Did you know that from the 13th September 2019 there are new regulations coming into place with an extra layer of security for online purchases.
Officially: PDS2 (Payment Services Directive 2). This new regulation covers ALL card payments made online, both personal and company credit cards. So what does this mean? It means that every time you make a booking with online payment, your bank will ask you to authenticate it using a code from the bank to verify that you are the person who is authorising that payment. The Good News: This is good news as it make sure to limit fraud online! so you know that all your payments will be safe. What might it effect for you and something to be aware of: If your card is used to make your travel bookings online and it is not always you making the booking then every time you will receive a text with the authentication code to input into the screen to verify the payment. This may not seem too bad, however if you have someone else making the booking and you are on a flight or in a meeting where you can not check your messages then the booking can not be made until you give the person assisting you the code. This will delay the booking and potentially the price or availability may change by the time you are able to give the code so it could be an issue. For your Travel bookings - what is the solution? As a travel management company we can make the bookings immediately for you without the need for the credit card. So no worrying about if the cardholder is available to give the code or not. We would then simply invoice for the bookings as per our agreement with your company. Making it very simple. Get in touch with us to set up and account and away you go! The Travel Company Edinburgh edinburgh@ttce.com 0044 (0)131 467 7000 www.ttce.com
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Here at The Travel Company Edinburgh we are very excited to be working with Medical Travel Companions as their UK partner. It is very exciting because the service that we can now provide is a fabulous addition for all travellers that need this service. What is Medical Travel Companions? Medical Travel Companions is a unique service that assists people with their travel needs from a local domestic or complex international journey. There are a large number of individuals or families who choose not to travel due to a variety of reasons. MTC can remove many of the barriers that will allow many to realise their travel dreams. MTC travel companions are experienced paramedics, nurses, or nannies, that have undergone a rigorous selection process. They have a range of knowledge including: families with elderly parents, young children, people with a mental health issue, disability, or simply people who just need reassurance or help on a holiday or in transit. MTC companions are available on a global basis. Key Benefits of Using Medical Travel CompanionsTravellers can engage MTC services for travel on all forms of travel including, tours, cruises, flights, private vacations, or concierge transport services for local transportation requirements. MTC companions are available to help you to your desired destination or even to stay with you for the duration of the entire trip. Medical Travel Companions is flexible and can tailor a solution to suit your specific needs. MTC companions provide caring assistance to travellers such as:
About Ben Wilson | Co Founder & CEO of Medical Travel CompanionsBen holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from the University of South Australia. Ben brings to MTC experience in the Airline, Airport, Travel, Health and HR sectors. Ben is responsible for the day to day strategic direction of MTC on a global basis. Before starting Medical Travel Companions in 2000, Ben held management roles for a major international airline, and also at a global management consulting firm. Ben has travelled extensively, including completing a transatlantic sailing voyage. He has lived and worked in the UK and Africa. Ben is married and has three children and enjoys boating, Kangaroo Island, diving, tennis and, of course, travelling. Text accredited to: Allan Suss, Podcast travel Contact us on +44 131 467 7000 or edinburgh@ttce.com or link to make a booking Medical Travel Companions The very first thing to think of is 'What is this meeting for and what do we want to achieve?'
Is it: A brainstorming session, simple meeting, training, inspirational staff meeting, fun day out, an awards event, a serious meeting to discuss strategy or anything else you can think of. Once you know what you are looking to do in the meeting, that’s when you can decide what you need and you can then source the perfect venue. This can take a long time to get right, especially if you are not familiar with the town or city you want to hold it in. This is where we can help you by doing all the leg work and negotiating the best rates for your meeting. What are you looking for?
My idea of the perfect meeting is something like this:
If you want some help in finding the best venue for your meeting or event anywhere in the world then get intouch: The Travel Company Edinburgh 0131 467 7000 edinburgh@ttce.com Before reading the below we would like to say how pleased we are that this is now being taken seriously and something is being done.
The below article is credited to the BBC the link is www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47141538 Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, ebookers and trivago have been investigated over high-pressure selling tactics and misleading discount claims, the competition watchdog says. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was concerned the sites were making rooms seem more popular than they were. The sites will now say if commissions they receive affect the results. They also agreed to be clearer with discount claims and hidden charges. The CMA began its investigation in June 2018 but didn't name the comparison sites it was investigating. "The CMA has taken enforcement action to bring to an end misleading sales tactics, hidden charges and other practices in the online hotel booking market," said CMA Chairman Andrew Tyrie. "These have been wholly unacceptable." Compare like with likeThe CMA will now seek to make the rest of the sector follow the same rules as the six companies it has named, it said. Consumer action group Which? welcomed the CMA's intervention and said the changes should be "swiftly implemented". The companies have all now agreed to the following, the CMA said:
"You can get some good bargains on these sites, but it is very important that you can trust what they say," Michael Grenfell, executive director of enforcement at the CMA told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "We will monitor them," he added. The companies have until 1 September to comply with the demands, otherwise they could be taken to court. There are no hidden fees or elements when you book with us. Give us a call on 0131 467 7000 or email on edinburgh@ttce.com People often say to me 'why should I use a TMC when I can just book everything online?'
