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Eight Strategies to Seize Control of Rising Travel Costs; MacNair Travel Offers Free Webinar and Provides Eight Strategies That Will Result in Savings

Posted on: Tuesday, 30 May 2006, 09:00 CDT

MacNair Travel Management, a privately owned American Express Representative Travel Company, announced today that Michael MacNair, its president & CEO, will lead a free Travel Management Webinar, titled "Seize Control of Rising Travel Costs," on June 13, 2006, from 12:00pm-1:30pm. The seminar is part of MacNair's annual series "Travel Management 2006: What to Know and What to Measure," and will focus on how corporate travel managers can save money on fees and fares in the complicated travel landscape in 2006.

MacNair says travel managers need to attend this free webinar as business travel costs are on the rise. "Rising fuel costs, record-breaking numbers of travelers, along with less competition (particularly in the Washington, DC, market after the demise of Independence Air), are driving major and low-cost airline carriers, hotels and car companies to increase prices," he said. "Companies can expect to pay more across the board."

According to Topaz International, an organization that benchmarks airline ticket costs, average domestic airfares have inched up every quarter since the start of 2005, and MacNair adds that airfare price increases have only accelerated during the past few months. In January of this year, the average domestic airline ticket cost was $425.34. That average climbed to $505.82 in March, representing an 18% increase, according to Topaz.

MacNair points out that 12 broad-based fare hikes occurred last year and five more increases have hit so far in 2006. These 17 airfare price additions since January of 2005 have primarily affected routes not served by low-cost airlines like Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit and AirTran.

Most major airlines have also upped some hidden increases like fuel surcharges on various long-haul routes, MacNair explains. American Airlines specifically did not raise surcharges on fares to and from Japan, but levied an additional $10-per-direction fuel charge on other long-haul flights "with few exceptions." Delta levied a $10-per-direction charge on tickets for most transatlantic flights, except those to/from France and Italy. Flights to and from India and Israel will have an added $15 and $19 each way, respectively. Northwest said that in most cases it is raising its fuel surcharge by $10 each way on flights to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Surcharges on flights to India, however, remain the same.

Travel suppliers - particularly the airlines - will not find relief from high fuel costs any time soon, he adds. Crude oil for May delivery last month rose to more than $72 a barrel, according to the New York Mercantile Exchange. However, MacNair says that it is possible to secure travel savings that equal or surpass the continually increasing airfares.

During the course of the one-hour webinar, MacNair will share eight real-life strategies that can help reduce expenses and increase an organization's bottom line. These strategies include:

-- Re-setting savings thresholds for use of penalty tickets, low cost carriers and alternate airports,

-- Renewed vigilance in travel policy compliance,

-- Leveraging volume to improve preferred supplier pricing,

-- Selecting the right travel vendor to deliver a comprehensive, value-driven program.

"When taken together, the total package - all eight strategies - will improve overall program compliance, performance and value," according to MacNair.

"As part of our continuing effort to provide unparalleled value and deep support to our customers, MacNair Travel Management is offering a series of educational webinars for travel managers and schedulers alike in 2006," MacNair added. "It is important to evaluate an organization's travel management results, learn why a managed system for the second largest controllable cost for US organizations is in its best interest, become familiar with best practices to reduce expenditures, and implement strategies to increase its bottom line."

To register for the free webinar, please contact Bethany Abbott at 703-836-1100, ext. 234, or via email at babbott@macnairtravel.com. All participants will receive login instructions and workshop materials in advance. Already have a question or concern about rising travel costs, your organization's present travel policy, or other issues to which the target audience might relate? Feel free to e-mail your thoughts or questions to Ms. Abbott in advance of the webinar so that Michael MacNair can share his response during the Q&A session.

Discover MacNair Travel/American Express:

Since 1989, MacNair Travel Management - a privately owned American Express Representative Travel Company - has helped organizations develop a clear and concise Travel Management System that exceeds defined goals (as opposed to just another outlet from which to buy tickets). MacNair is a Travel and Logistics Consulting Firm (and not just a Travel Agency) because of its proactive consulting, leadership in the development of a cutting edge plan, and dedication to unbiased rate searches that save. MacNair Travel is also an award-winning travel firm recognized for its technology innovations, customer service, team excellence and expertise. Michael MacNair conducts Travel Management seminars for many organizations (e.g., the National Business Travel Association) and is a frequent media spokesperson. Visit www.macnairtravel.com for more information about the firm or to enroll in one of its Travel Management programs.

Source: Business Wire

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