What are other companies doing to adjust to the new realities of our economy?

While cost containment has for many years been a major focus of travel managers, the recent developments in our economy have both highlighted the importance of effective travel management and prompted adjustments in some corporate travel programs.

National Business Travel Association (NBTA) - the industry's leading association – conducted two surveys of U.S.-based travel buyers. As part of the survey, travel managers were asked what they are implementing in response to these challenges, and to share their recent creative ideas to cut costs or to influence traveler's behavioral changes.

Over the next several weeks, we'll share a few of the comments from travel managers who participated in the survey. Here are just a few:

• Becoming more proactive about reiterating travel policy, rethinking trips, being more open to alternate travel.
  

• Publishing travel compliance reports measuring traveler behavior. These reports are being sent to Sr Execs within each business unit and list top 25 violators. Personalized letters for top offenders are being sent from the CFO.
  

• More focus on total trip cost
  

• We are increasing traveler's awareness of "Smart Traveling". Meaning targeting the "right" days to travel, to right size hotels and car requirements.
  

• Tighter enforcement of the travel policy

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New Regulations affecting EVERY Traveler
TSA will take over the responsibility from the airlines for checking passengers against government watch lists.

As a result of this new rule, every passenger must provide their full name, birth date, gender, and redress number (if applicable) to the airlines with each reservation. Passengers will not be allowed to check-in online or at the airport without providing this information. We haven't been given an effective date, but Travel-On has started to add these fields to our online traveler profiles and will provide this information to the airlines with reservation. We will keep you updated on further news regarding "Secure Flight". Read the press release

We haven't been given an effective date, but Travel-On has started to add these fields to our online traveler profiles and will provide this information to the airlines with reservation. We will keep you updated on further news regarding "Secure Flight".

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