your opinion

What do you believe will be the biggest trend in corporate event planning over the next year?
 
What do you believe will be the biggest trend in corporate event planning over the next year?
Virtual and hybrid events
0%
Increased focus on sustainability
10%
Advanced event technology (e.g., AI, VR)
0%
Personalized attendee experiences
60%
Health and safety measures
10%
Other
20%
 
 

latest issue

Latest Issue

Social Media and Travel Programs

It’s official: Travel programs that incorporate social media are better. Period.

By Pauline Mitchell

Like many other companies, global corporate travel management firm BCD Travel has, for several years, used Facebook and Twitter for marketing purposes. But now BCD is using social media for an entirely different purpose.

Atlanta-based Katrina Bentley, director of product marketing for BCD Travel, admits the company was reluctant at first to even refer to their new platform, Chatter, by cloud computing company Salesforce, as social media, preferring to instead call it a “business or enterprise collaboration tool.” To say BCD was an early adopter understates the situation. They were part of the beta group beginning about eighteen months ago and stared a phased rollout across the organization at the end of last year. BCD in Canada was part of the initial beta group.

Chatter looks and functions very much like Facebook but it’s a private communication network within a company. Sarah Patterson, director, product marketing for Chatter in San Francisco describes it as “social enterprise collaboration.” Says Patterson, “We went to Facebook and asked for advice about how to set it up so that users would intuitively know how to use it.” As with Facebook, Chatter allows you to follow people, groups, and information in real time.

“What really solidified things for BCD was the earthquake and tsunami in Japan,” says Bentley. “It was a great tool for that crisis and we were able to get information across the organization in real time when other communication was impossible. We’ve now established a Chatter group just for crisis situations, and we have other public and private groups set up that let us service our clients better.”

Bentley adds, “We can collaborate with our colleagues at any time.” In addition to customer service support, BCD also uses Chatter now for virtual meetings and special projects and Chatter stores all the documentation and communication. “It’s cut down our emails by about 35 per cent and unlike email you don’t have to save it; you can go back and search it on Chatter months later,” says Bentley.

Think of it as an enterprise-specific social media tool. It’s catching on fast. Launched about a year ago, Patterson says about 80,000 companies are already using Chatter to enhance their organizational communication.

other articles in this section

The Waiting Game

Q&A with Suzanne Neufang, Executive Director, GBTA

By the Numbers

Keeping Corporate Data Safe

Are Your Female Business Travellers Safe on the Road?

Flight Turbulence

What’s your Data Plan?

Get it in Writing

Follow the money

In Harm’s Way

It’s all in the timing

Covering Trouble in Paradise

Flight Plan

For Safe Keeping

Smooth Moves

On the Safe Side

At Your Bleisure

Cover me!

Uber. Airbnb. Lyft…

Q&A with Anthony Pollard

Data Dilemma

Getting on track

So Long, Swipecards

Take your Best Shot

Benefits of Integrating Mobile Payment Platforms

Trend Setter, Dorothy Dowling

Newest Cloud Technology

Is it Time to Dust Off your Corporate Travel Policy?

The Future Travel Credit Management Solution

Planes, trains and data plans

When employees fall ill on the road

Burnout Busters

The Rules of Compliance

Communal Spaces Boost Hotels' Comfort Factor

Making the most of travel and expense management systems

May the Best Vendor Win

Evaluating disaster recovery plans

On the Road Again

Hotels Taking Wellness to a Whole New Level

Corporate Travel Tracker

Controlling Corporate Travel Costs

The Anti-stress List

The Blurred Line Between Corporate Travel Manager and Planner

Big Flight Discounts for Small Businesses

Are Business Travellers Putting Corporate Data at Risk?

Timesaving Mobile App for Superior Car Service

Company Car or Driver-owned?

10 Healthy Travel Tips

Navigating Emerging Markets

Business Travel Etiquette

Rogue Travellers on Spending Sprees!

Business Travel and Health

Social Media and Travel Programs

Baggage Handler Confidential

Travel Expense Reporting

Buses Mean Business

Travel Budgets Analyzed

Q+A with Ron DiLeo

Progressive Extended-Stay Programs

Dynamic Hotel Pricing

The Perfect Travel Management Company

The Kindest Cuts

Green Businesses

Travel Policy Compliance

Car Sharing: The leaner, greener choice!

Expense Accountability

Hotel Program Success

Costly Corporate Credit Card Programs

Travel Less, Save More?

Dynamic Pricing

Travel Program Success

Meetings Abroad: Are you Prepared?

Maneuvering Through the RFP Process

Cross-Border Air Travel

Time for a Travel Policy

10 Ways to Avoid Business Travel Pitfalls

Bargaining Table Car Rental Tips for Corporate Planners

Creating Travel Policy Compliance

Sustainable Travel Tips

Crucial Travel Policy Changes to Save Time and Money

Tipping Guide for Business Travellers

Corporate Travel Policy

Passport Essentials and Other Requirements

Managing your Company's Travel Risks

Duty of care to travellers goes beyond borders