Business-Travel 3-2012_englisch_apu.indd - Bahn.de

Business Travel News from Deutsche Bahn
Summer 2012 www.bahn.de
BahnCard Business:
excellent progress one year after launch
Weitere ThemenYour
Other topics
More customer service:
proactive information in case of disruptions Page 4
Your hotline to Deutsche Bahn Page 4
“Call a Bike” – fl exible mobility around town Page 5
Team-building offi ce outings Page 5
High-speed services to the
business metropolises of Europe Page 6
personal
copy
News from the Bordbistro:
delicious snacks from morning till night Page 6
Interview with Marita Klöppel,
Head of Business Travel Sales, SME Page 7
Lost & found:
Roughly 18,000 items of lost property land at
Zoologischer Garten station in Berlin every year Page 8
Publication details Page 8

Cover story
BahnCard Business:
excellent one year after launch
Just one year after the launch, BahnCard Business is now well established. Corporate customers appreciate
the numerous benefi ts of the new card, which off ers fl exible solutions that are designed to meet
the specifi c requirements of corporate customers.
Great demand – easy changeover
BahnCard Business is celebrating its first birthday: Deutsche
Bahn launched the new product for corporate customers on
12 June 2011. Before the rollout, it had already consulted its
customers and major players in the travel industry, so that their
requirements were taken into account right from the start.
The result is a BahnCard which perfectly reflects the needs and
demands of corporate customers. Taking stock after the first year,
Claudia Möhlenbruch, Head of Business Travel Sales, sums up,
“BahnCard Business has met with excellent acceptance.”
She points out, “There has been a slight increase in demand
compared with previous BahnCard sales to corporate customers.”
This success is also due to the intensive discussions between
Deutsche Bahn, its sales partners and customers during the
transition phase from the standard BahnCard to BahnCard
Business. A special collective exchange process was organised
for major customers, which also included customised solutions
for individual companies to minimise the work required to
exchange the cards.
BahnCard Business pays off for corporate customers
BahnCard Business is always worthwhile for business travellers
and companies, because only BahnCard Business enables them
to combine BahnCard discounts with the corporate discount.
BahnCard Business 25 normally pays for itself by the second
journey, while BahnCard Business 50 holders usually recoup
the costs after an average of ten single journeys.
Save time and money thanks to the exclusive
advantages of BahnCard Business
Companies benefit from the tailor-made solutions of BahnCard
Business 25 and BahnCard Business 50. For example, the card
expires automatically after twelve months, unlike the standard
BahnCard which the customer has to cancel. Another benefit
is the longer period for returning tickets. bahn.corporate
customers can cancel tickets which have been purchased with
a BahnCard Business discount free of charge up to at least one
day after the first day of validity. This longer cancellation period
is a real boon for business travellers who frequently have to
change their bookings or cancel a journey at short notice, as it
saves them travel expenses. Moreover, the online order process
includes an option to have the invoice addressed directly to
the company, which again saves time and effort for both the
company and the employee. Customers ordering a new card also
save time as a photograph is no longer needed for BahnCard
Business.
BahnCard Business also simplifies processes for travel managers:
status reports on all cards in circulation at the company
make matters more transparent. The reports show how many
cards have been issued for the company, which employees have
which type of card and when the cards will expire.
BusinessTravel Issue Summer 2012 2

BahnCard Business sales count towards the
bahn.corporate volume of the company
The BahnCard Business purchase price and the costs of all rail
journeys made by the employees are automatically included
in the company’s bahn.corporate sales volume and taken
into account when calculating the corporate discount for the
following year.
Corporate customers can choose between cards with a discount
of 25 or 50 per cent, alternatively available for first or second
class:
BahnCard Business Price
BahnCard Business 25 EUR 160
BahnCard Business 25 First EUR 120
BahnCard Business 50 EUR 280
BahnCard Business 50 First EUR 560
All the usual BahnCard advantages still apply
BahnCard Business includes all the familiar features of the
standard BahnCard. Tickets purchased with BahnCard Business
can be used as a City-Ticket for free travel on local transport in
120 cities, which saves taxi costs. BahnCard Business also has
an optional credit card function and entitles the holder to take
part in the bahn.bonus programme offered by Deutsche Bahn.