I love it when someone asks me this as there are so many answers depending on the company or situation of the person. All of them end up with the person realising that among other things; You can still book everything online and you have the backup of a 24 hour team of experienced professionals to help should you need it. Just image this situation:
When using a TMC there is no need to panic we can help you. We have all the information in one place and can tell you exactly what flights and hotels are booked and for who and help sort all the flights, re-book alternative flights, book trains if flights are grounded, book hotels where required or anything that you need. So the answer to the question 'why should I use a TMC when I can just book everything online?' is: Why would you not use a TMC when you can still book everything online through systems like the one we can provide you and you have the backup of a 24 hour team of experienced professionals to help should you need it. Get in touch and we can tell you how we can help you with your situation email us Motivating your staff is key in any modern business, by rewarding your staff who meet and exceed your performance levels it will help them to strive for similar results in the future as well as motivating those that may be under performing.
But what is the best way to reward your staff who are performing well? Are cash rewards the way to do it? We believe that while paying a bonus may give staff an instant boost it will soon be forgotten once the credit card has been paid off! We believe that incentive trips create much more impact, firstly there is the anticipation, followed by the enjoyment of the trip and lastly, memories that can last a lifetime. We have a wealth of experience of creating incentive trips that will capture the imagination, get all of your staff talking and most importantly have your staff striving to raise their games in order to be included on the trip next year. We can take care of everything, flights, hotels, restaurants and activities for the trip. We have a specialist team who would only be too happy to discuss your requirements and work within your budget in order to add value to your rewards program. Want to find out more, contact me at mike.halliwell@ttce.com or call me on 07841 920752. Alternatively contact the office at edinburgh@ttce.com or call 0131 467 7000
By consolidating your travel spend with your preferred Travel Management Company, The Travel Company Edinburgh, we are able to work closely with your procurement/purchasing department to ensure that best value is provided for all your travel requirements. By travel policy adherence, proactive account management and the extensive knowledge and expertise of our travel consultants we can drive down your company spend and make recommendations for best practice – improving the way you book travel. Here are some of the key benefits that we provide:
So, you’ve trailed the internet and found the best deal available and having spent an hour and a half looking you have saved the company £20! Or have you really saved £20?? We will ignore the hourly rate of somebody looking for 90 minutes just now and see whether the company has fulfilled their obligation to the employee who will undertake the trip.
If your employees have to travel for business of any kind, it’s up to you to ensure their safety as far as possible and communicate to them what to do in the event of an emergency. However duty of care is not just about emergencies and major world events – it could be someone losing their passport, missing a flight or falling ill while abroad. It’s also about those travel details that can improve your employees’ wellbeing, like making sure they don’t have to drive after a long-haul flight. What is duty of care? The perception and profile of duty of care has changed dramatically over recent years. Previously thought of as a concern for larger organisations, those with high risk travel or managing emergency travel situations – duty of care has now become a recognised essential for any travel programme. Duty of Care refers to the moral and legal obligations of employers to their employees, contractors, volunteers and related family members in maintaining their well-being, security and safety when working, posted on international assignments or working in remote areas of their home country. In those circumstances, individuals and organisations have legal obligations to act prudently to avoid the risk of reasonable foreseeable injury or exposures leading to ill health. This obligation may apply both to acts and omissions. In addition to that, the employers are due to build a broad culture within their organisation addressing the health, safety, security and well-being of their employees and other related collaborators to the business. To do so, they are expected to develop and deploy appropriate travel risk management approaches to protect people from possible harm. The importance of duty of care Making sure that your employees feel safe and taken care of gives you a number of benefits. Firstly, simplifying travel and removing any nuisances makes it easier for your employees to get work done. Secondly, looking after employees is a good way of retaining the very best staff. If you’re branching out into new markets, you might find yourself sending employees to destinations where travel isn’t straightforward. So it becomes even more important to put in place simple solutions for employees if they come into difficulty. There’s also a need to prepare your employees ahead of their trip, so that they can clearly understand necessary preparations and what to expect when they arrive. How businesses manage duty of care The management of duty of care varies by organisation. Some businesses have an established, extensive duty of care programme with cross-functional teams spanning the travel department, HR, security, risk management and senior managers. Often these organisations have safety engrained in their culture such as those operating in the energy and offshore industries. In other organisations, often smaller, departments such as HR or senior managers