Education Sessions

Education Sessions are specifically designed to provide Travel Buyers with useful, relevant information and tools that they can immediately begin to use in their working environment. Sessions are offered in varied formats including presentations, panel debates and round table discussions to give delegates the opportunity to interact with their travel industry peers whilst simultaneously gaining valuable travel management knowledge.

Monday, 10 November: 14.30 – 15.45

M101: Traveller Safety & Security
A recent survey indicates the majority of business travellers believe the world is becoming an increasingly dangerous place. What are the Travel Manager’s responsibilities and the TMC’s to ensure the safety and security of its travellers? This session will cover the following points:

  • Pre-Trip assessment and planning
  • Traveller tracking
  • Communication with Traveller before trip and during trip
  • Contingency planning

Speakers:
Hugh Thomson, Operations Manager: Sub Sahara - Control Risks
Shaun van der Merwe, Business Development Manager - International SOS

M102: Fundamentals of Managed travel and the Value of the TMC
Countries develop at vastly different rates across the African continent. Where middle-man Travel Agents made the move to become fully functioning Travel Management Companies almost a decade ago in South Africa, this trend is only just beginning in other developing countries. This session will investigate:

  • The value proposition of a TMC versus a Travel Agent – Fees versus Commissions
  • Benefits of a tri-partheid relationship among TMC’s, Suppliers and Buyers
  • The hallmarks of a good TMC/Buyer relationship
  • Effective account management in Africa – living up to global expectations in the local environment.

Speakers:
Carole Graaff, Travel Commodity Specialist - Ericsson SA
Vicqui Welton, Executive Direcor - Fulela Travel Services

Monday, 10 November: 16.15 – 17.30

M201: Technological Advancements: Perception versus Reality
Is technology always the best available option in emerging markets? What options are out there for Travel Managers to take advantage of and how can you know for sure the solution will provide a return on investment? Discussion points will include:

  • Hard costs for Self Booking Tools in the African markets vs. low labour costs
  • Missing content’s affect on adoption rates
  • Realistic implementation plans and expectations
  • e-Ticketing mandate: What considerations should IATA make for the African region
  • Data accuracy: Fight for improvement or make the most of what you have?

Speakers: Stanton Jandrell, CEO - Fraxion

M202: If we train them, will they stay? Aiming towards improved education in the Industry
Skills development, staff empowerment and effective HR Management has become a key focus for companies wishing to increase productivity and develop emerging markets. However the travel industry is rife with staffing and developmental challenges with companies worrying about skills shortages and training costs in relation to staff turnover. This session will look at:

  • What skills are needed on a tertiary level to equip future Travel Managers?
  • The impact that a continued skills gap will have on the industry
  • Let’s be part of the solution - How can you get involved?
  • Benefits of an educated travel community and strategies for effective education
  • ROI of training initiatives and staff empowerment

Speakers: Prof. Daneel Van Lill, Director: School of Tourism & Hospitality - University of Johannesburg
Dr. Linda Meyer - KnowledgeQuest

Tuesday, 11 November: 11.45 – 13.00

T101: Cross Border Dynamics: Doing Business in Africa
Although a blessing and point of pride, Africa’s diversity can also be a curse. With so many different cultures, customs and idiosyncrasies on one continent, doing business effectively and without interruption can be a challenge. This session will deal with:

  • Dealing with cultural diversity
  • Corruption – Striving for ethical behaviour in unethical circumstances
  • Crime, Politics, Religion and potentially offensive behaviour

Speakers: Frans Joubert, CEO - MTN Bissau

T102: Strategic Payment Solutions
This session will investigate the opportunities and challenges to usage with available payment options in the region. In the prevailing business culture “cash is king” making the acceptance of some solutions limited, though often providing the data and audit trail that cash is unable to yield. This session will examine:

  • Merits/considerations of credit cards, lodged cards, individual cards and company cards
  • Acceptance of payment solutions in Africa
  • Bill-back practices
  • Preventing fraud

Tuesday, 11 November: 14.45 – 16.00

T201: Cost Control and Spend Management
With Travel Managers being put under increasing pressure to cut costs, where is there left to turn? How can one continue to develop strategic cost cutting initiatives whilst simultaneously catering to the needs of the traveller and ensuring their productivity? This topic will:

  • Identify un-tapped savings opportunities
  • Look at cost implications of allowance versus re-imbursements
  • Quantify process savings of an automated Expense Reporting system
  • Reveal savings opportunities through improved travel policy compliance
  • Explore the role of data management and MIS in controlling cost

T202: Hotel Programs: Supply & Demand in a developing market
Staff accommodation is fast becoming one of the leading headaches experienced by Travel Managers. There seems to be no way to control rising costs and depleting availability. Options in lesser-developed regions are scarce and travellers are becoming more and more demanding. This session will investigate:

  • Trends in the supply/demand aspects of the hotel sector and the impact on corporate travel programmes
  • Fundamentals of an effective hotel program
  • Alternative accommodation in a constrained market
  • Measuring savings from a hotel program