Setting a goal for travel program performance is one thing. Measuring that performance is quite another. For years, travel managers have wrestled with the best way to gauge the effectiveness of their corporate travel programs. More recently, they’ve also had to factor in how well their programs align with broad company goals related to sustainability.
Two tools are designed to help. BCD Travel partnered with the Global Business Travel Association Foundation to offer the updated Sustainability in Travel Self-Assessment Tool and the Managed Travel Index® (MTI®).
“At BCD Travel we recognize that a travel program can contribute to a company’s goals by improving continuously. Both tools help travel buyers bring their travel programs to the next level,” said Kathy Jackson, BCD Travel’s executive vice president of global account management and executive chair of sustainability.
Sustainability in Travel Self-Assessment Tool
The Sustainability in Travel Self-Assessment Tool measures 10 areas of travel program sustainability, identifying strengths and weaknesses and providing recommendations for improvement. The tool is easy to use and can be completed over time or all at once; it’s organized by the following categories:
- Overall sustainability program
- Policies and procedures
- Air
- Hotel
- Car rental
- Rail
- Other transportation
- Meetings and Events
- Traveler well-being
- Program communications
Based on the results of each category assessment, the Sustainability in Travel Self-Assessment Tool provides recommendations and grades the travel program’s sustainability maturity level.
Managed Travel Index®
The MTI® has been improved and globalized to better benchmark the effectiveness of a managed travel program. The index, designed exclusively for non-supplier travel professionals, helps travel managers identify areas of strength and opportunity within their corporate programs. Each section is self-contained and comprised of a battery of questions. The answers prompt recommendations. Travel managers can act on those recommendations, then go back to the tool to evaluate progress. Categories include:
- Duty of care
- Policy
- Communication
- Expense
- Performance management
- Sourcing
- Technology
Combined, these two global resources can help travel professionals with a start-to-finish assessment of their sustainability and managed travel programs.
