For global energy companies, managing travel is about more than moving employees between offices. Rotational workforce travel adds another layer of complexity, with crews traveling to project sites around the world on schedules that support critical operations. As organizations grow through acquisitions and expanding workforces, travel programs can become a patchwork of suppliers, systems and processes. GE Vernova’s decision to consolidate travel across 106 countries offers a glimpse into how large organizations are tackling the challenges while building travel programs that can scale globally.
Moving from fragmented to unified
For more than 30 years, GE Vernova’s travel operations were supported by multiple travel management providers across different regions and business units. While that structure mostly worked, it also left the company managing travel through a complex network of providers, technologies and processes. As GE Vernova entered a new growth phase, the opportunity became apparent: simplify operations, improve visibility and create a travel program capable of supporting both corporate and rotational workforce travel through a single global model.
Following a strategic review of its travel program, the company selected BCD as its global travel partner, bringing corporate and rotational workforce travel together under a single global model powered by BCD technology.
“Selecting BCD was a strategic decision aligned with our transformation and growth ambitions,” said Bernadette Basterfield, executive global sourcing – travel/meetings & fleet at GE Vernova. “We were looking for more than a provider. With BCD, we found a partner that can modernize our global travel program, consolidate complexity and support our future at scale.”
Building for growth
The decision comes during a period of rapid expansion for GE Vernova. Growing demand across energy, electrification and infrastructure markets, along with recent acquisitions, has expanded the company’s global footprint and traveler population.
A key factor in BCD’s selection was its ability to improve traveler engagement, simplify booking and strengthen compliance through the Tripsource platform. The program is designed to provide:
- broader content access
- a more intuitive booking experience
- flexibility to evolve alongside the business
One partner for every part of travel
Beyond corporate travel, GE Vernova’s energy business will use BCD’s TripPlanner technology to manage rotational workforce travel, helping simplify complex crew movements and improve efficiency for travel teams and travelers. For organizations moving crews to project sites around the world, workforce travel presents challenges that differ from traditional business travel, with travel arrangements often tied to operational schedules, remote locations and specialized support needs.
Through BCD Energy, Resources & Marine (ERM), GE Vernova will have access to specialist agents, crew travel technology, always-on connected servicing and specialist fares, providing enhanced support for travelers while helping simplify the management of complex workforce travel.
The partnership also extends beyond travel management. In addition to managing corporate and workforce travel, BCD will support GE Vernova through a global Meetings & Events partnership, global hotel program management and consulting services from Advito. These services include air and hotel sourcing, program management, traveler engagement and total trip insights, helping GE Vernova optimize performance across its broader travel ecosystem.
A program designed to evolve
The partnership reflects a growing trend among large multinational organizations: replacing fragmented travel environments with unified programs that can scale with the business.
Rather than managing travel, workforce mobility, meetings and program strategy through separate providers, GE Vernova has chosen a single global partner to support the full travel lifecycle. From traveler booking and workforce mobility to meetings management, sourcing strategy, program optimization and data insights, the model is designed to provide greater visibility, consistency and alignment across the organization.
“GE Vernova has a highly complex global travel environment and a rapidly growing workforce,” said Stephan Baars, CEO of BCD. “This alignment created the foundation for a more unified and scalable travel program, one which enhances the traveler experience and evolves alongside GE Vernova’s rapid growth.”
Implementation of the global program is underway, with a planned go-live in early September.
Why this matters
As organizations expand, a unified travel program can improve visibility, consistency and support across both business travel and workforce mobility.