Depending on the company’s travel regulations, the BahnCard
Business is also valid for private travel, but no corporate
discount can be granted on such journeys.
Renewal reminder
BahnCard Business holders are informed shortly before their
card expires that it is time to purchase a new BahnCard Business.
BahnCard Business is available from all online booking portals
for corporate customers, travel agencies with a DB licence and
the DB corporate client desks.
For further information, go to:
www.bahn.de/bahncardbusiness
Cover story
State the right type of BahnCard and receive the
corporate discount automatically
To combine the discounts available under the
corporate programme with a BahnCard Business
discount, it is important to state the right type
of BahnCard Business when booking a ticket.
Purchasing a ticket at a DB travel centre
or travel agency with DB licence
Don’t forget to say that you have a BahnCard Business.
We recommend that your travel agency creates a
personal profile for you. The data will then be taken
into account in all subsequent bookings so that you
automatically receive the corporate discount.
Purchasing a ticket on the bahn.corporate
portals
Enter your BahnCard Business details every time you
book a ticket or save the data in your booking profile.
We recommend using the function “Managing travel
profiles” to create a personal profile, where you can
save your BahnCard Business details for the fast
booking travel profile and as identification document
for Online-Tickets. It can also be used to collect
bahn.bonus points. The data will then automatically
be taken into account every time you make a booking.
BusinessTravel Issue Summer 2012 3

Services
More customer service:
proactive information in
case of disruptions
Deutsche Bahn is now offering its customers an additional
service for long-distance journeys. If a train is delayed by
more than ten minutes or in case of any other disruption, the
passenger will be notified by e-mail up to two hours before the
start of the journey and receive a link to a website showing
the individual connection and the relevant information about
the disruption. If necessary, the link also states alternative train
connections, so that the customer does not have to research this
data online. This automatic e-mail notification of disruptions
and delays also enables business travellers to notify the other
parties at their meeting that they will be delayed. Moreover,
this early information gives them the chance to use the time
for other purposes and minimise the time spent waiting at the
station. No further e-mail is sent if the train is delayed further
or no longer delayed. The only exception is if the train is cancelled,
in which case the customer receives a second e-mail.
Activating the delay alarm
Registration booking special features e-mail
To use the e-mail notification service, you have to activate the
“Delay alarm” by clicking “Other services“ on the payment
page when making an online booking, provided the booking
includes at least one long-distance train and is made at least one
day before the day of travel. You have to state your e-mail
address to use this service.
Your hotline to
Deutsche Bahn
We have compiled a list of the most important hotlines for
business travellers.
Contact Tel. number
General information about services
(fares, timetables etc.) 0180 5 996633*
Questions about booking an Online-Ticket 0180 5 996644*
Free timetable information
(www.bahn.de/abfahrtstafel)
** 14 cents/min for German landline calls, mobile phone charges max. 42 cents/min
** 59 cents/min for German landline calls, mobile phone charges may vary
Business Travel recommends
bahn.bonus rewards
for business travellers
3 x free access to DB Lounges
0800 1507090
BahnCard service 0180 5 340035*
bahn.bonus 0180 5 340035*
Passengers’ rights 0180 5 202178*
Free information about construction work
(www.bahn.de/baustellen)
0800 5996655
Lost and found 0900 1990599**
Make the most of the service at the DB Lounges:
relax in peace and quiet and enjoy a free beverage,
read the latest magazines and newspapers or use one
of the laptop workplaces with Wi-Fi access. For just
750 bahn.bonus points, you and one accompanying
person are entitled to 3 x free admission to all
DB Lounges (except the fi rst-class area). For further
information and to order, go to bahn.de/bahnbonus
BusinessTravel Issue Summer 2012 4

“Call a Bike” – flexible
mobility around town
Switch from train to bike. The Deutsche Bahn red and silver
rental bicycles are available in many cities throughout Germany.
