American Express Global Business Travel introduces new ground transport platform

A multi-channel ground transport platform introduced by American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) claims to give travel managers and travellers expanded flexibility, choice and control. It offers access to more than 750 ground operators in 2,000 cities across 18 countries. … Continue reading →

A multi-channel ground transport platform introduced by American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) claims to give travel managers and travellers expanded flexibility, choice and control.

It offers access to more than 750 ground operators in 2,000 cities across 18 countries.

Options include black cars, taxis, limos, airport express trains and shuttles, plus ridesharing via a new partnership with ride-sharing firm Lyft.

The platform equips clients with a ‘GDS-agnostic’ solution that captures and manages ground bookings in one place.

The platform is being piloted with early adopter clients in the North America and EMEA regions.

The TMC’s global supplier relations executive vice president Michael Qualantone said: “Traditionally, ground spend has been a blind spot for travel managers.

“GBT clients saw 95%-plus leakage through out-of-policy booking channels for ground bookings in 2017, resulting in lost opportunities for our clients to negotiate on that spend and ensure traveller compliance.

“Our ground transportation platform is the first solution of its kind for booking via a seamless user experience that meets both the content and choice expectations of travellers and the core needs of travel managers, all in one place.”