American Express Business Travel was awarded $2.2 billion in newly won business in 2006 as the company shared its last year’s business performance. (2/2/2007)
The company was re-awarded nearly $3.6 billion from existing clients who renewed their contracts. It also shared that its middle market segment in the United States accounted for more than one-quarter of its US corporate travel sales volume.
For 2007, the company confirmed its “focus on innovations that will further optimise its clients’ total travel and entertainment (T&E) spend, enrich its global capabilities, enhance the traveler experience, and strengthen its supplier partnerships.”
“We are now firmly beyond the traditional travel agency mindset to instead provide full spectrum, end-to-end T&E management services,” said Charles Petruccelli, president of American Express Global Travel Services.
“Today the client wants global integrated purchase and process solutions, the business traveler wants a total trip experience, and the supplier wants distribution efficiency and business development success. I am pleased to report that our continuing business investments have positioned us well to deliver on the `customer experience’ promise,” added Petruccelli.
Specifically, the company chose Rearden Commerce, Inc., in which it has taken a minority stake, to power a web-based commerce network called the American Express Intelligent Online Marketplace (AXIOM). AXIOM brings together inventory from more than 135,000 suppliers in a single destination where employees can find, purchase and manage traditional travel as well as ancillary services equally critical to the total trip experience.
“We know that ‘100 percent total T&E management’ is of utmost interest to our clients,” said Andy McGraw, general manager and senior vice president, American Express Business Travel North America. “As testimonial to AXIOM’s relevance, 136 clients have adopted the new platform since our US launch, including ADESA Inc., a wholesale auto auction provider, and Omniflight Helicopters, an air medical transportation provider.”