More and more customers are now opting for “Call a Bike”,
the DB bicycle rental system, a trend which is clear from the
year-on-year increase of more than 40 per cent. Many business
travellers also appreciate the benefits of this flexible urban
mobility option, especially since almost all major German cities
have an excellent network of cycle tracks.
Good for the environment – and for your budget
Choose to cycle and you can be sure to reach your destination
safely, quickly and without having to cope with traffic jams
or finding a parking space. What’s more, cycling is not only
good for the environment, but also for your travel budget. The
basic rate is just 8 cents per minute and a maximum of 15 euros
a day. Frequent users can book a flat-rate charge of 48 euros
per annum, which means they only have to pay as from the
31st minute of each trip. BahnCard Business holders are also
entitled to a discount on the daily or annual rates. Various
companies meanwhile use the Deutsche Bahn bicycle rental
system, as “Call a Bike“ is the convenient, quick and environmentally
friendly option for their employees to move around
the different buildings on the company’s premises. Customised
offers are available for each individual company.
Book by telephone or app
You can either book “Call a Bike” in advance by using the app
(iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) or decide to use it spontaneously.
In Berlin, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart
there are bikes located all over the city centre. All you have
to do is call the telephone number in the red box on the cover
of the bicycle lock and follow the instructions. The lock is
released and you can set off right away.
Team-building office
outings
Services
Office outings are a chance to get away from everyday routine,
improve the atmosphere at work and boost staff motivation.
However, preparing an office outing usually calls for extensive
organisation – and this is where the experienced Deutsche Bahn
experts for group and leisure travel come into their own. They
compile individual packages for office outings to match the
individual wishes of the company concerned, free of charge and
without obligation. The portfolio ranges from day trips, such
as a visit to a vineyard, to short breaks and city packages incl.
overnight accommodation. The DB travel pros support you all
the way from the first consultation to professional planning
right through to the booking process. They also cater for special
requirements, such as travel by coach or plane instead of train.
Exciting prizes to be won!
Question:
When was the BahnCard Business launched?
12 May 2011 12 June 2011 12 July 2011
Send in your answer by e-mail to
geschaeftsreisen@deutschebahn.com
no later than 31 August 2012.
We are giving away 3 boxes of HelloFresh for
2 people and 3 evening meals to six correct entries.
HelloFresh brings shopping bags full of fresh food,
complete with recipes, right to your door once a week
(Info: www.hellofresh.de).
Note: The closing date for entries is 31 August 2012. No cash in lieu
of prizes. The judges’ decision is final. The competition is not open to
employees of Deutsche Bahn AG or their relatives. Winners will be
drawn from amongst all the correct entries and notified by e-mail or
post. All data will be deleted on completion of the competition. All
personal data will, of course, be treated in strict compliance with our
privacy policies.
BusinessTravel Issue Summer 2012 5

Horizons/Panorama
High-speed connections
to the European business
metropolises
For business travellers who have to get to a neighbouring
country, rail is the smart alternative to plane. No transfers, no
congestion, no long queues at the check-in desks: simply step
on board right in the city centre and arrive in the heart of the
metropolis at the other end. The travel time can always be put
to good use: single seats, fold-down tables, laptop socket and
internet access on selected inner-German lines provide all you
need to work eff ectively and undisturbed for a few hours.
Frankfurt: international hub for the business world
Frankfurt am Main also off ers fi rst-class rail connections to the
major European business cities. Six times a day, the ICE links
Frankfurt and Amsterdam in less than four hours. The early
train departs at 07:29 and arrives in Amsterdam at 11:25, the last
train departs from Amsterdam at 18:34.
