Gehan Colliander is global head of travel at Boston Consulting Group

Gehan Colliander is speaking at Business Travel Show Europe for the first time this year as she participates in a panel session called 'What do we want from our TMC and are we getting it?' which takes place at 3pm on Thursday 26 June.

What's the biggest challenge facing you currently as a corporate travel manager?
There are two big challenges, if you would permit me. Firstly, the current global climate, with rising geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and evolving security threats.

And secondly, balancing the delivery of a strong employee value proposition (EVP) with rigorous cost control in a post-pandemic era of rising travel costs and distribution fragmentation ¨C while leveraging agentic AI to streamline and optimise the end-to-end travel process.

Employees expect flexibility, safety, comfort and seamlessness in their travel experience ¡ª all core to our EVP. At the same time, there¡¯s increasing pressure to stay within tight budgets and demonstrate the value of every travel dollar spent.

What one thing could your travel management company do to make your life easier?
A major way a TMC can add value is by ensuring accurate, unified data across all business units ¨C including its subsidiaries ¨C while integrating agentic AI throughout their service delivery. Beyond just data accuracy, agentic AI can enhance the entire travel management lifecycle: from proactive policy enforcement to real-time support and automated expense reconciliation. This not only reduces administrative load but also drives smarter, faster and more strategic travel decisions at scale.

Why is Business Travel Show Europe such a key date in your schedule?
Business Travel Show Europe is essential because it brings together the entire corporate travel ecosystem in one place ¨C suppliers, peers, innovators and thought-leaders. It¡¯s an opportunity to stay ahead of emerging trends, benchmark our travel programme, explore new technologies and have strategic conversations that shape the future of business travel.

Tell us in ten words or fewer why buyers should attend your session at Business Travel Show Europe.
Gain practical insights to drive meaningful improvements in travel programmes.

? Business Travel Show Europe takes place at ExCeL London on 25-26 June. Travel bookers, managers and procurement personnel can register for free attendance here.