See Gavin Harvey @ the Business Travel Show

Harvey is taking part in two educational sessions at Business Travel Show:?

• ?26-Feb-2020:?14:30-15:30: Hotels - How to solve corporate travel's problem category
• ?27-Feb-2020: 10:00-11:00: The power of one - Should I use the same service providers worldwide?

Sodexo's senior mobility buyer Gavin Harvey is responsible for an international fleet of 12,000 vehicles as well as travel. In 2015 he led a global TMC RFP and subsequently was able to consolidate a previously fragmented spend through one single agency that has now been deployed across all major countries and covering $80M spend. BTiQ caught up with Harvey for this 60-second read.

What¡¯s keeping you awake at night??

Keeping all the plates spinning.

Why?

Managing a large category like travel at a global level (?80M+) as well as other categories without any additional internal resource.

What is the most important thing you do to look after your travellers' wellbeing?

Travel management companies have improved their traveller focused offering and with the new generation of apps as well as improved consumer apps it makes business travel far less stressful than before.

Is it possible to have an ethical travel programme?

It is very hard for a global company.?

Why is it hard?

Working for a global company means there will always be intercontinental travel and even with improved use of Skype/WebEx there will always be a requirement to travel long haul with the associated environmental impact.

How 'eco-conscious' is your travel programme?

The only way to truly reduce carbon footprint is to reduce travel, which we have been able to attain through a combination of improved reporting, budget restrictions and approval process.

Should air miles be banned for encouraging unnecessary travel?

With budget restrictions we are already able to reduce unnecessary travel. Air miles or hotel loyalty programmes can encourage the wrong choices to be made so we have ensured a suite of reporting helps identify missed opportunities to modify traveller behaviour.

Has Brexit impacted your travel programme and if so how?

Not at all.

What's the best thing about travelling on business?

Strengthening relationships whether they be internal or with clients in a way that is very hard to achieve remotely.

And what's the worst?

The encroachment on personal time ¨C away from friends and family. Returning feeling not only tired but with a full inbox.

Why do you attend the Business Travel Show?

Meeting suppliers both existing and potential and most importantly a unique opportunity to network with peers¡ªand to find we all face very similar challenges.?