The journey to Paris takes just 3 ¾ hours, with a choice of fi ve
high-speed trains a day. The fi rst train reaches the city centre
of Paris as early as 09:50. Services to other countries are often
just as fast as inner-German connections. The best example is
Brussels, which can be reached in just 3 ¼ hours on a choice
of four daily outbound and return connections with the ICE.
The early train arrives at 09:35, so you can arrange your fi rst
meeting for 10 o’clock.
Switzerland has better rail connections with Germany than
any other neighbouring country. There are various direct daily
services from Frankfurt to Berne, Basel and Zurich. Business
travellers can take the fi rst train to Zurich, arriving at 11:00 and
return on the last train departing at 19:00, which leaves them
plenty of time for business appointments.
News from the Bordbistro:
delicious snacks from
morning till night
Delicious baked potato with sour cream – also available as part of a menu
The Bordbistros on our ICE, IC and EC trains are literally
amongst the fastest catering outlets in Germany – what’s more,
in two different respects: firstly, guests are served while
travelling at a speed of more than 300 kilometres per hour.
Secondly, the snacks and beverages ordered are handed over the
counter in no time at all. To get the day off to a good start,
passengers can choose between various classical sweet breakfast
items, which are also available as a full menu inclusive of hot
beverage. The French breakfast naturally includes a croissant
and a cup of hot café au lait – and all for just 3.90 euros.
Varied menus
Throughout the day, the Bistro staff prepare various menus,
including nourishing dishes such as a large portion of chilli con
carne or vegetarian choices, such as a delicious baked potato
with sour cream. The penne pasta in Mediterranean tomato
sauce with olives and courgettes even comes with the organic
quality seal. All menus include a choice of cold beverage.
In the afternoon, we welcome guests to the Bordbistro for a
traditional coffee break. With a wide selection of cakes as well
as diverse coffee specialities, we have something for everyone.
In the evening, our chefs recommend the legendary “Currywurst”,
washed down with a cold beer. Together, these two
items are available as a special offer for as little as 6.60 euros.
BusinessTravel Issue Summer 2012 6

We are delighted if you keep
your feet on the ground!
Interview with Marita Klöppel,
Head of Business Travel Sales,
SME.
Ms Klöppel, why are you so enthusiastic about
customers from Germany’s SME sector?
That is undoubtedly because I once planned to set up my
own small business. I was just about to do so after completing
my post-graduate degree, but then I was so enthralled by the
fascinating and ever-changing tasks at Deutsche Bahn that
I decided to stay. I started my career in HR management, then
moved to sales. So while I may not belong to the SME sector,
I now work on behalf of SMEs.
What exactly are you doing right now for SMEs?
I am in charge of the SME segment in the Deutsche Bahn
Business Travel Sales department. We look after more than
22,000 highly active customers from the SME sector, so there
is always plenty to do. We want to make sure that we are fully
in tune with our customers and pay close attention to what they
have to say, as this enables us to analyse future trends in the
business travel market more accurately. After all, we want to
set the course for an innovative programme which will continue
to satisfy the needs of our SME customers far into the future.
Our policy is “Rather too soon than too late.”
So you are also concerned with future trends in the
business travel market. What do you think we will be
looking at in future?
Issues such as cost transparency and price efficiency will, of
course, continue to play a central role in future – especially in
view of the rapidly evolving technical potential. But I believe
there is another aspect which will become increasingly important:
passengers will become more and more valuable for their
company.
Interview
“Passengers will become more and more valuable for
their company.” What does that mean for you?
For us, this means we have to help SMEs get their employees
from place to place more comfortably and with minimum stress.
We are delighted to welcome all SME customers who decide to
stay on the ground and use environmentally friendly rail rather
than fly. We are constantly developing bahn.corporate, the
Deutsche Bahn corporate programme, to make life as easy as
possible for travel managers at the companies.
What benefits does “bahn.corporate” have to
offer SMEs?
We have paid close attention to the SME sector since 2003.
