For the corporate travel industry, 2024 ended on an interesting note. In its latest report, BCD shared global trends, industry forecasts, and actionable insights for the coming year, while the Airlines Reporting Corporation released its NDC best practices as airlines continue to resist standardization in areas where they seek differentiation. The San Francisco hotel strike ended on Christmas Eve after months of rolling walkouts, and SAP Concur focused on fraud prevention education. Check out the stories below to learn more.
January 2, 2025
BCD shares 2025 corporate travel outlook
BCD recently released Travel Market Report: Outlook 2025, offering insights into global air travel trends, including airfare forecasts and opportunities for corporate deals, with Asia leading international recovery. It delves into the 2025 economic landscape, projecting steady global GDP growth and highlighting fiscal risks. Readers will also find forecasts for rising hotel average daily rates worldwide, challenges for achieving sustainable travel goals amidst evolving reporting standards, and updates on emerging travel risks. From geopolitical shifts to climate events and traveler well-being, the report provides actionable strategies for building resilient travel programs.
ARC releases NDC best practices, industry struggles to agree on NDC standards
The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) recently released a set of 20 best practices to enhance the implementation of New Distribution Capability (NDC) in the travel industry.
Developed by ARC's NDC Advancement Working Group, these guidelines address areas such as handling exchanges, order change notifications, ticketing time limits, debit memos, and unused value. The guidelines are intended as flexible recommendations rather than strict standards, with ARC emphasizing they are “not a standard-setting organization.”
“There is no NDC standard for the business processes about how things work,” United Airlines vice president of sales strategy and effectiveness Glenn Hollister recently said. “So, we've got this situation where different airlines are building stuff, and we realize afterwards that the business processes are different. As an industry, we need to get better at standardizing the business processes that are about things that don't make us special.”
Labor deal reached, hotel strike ends in San Francisco
The San Francisco hotel labor strike ended on December 24, 2024, after approximately 900 Hilton workers at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55 hotels ratified a new four-year contract. This agreement ended 93 days of rolling walkouts—impacting up to 27% of the city’s hotel inventory—which were part of a nationwide wave of hotel labor disputes organized by the hospitality union Unite Here. The new contract, which lasts through 2028, ensures that workers retain their healthcare benefits and receive wage increases.
SAP Concur leads fraud prevention efforts through education
Fraud prevention involves implementing policies and processes to deter and detect fraudulent activities within an organization. While it's challenging to eliminate all fraud, focusing on common types can significantly reduce exposure.
According to SAP Concur, key strategies include adopting a zero-tolerance policy, conducting regular audits, and utilizing technology to monitor expenses. Employing third-party auditors, performing random checks, and analyzing spending patterns are also effective measures to identify and prevent fraud. Additionally, educating employees about fraud risks and establishing clear reporting channels can foster a culture of transparency and vigilance.
The company focused on Fraud Awareness Week at the end of November and continues to offer several fraud prevention resources, including on-demand webinars, an eBook, and reports and guides from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
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