“As countries begin to ease travel restrictions implemented to combat Covid 19, we are seeing the business travel industry respond – companies ready to evaluate their travel programs for greater efficiencies, cost savings and a better employee traveler experience and suppliers, from startups to established companies, ready to have updated business models, product offerings and pricing that better reflects today’s needs” says Susan Lichtenstein, Managing Partner of DigiTravel Consulting.
“DigiTravel Consulting, known as the “corporate whisperers”, has expanded our network globally to meet the needs of our clients. We act as the bridge between the travel leaders and suppliers by bringing next-generation consulting services to the global business travel industry.”
DTC is announcing the following changes to its team to support the global resurgence of business travel:
Greeley Koch is being named a Managing Partner with a global remit. Having served as a global corporate procurement leader, Greeley understands the buyer’s needs. All of his roles have focused on process improvement, efficient cost saving programs and improving the traveler experience, along with sustainable business models for the buyers and suppliers. As a founding member of the TAMS Incubator, Greeley is keeping his fingers on the pulse of startups looking to disrupt the industry. He has also served as the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) Executive Director for six years, along with leadership roles at HRS (Hotel Reservation Service) and Acquis Consulting Group.
Industry accolades include being named a Top 25 Influential Executive and Top 30 Travel Influencers in business travel.
Jyothi Varma is the DigiTravel Vice President of India. There is no one better equipped to act as the bridge between buyers and suppliers in the Indian corporate travel industry than Jyothi. She has managed teams and participated in implementing new products and processes in the corporate travel space with a focus on travel technology and payment solutions. Jyothi led the Association of Corporate Travel Executives operation in India, as she worked to bring industry thinkers together, at events across the country, that were focused on next generation offerings for business travelers. She has also contributed to organizations such as Travelport, Amadeus, CWT and American Express.
John Pease is the Vice President of our Aviation Group and the DigiTravel leader in Canada. John’s prior experience includes being a senior leader with WestJet Airlines. With John’s travel industry expertise, he successfully established the corporate business travel market for WestJet, and built long term relationships with Canada’s travel trade, including tour operators, consortiums, travel management companies, online agencies and corporations. Also, John spent time with the Avis Budget Group.
Scott Thompson is the Vice President of our lodging practice. Today’s corporate hotel programs need to reduce costs for corporations and hoteliers, address the 40% average historic non-compliance and provide the travelers with a better experience. Scott will support corporate hotel programs through his expertise of business transformation, strategic sourcing, process implementation, competitive analysis, strategic/dynamic and value-based pricing models, and mutually beneficial partnership agreements. His background includes time with Omni Hotels, Hilton Worldwide Sales and BWH Hotel Group. A frequent speaker at industry events, Scott has stayed active with various corporate travel and hospitality focused trade groups.
Previously, DTC had announced a partnership with Linda Bekoe and About Partners – Luxury Brands Collection (APLBC). Linda and her global APLBC team help bridge the gap for independent hotels and chains in the global space and give hospitality businesses a global voice by applying APLBC’s commercial methodologies and utilizing its contacts and expertise in the key segments.
“Our discussions today with corporate travel buyers and suppliers, isn’t about if we will see a multi- channel booking environment that delivers duty of care coverage, no matter the booking channel, along with access to preferred discounts, and instead it’s about how you can now begin to bring this new methodology into your corporate travel program,” says Greeley Koch, Managing Partner, DigiTravel Consulting. “Companies are ready to embrace multi-channel pilot programs and suppliers are ready to support new direct booking methods. We get our clients started on this path by conducting our proprietary DigiTravel Readiness Assessment to quickly identify areas of opportunities, efficiencies and cost savings”.
Tags: DigiTravel Consulting, About Partners Luxury Brands Collection
