler and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Debi Scholar developed the certification curriculum with Indiana University assistant professor of tourism, conventions and event management Amanda Cecil.