2009 POTENTIAL ENTRY TOPICS

1. CHANGING THE PRODUCTS/SERVICES/CONTRACTING
1. Reinventing your travel management programs (government, collegiate, CRC)
2. Consolidating/Coordinating travel management programs (inter-agency, inter-government) –e.g. states, counties, school districts.
3. Changes in supplier contracts (simplified process, better locations etc.)
4. End to End travel solutions
5. Value adds that increase revenue and profits (wired hotels, TMC lodging programs etc.)
6. Training programs for your organization, involvement in industry events especially hospitality training.
7. Individual customer segment, operations and marketing programs
8. Non-official/leisure travel management program (individual, groups, reunions)
9. Success with GSA’s TSS service disabled: other small business: government contracting opportunities for all travel agencies: other suppliers: advocacy efforts.
10. Operating and marketing alliances that work
11. Meetings – new ways to schedule, plan and manage them: preferred resources, multi-meetings, preferred resources
12. RFPs-Simpler, easier to respond, broader response
13. Increasing your websites value (pre-trip planning, in-transit etc.)
2. CHANGING MARKETING EFFORTS
1. Shifting market share
2. Internet marketing (e.g. e-newsletters) and other media communications
3. Changing traveler compliance and usage rates (city pairs, on-line booking, peak-day excess demand, lodging programs, policy compliance, etc.)
4. Frequent traveler program: loyalty incentives
5. Communications: expanding the states’ bi-monthly conference calls to other SGTP segments
6. How gasoline spikes change traveler preferences: change supplier marketing strategies
7. Homeland Security hurdles: new Visa requirements, weak dollar
8. Low-season/Low day of week: creating a product demand
9. How you get or sell rooms in a low per diem environment
10. Collegiate travel program
3. RESTRUCTURING YOUR OPERATION
1. Research: Quantitative and qualitative-what we know about the traveler that helps us to better serve and sell.
2. Changing the “Corporate culture” corporate name change: renovations: multi-brand umbrella marketing “reinventing” your product/service for government; “greening” our product/service
3. Hospitality training: service, not servitude; Certification
4. Personal traveler security/health program
5. Corporate reorganization; “decentralizing” brands
6. Ensuring your organization’s survivability (ops, personnel, IT, financial, customer service etc.)
7. International travel management programs: Going Global; “Building a Global Franchise; “how it best fits priorities of you and the traveler
8. Base Realignment Closure (BRAC) opportunities
9. GSA’s Relocation program (GRAB) Civilian and Military
10. Servicing Military’s unique and mobile lifestyle
4. CONTINGENCIES
1. Incident/contingency preparedness and support of others in trouble (mitigation of travel risks)
2. Pandemics: your area vs. sister city areas
3. Taking care of US Citizens and military during the Middle East and other conflicts
4. Refugee lodging
5. PUBLIC SERVICE
1. Public service program
2. Your volunteer experience