Travel managers say companies put on hold travel to India
Results of ACTE survey show hotel security a priority
By Susan Avery -- Purchasing, 12/5/2008 12:10:00 PM
Results of a survey of travel buyers by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) since the terrorist attack in Mumbai show 48% of respondents are curtailing travel to India until the situation there becomes more settled. Another 7% say they are stopping travel to the region indefinitely.
“Subsequent research reveals that the majority of travel managers with business in India simply want to make sure that their travelers will not get caught up in street demonstrations or public reprisals, should any occur,” says Susan Gurley, executive director of ACTE in Alexandria, Va.
Survey results show that 78% of respondents are seeking a review of their hotel contracts with a greater emphasis on security and guest safety.
As is typically for the industry, many travel managers already have negotiated agreements with hoteliers for the coming year. As travel managers prepared for 2009, travel management companies reported the beginning of a shift to a buyer’s market.
Fifty percent of those seeking a review of their hotel contracts say the extent of the review depends on the region, while the remaining 28% will extend the review to all hotels. Twenty percent report they are satisfied with the security of their hotel partners.
Thirty-one percent of respondents say they will be looking for improvements in:
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More detailed coordination with local authorities (police, fire, military) with regard to hotel blueprints and planned assistance.
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Staff training for evacuation and assistance.
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Back-up communications systems for guests trapped in rooms.
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Better surveillance systems.
“Many hotels in cities around the world either have systems like these or something better,” says Gurley. “It may be more of a wish list that hotels in every region adopt all these security enhancements in the immediate future. But it is serious progress if the hospitality industry takes the initiative on this issue.”
Fourteen percent of responding travel managers claim that having higher security standards would be a deal breaker for their hotel business. “This is a good incentive for a highly competitive industry,” Gurley adds.
See ACTE’s list of Traveler Safety Recommendations
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