American Express Business Travel is making it easier than ever for companies that need travel amenities for their employees. The largest travel management company in the world announced yesterday that they are making enhancements to two of their marquee traveler security and benefit programs: the TrackPoint global security solution and the Preferred Extras Hotel Program. As of August 16, 2005, the TrackPoint system will be available to all US-based customers, and the Preferred Extras special savings will apply to nearly 10,000 hotels located in over 3400 cities.
"American Express is committed to helping business travel program managers gain greater control over and savings from their employee's travel itineraries," said Andy McGraw, senior vice president and general manager, American Express Business Travel. The TrackPoint system does this by giving travel program managers a way to quickly and easily locate all traveling company employees via a web-based system. It's designed specifically to help companies quickly locate their employees in the event of an emergency or calamity. It allows the user to pinpoint all company employees by country, region and city, and view individual travel itineraries, and includes an 8-day advance travel data capture that can be used by companies to make collaborative decisions in case of a terrorist or weather emergency. By speeding the locating of employees, the TrackPoint system allows companies to make quicker decisions in the event of emergencies that affect employees traveling overseas or away from the home office.
In addition, American Express Business Travel is expanding their Preferred Extra's Hotel Program to offer travel managers and frequent travelers the best rates from 29 international hotel chains.
"American Express has negotiated hotel arrangements in 95 percent of worldwide cities where our clients travel for business," said McGraw.
In addition to guaranteeing the lowest possible rates for its business customers, the Preferred Extras Hotel Program may offer such extras as free high-speed Internet access, fitness facilities and exclusive club rooms. No matter where their customers go, says McGraw, they will get the best room available AND the best deal for their stay. To sweeten the pot still further, they'll also continue to accrue points and rewards from their hotel loyalty programs, a restriction placed upon 'sweetheart deals' from other business travel agents.
The two expanded offerings will help American Express Business Travel clients control costs associated with travel, as well as ensure the safety of their employees during travel worldwide. Says McGraw, "With TrackPoint and Preferred Extras, American Express Business Travel continues to ensure that its clients not only receive the most rigorous traveler security solutions but also the best negotiated travel deals."
It's just one more way that American Express helps companies offer the best to their employees - and still maintain a comfortable bottom line.
18 Aug 2005