are solely responsible for ensuring the safety of travellers. In some cases, there is no direct reference to duty of care in travel policies – and reasons behind maximum driving hours for example, are not explicitly explained as a safety initiative. Regardless of the size of your organisation, communication is vital. Travellers should be fully briefed before, during and after travel with necessary information and contact numbers – this includes familiarity with your travel policy. During travel it is important that employees have access to necessary information, such as who to contact in an emergency or specific high risk areas to avoid in their final destination. How can a Travel Company help? Before travel • Pre-trip reports – providing globally consolidated information on travel itineraries, particularly any booked to high risk destinations or out of policy • Travel alerts – keeping travellers and travel teams up-to-date with any potential disruptions or global events • Traveller profiles – key to any duty of care programme is ensuring that traveller profiles are current, including emergency contact numbers or records of any health issues During travel • Employee tracking system – tools that enable the travel or safety manager to understand where their travellers are at any one time, based on ticketed itineraries • In-house 24/7 services – not just for emergencies but to deliver support at any time of the day and night, be that changing itineraries or asking for advice when travel is delayed • Major emergency response management – should the worst scenario occur, having support from your travel management company in regards to emergency response teams and planning is a necessity so you can react quickly and efficiently Want to know if you are fulfilling your duty? Please get in contact mike.halliwell@ttce.com or call 07841 920752 0131 467 7000 and we can help with putting a duty of care plan together or ensuring the one you have in place remains best practice, including the latest travel tools. Nothing undermines a well-planned vacation quite like no-show luggage. When your suitcase fails to appear on the baggage carousel, you’re guaranteed a stressful experience filling out baggage-claim forms and futilely waiting. When it comes to making sure checked bags arrive safely at your destination, you are at the mercy of the airlines. Here are a few tips to give you better odds.
Upgrade Your Luggage Tag Opt for a smarter luggage tag. Several high-tech brands of tags feature codes or microchips that travellers can use to detect lost bags. SuperSmartTags, for example, contain unique codes with which airline personnel can trace off-track luggage. (Many bags get lost when paper airport tags get ripped off.) You might even consider embroidering your name and phone number on your suitcase, or at least writing it in permanent marker. Check In Early Travelers who check in late—whether they arrived at the airport with only minutes to spare or got held up in a meandering check-in line—are more likely to get separated from their bags. Baggage handlers need time to process luggage and load it onto planes. Many experts say that 30 minutes ahead of departure is the cut-off, but it all depends. The earlier you can check in, the better. Place Your Itinerary Inside Your Bag Luggage tags can easily be torn off in the rough-and-tumble handling process, but a copy of your itinerary, placed on top of your belongings inside your bag, will almost certainly stay put. Place a copy of your travel plans along with contact information in a prominent place inside any checked bags; if your bag gets delayed, this will make it easier for airline staff to forward your luggage to you. Ship Your Bags Instead of Checking Them It sounds a little crazy. But it’s not. This strategy kills two birds: By shipping your luggage, you diminish the chance that it’ll get lost, and you also avoid costly overweight-, oversize-, and checked-bag fees. Sure, it takes longer to arrive but if you plan ahead and ship your belongings to your hotel in advance, you can save money and track your shipment Take Some Photos If your bag has gone AWOL and you’re attempting to get it back, photo evidence will help. Take a picture of the outside of your bag to show the airline staff member who is helping you locate it. It’s also wise to take a quick photo of your baggage-claim ticket, in case you lose it. Take a picture of the inside of your bag as well; this will come in handy in case you need to file an insurance claim for your lost belongings. Use a Luggage Strap Suitcases, unfortunately, sometimes suffer from a case of mistaken identity at the baggage carousel. This is especially likely to happen when half of your plane is traveling with the same bag. So give your bag a makeover with a colourful luggage strap, some neon duct tape, or whatever your creative little mind can conjure up. Avoid Short Layovers Tight layovers increase the likelihood that your bags will go missing. If your flight is late, the window of time for airport staff to transfer your bag from one plane to the next narrows. Pay attention to the length of your layover, especially when booking with an online 3rd party website. Often, these sites sell domestic multi-leg itineraries with layovers of less than an hour, which doesn’t leave any wiggle room in an industry in which flights are frequently delayed. If you have an international connecting flight, know that you may have to pick up your checked luggage at the baggage claim, clear customs and airport security, and then recheck your bag, all before boarding. This is also the case if you’re arriving in the U.S. from an international destination and then taking a domestic connecting flight. For this reason, it’s important to allow plenty of time—two or more hours, ideally—on international layovers. Confused? Why not let the experts do it all for you. Contact us today and see how we can help with all your travel requirements. mike.halliwell@ttce.com or call me on 07841 920752. Alternatively contact the office at edinburgh@ttce.com or call 0131 467 7000 |
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