The Business Travel Magazine June/July 2019

ARRIVALS
EVENT REPORT
ITM Conference
Wellbeing steals the show
Wellbeing was the big topic at the ITM
Conference in Brighton, where buyers
discussed ways to ease the strain of
business travel. Andy Hoskins reports
An increasing priority for travel managers,
wellbeing was the focus of a packed
breakout session and was also selected by
delegates for the association’s Industry
Affairs Group to tackle in the year ahead.
Research presented at the event showed
87% of organisations will be changing their
approach to traveller wellbeing in the next
12 months. The high intensity of travel,
lack of recovery time and poor quality
experience were the biggest challenges.
One travel manager described her
company’s introduction of a pre-trip ‘fit for
travel’ assessment form “which prompts
them to question whether they are OK to
travel”, along with the trialling of heart
monitors to help identify stress points.
Meanwhile, panellist Dr Lucy Rattrie
revealed pre-trip questions that should
“help make a quick and fair assessment of
whether the travel being asked of that
person is fair”. These covered how someone
feels about a proposed trip; what the
company can do to protect their wellbeing;
how the trip will affect their personal life;
and what the organisation can do to
mitigate risk before, during and post-trip.
Elsewhere at the event, sustainability was
addressed by senior figures from British
Airways and Airbus in separate sessions.
British Airways Chairman and CEO, Alex
Cruz, said there has been a “change of
mindset” at BA to cut CO2 emissions.
The ‘Future of Fuels’ is one strand of BA’s
centenary celebrations that will see 13
universities present their findings to the
airline, with the winner receiving funding for
further research. In total, BA parent IAG
will invest $400million on alternative fuel
development over the next 20 years and has
told all its suppliers that they want to see
more sustainable options, “from tooth
brushes through to product wrapping”.
Meanwhile, Airbus Senior Vice President,
Katherine Bennett, highlighted its efforts to
work with alternative fuels and design more
efficient aircraft. “Short-haul all-electric flights
aren’t necessarily that far off,” she said.
ITM CHAMPIONS
Roberta Iorizzo of SCOR
was named Rising Star of
the year. Biffa’s Richard
Childs took home the UK
Travel Manager prize and
George Grund was top
Multinational Manager
WISE WORDS
“WHAT WE HAVE IS
PARLIAMENTARY PARALYSIS.
THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO
IS NOW A REFERENDUM – AND
THAT WOULD BRING A WHOLE
NEW SET OF PROBLEMS”
STEVE RICHARDS, JOURNALIST AND
POLITICAL COMMENTATOR
RFPS... SOME ADVICE
“If you’re only going
to do an RFP
on price to
screw your
incumbent
TMC, then
please
don’t waste
everyone’s
time!”
14 THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM