Business Travel News
named Karen Hutchings, global head of travel, events and meetings for EY, as its
2015 Multinational Travel Manager of the Year. BTN editor-in-chief Elizabeth
West and editorial director David Meyer announced the winner at the Association
of Corporate Travel Executives global conference in Paris.
Hutchings consolidated her travel program from 130 agencies
to three in the past 12 months, West told the audience. But instead of
configuring a traditional best-in-region program, Hutchings created a
“coopetition” environment for her travel management companies in which American
Express Global Business Travel works as the data consolidator, Carlson Wagonlit
Travel manages the global hotel and meetings program and HRG manages the global
air program. The TMCs cooperate to provide EY mobile app support, improved
traveler experience and follow-the-sun coverage. EY reports more control and
improved policy compliance with its new progam.
In addition, Hutchings introduced a social site to her
travelers on a Yammer platform. She encourages preferred suppliers to play in
the space, proposing special offers directly to travelers, but also uses it as
a central information hub for travelers to find alerts and information about
travel disruptions.
Awarding the plaque to Hutchings, West underscored the
results of EY's efforts: “[They] yielded qualitative value on top of dollar
savings, drove policy compliance in a nonmandated environment and produced
global innovation by making the most of regional infrastructure.”