Covid-19 And Air Travel

The Airline industry has been one of the worst hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. It will be several years before airlines around the world recover from the damage. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), estimates lost revenue for 2020 will be 314 Billion US dollars. IATA also estimates that 4.5 Million flights will be cancelled by June 30, 2020. Never before has the Industry been hit so badly by a pandemic virus.

In the recent weeks a lot has been written in the Press, discussed on TV and over the airwaves, about the impact the deadly disease will have on the Airline Industry and its consequences. It may well change the entire face of air travel for ever. Many doomsday specialists tell us air travel will never be the same again.

Technology – The Saga Of Upgrading An iMac

Everyone needs Technology today. Whether you are a Travel Management Consultant, employed in the Travel Industry or any other business for that matter, you cannot do without Technology. Most often what you choose to work with is a matter of personal preference and budgets. My advice to those looking for new machines would be to

Ever Lost A Checked-in Bag On An Airline?

Every now and then, checked baggage seem to develop a mind of their own to go off on a jaunt.  The truant piece of luggage, decides to take a route different from that of its owner. What was destined for Medicine Hat, Alberta could end up in Melbourne, Australia; or in Dublin, Ireland, instead of Dubai in the UAE. It is one of those happenings that comes with air travel. There often is no rhyme or reason for the phenomenon. 2017 saw 4.08 Billion Air travellers; 22.7 Million bags were mishandled. Fortunately, 78% of all mishandled bags were only delayed; not lost.

VAT Recovery - Automation of Processes © Mano Chandra Dhas

VAT Recovery – automation of processes

VAT Recovery has for most of its life, been an involved and paper-intensive process. Of course, it is understood we deal with Governments; and they have known to be notoriously bureaucratic. Even today, many of them are steeped in cumbersome paper-work. Fortunately, we are beginning to see a little light, at the end of the tunnel. European nations see the need to cut across the processes of the past, and rapidly move into the 21st century, and the age of modern technology.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for Business Travel – Free?

Many people may consider Travel Insurance to be an instrument sold by peddlers of doom. That indeed is a matter of personal opinion. Personally, I think Travel Insurance is a necessary part of every trip. It provides the traveller with a certain amount of comfort, and more – especially when things go wrong.

Travel Call Centre

Travel Contact Centre – Technology

The Contact Centre for corporate travel is the engine around which the whole business revolves. If you don’t have a smoothly operating Contact Centre, you do not have a product. The Unit can be quite a beast when it comes to Technology. The secret of success in a Contact Centre lies with the manager’s skill and ability to harness the entire offering of the various technologies employed, and make them work together, to deliver a best-in-class product.

The Best Of Rome – An Unforgettable 6 Days Itinerary

I thought this time, I’d take a break from Corporate Travel and give an itinerary, instead. Let me take you to my most favourite city in the world: Rome. Where 2700 years of vintage history is blended with the mundane cocktail of everyday life of the 21st Century.

Given two weeks, you can hardly do justice to the City; most tourists try to give it four days, before they move on. Of course, you will find tons of information on Rome, in every language of the world; but, let me show you the City, my way – Rome in six days.

Travel Contact Centre - Mano Chandra Dhas

Corporate Travel Contact Centre – Location Choice

The Contact Centre is the heart of the Corporate Travel service to clients. It is the engine; everything else will revolve around it. Without it, there can be no service. Where then, would be the ideal location for your all-important Corporate Travel Contact Centre? Many a diehard traditionalist would tell you that it should be located where the head office is. In other words, the Managing Director or CEO, would like it where he is located. Such a notion, I presume, would come from a desire to show off one’s empire to every visitor. Some others would argue for it to be located in their own building, wherever that may be. Their main argument would be that with such an arrangement, they will have no rental costs. My own views on the subject are very different.

Devolución del IVA

Value Added Tax (VAT) Refund on Business Travel

Proposed originally by the German industrialist Wilhelm von Siemens in 1918, Value Added Tax or VAT has become an important part of the Tax structure in many countries. France was the first country to introduce VAT in 1954. Today it is, for France, the most important source of State Finance and forms almost 50% of the Government’s revenues.  Other countries were quick to add VAT to their own Tax structures. Most countries in the world today charge Value Added Tax, as part of their fiscal policy. It is a Tax that even visitors to such countries have to pay. It is unavoidable. It can be as high as 25.50% in some countries. Every hotel stay, or restaurant bill, involves VAT.  The Scandinavian countries charge the highest rates. In some countries, different services or goods, attract different rates of VAT that is chargeable.  VAT varies from 5% to 25.50%. Fortunately, many companies become eligible for a VAT refund on the business travel of their employees.

Request For Proposal

Request For Proposal or RFP – Basics

A Request for Proposal or an RFP, is an integral part of a Multinational Company’s (MNC) process of choosing their Travel Management Company (TMC). Most MNCs will handle their choice through such a process. It may however be noted, from a Travel agent’s point of view, if you are not part of a major international TMC Network, you may never get to see the RFP of such an organisation. They are usually only sent out to the top three in the Business.