We are fully aware of the thought processes at these small and
mid-size companies and have developed our programme
accordingly. In the meantime, we offer numerous tailor-made
solutions: personal advice from our team of experts, an online
booking portal especially for business customers, BahnCard
Business, generous regulations for cancelling booked tickets
and, finally, tiered discounts for corporate customers. And
don’t forget – the programme is absolutely free.
You mentioned a booking portal designed especially
for business customers. What does this have to offer
SME customers?
They can save lots of time. They simply map their company’s
booking structure – whether this involves individual employees,
secretarial offices, departments or whole branches – on the
bahn.corporate online portal.
As soon as the company structure has been set up on the online
portal, people with booker status from individual departments
can organise business travel for their colleagues. Profiles can
be saved to ensure that the data is always up-to-date. Travellers
who book their own tickets can be designated self-bookers,
which saves time and makes booking very flexible.
Transparency is another important consideration: the travel
manager always has a clear overview of all bookings that are
made. And last but not least, all sales are credited to the
company’s account.
Thank you for the interview.
BusinessTravel Issue Summer 2012 7

Impressions
Lost & found: roughly 18,000 items land at
Zoologischer Garten station in Berlin every year
Suitcases, wallets, smartphones – passengers often leave items on board the train or on the platform.
All the items that are found in Berlin are collected at a central offi ce at Zoologischer Garten station.
Two out of three items can be returned to their owners.
Classics and curiosities
Every day, around 70 persons report something missing at
stations in Berlin alone. Over the course of the year, this can add
up to 30,000 search inquiries. Things that typically go astray
include suitcases and backpacks, wallets and purses, ID cards
and passports, and electronic items such as smartphones.
But occasionally, the items that are lost are more curious, for
instance a washing machine, still in the original packaging, an
Order of Merit medal and even an 18th century Italian violin.
Increasingly successful return rate
Each item that is found and each reported loss is given a code
number and is entered in the central “Lost and Found” database.
If the item and its owner can be matched within seven days, the
owner is notifi ed and then has three weeks in which to collect
the item free of charge. Alternatively, the item can be posted to
the owner for a charge of 20 euros. If the rightful owner does
not contact us within a week, the item is sent to the Deutsche
Bahn central lost property offi ce in Wuppertal.
In Berlin, the share of items which can be returned to their
owners has increased from 50 to more than 60 per cent over the
last few years. In other words, roughly two out of three items
fi nd their way back to their rightful owner.
From finder’s reward to auction
Anyone who fi nds a lost item should hand it over to the
Deutsche Bahn staff and ask for a receipt, because fi nders are
entitled to a reward if the article is worth more than 50 euros.
The fi nder is given the owner’s address as soon as the item is
returned to its owner. If the owner cannot be found despite
all our eff orts, the item is stored at the central lost property
department in Wuppertal for the legally required period of
70 days and then auctioned. The 80 local lost property offi ces
throughout Germany also regularly hold auctions.
Reporting a loss: online, in person or by phone
The easiest way to report something missing is online at
www.fundservice.bahn.de, where customers can see immediately
whether anything has been found that matches their
description. They are also given an individual code number.
Losses can also be reported at any of the approx. 80 local lost
property offi ces or DB information desks.
Another way of reporting a loss is to call the lost property service
hotline on 0900 1990599. The hotline is staff ed from 8:00 am
to 8:00 pm Monday to Saturday and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on
Sundays and public holidays (59 cents/min for German landline
calls, mobile phone charges may vary). The Deutsche Bahn
central lost property offi ce in Wuppertal can be contacted by fax
at +49 (0) 69 26521387 or by e-mail at fundbuero.dbag@bahn.de.
Publication details
Published by: DB Mobility Logistics AG,
Marketing Communication,
Frankenallee 2–4, D-60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Business Travel Sales: geschaeftsreisen@deutschebahn.com
www.bahn.de/bahncorporate
Editors: Katrin Büchner, Simone Schreier
BusinessTravel Issue Summer 2012 8