JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA / LONDON, UK - The African
Business Travel Association (ABTA)
and Severnside
Consulting Ltd (SSC)
announced a partnership to develop a research paper aimed at
assisting Travel and Procurement Managers to better understand
Corporate Travel Management in Sub Saharan Africa. The paper will be
launched at selected ABTA Africa events in late 2014 and made
available to all ABTA members. Neema,
meaning ‘born in prosperous times’ in Swahili perfectly describes
the position of the region.
SSC’s Director of Business Travel Chris Pouney says, “After observing the speed of development and hunger for learning in this region, I am delighted to announce this research project with the joint aims of allowing practitioners based in region the opportunity to showcase and share best practices, whilst educating leaders based elsewhere regarding local trends, challenges and opportunities. Unburdened by legacy thinking and processes, this region is able to apply fresh thinking to the travel industry, such as Kenya leading the world in mobile payment. South Africa’s recent inclusion into the ‘BRICS’ club and Cape Town hosting the recent Annual General Meeting for IATA are statements of the key importance of Africa within our industry and the wider Global Economy. Due to their extensive knowledge of our industry across the majority of Africa’s hubs, I am delighted to partner with ABTA on this project.”
SSC’s Director of Business Travel Chris Pouney says, “After observing the speed of development and hunger for learning in this region, I am delighted to announce this research project with the joint aims of allowing practitioners based in region the opportunity to showcase and share best practices, whilst educating leaders based elsewhere regarding local trends, challenges and opportunities. Unburdened by legacy thinking and processes, this region is able to apply fresh thinking to the travel industry, such as Kenya leading the world in mobile payment. South Africa’s recent inclusion into the ‘BRICS’ club and Cape Town hosting the recent Annual General Meeting for IATA are statements of the key importance of Africa within our industry and the wider Global Economy. Due to their extensive knowledge of our industry across the majority of Africa’s hubs, I am delighted to partner with ABTA on this project.”
ABTA Founder Monique Swart says “Chris has been an industry professional for over 20 years, including 7 years as Global Lead for Travel at Citigroup. He is one of the leading visionaries of travel management across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. As such, we are delighted to be partnering with him on this project which will provide invaluable insight into how this region can further develop, and to provide our members with a platform to transfer knowledge and showcase best practice in travel management across our network. Historically, there has always been a ‘black hole’ in travel industry research in Africa and this paper will go a long way in assisting African-based business travel professionals to better understand all they need to know when operating in various markets across the Africa, and will also give travel professionals based outside of the region some key insights into how the travel industry in this diverse, often challenging but wonderfully vibrant Continent operates.”
ABTA’s members will have the opportunity to contribute through research breakfasts, interviews and, for the first time in this region, an in-depth benchmarking exercise covering how corporate travel is managed.
Partnership opportunities will be available for suppliers to support and steer the project
