How can your company save money, while still deriving value from a travel
programme? As a corporate with travel needs, how can you reduce your carbon footprint? These are just some of the questions that will be answered at the Procure Travel Africa Summit, taking place at Cape Town’s Vineyard Hotel on 27 August 2020.
According to Summit Director Riana Fouché, this is a challenging time for travel
procurement professionals. “Companies are asking how they can reduce travel
expenditure in ways that go beyond cutting service fees. What direct integrations are
there that will give them better rates?”
As travel procurement professionals come under increasing pressure to find
appropriate solutions, they are faced with other challenges, too. These range from
finding a new way to present data, so that it highlights key metrics and gives clients a
full view of travel spend and opportunities for further savings or greater compliance,
to investigating fresh angles on benchmarking and evaluating travel programmes.
Fouché informs that other pressing issues include the factors that should be
considered by companies when forging relationships with new suppliers, while
suppliers, for their part, need to understand the elements on which corporates base
their decisions. Finally, all parties need to explore new and innovative ways of finding
efficiencies within travel programmes. Fouché says, “Duty of care, expense
management and virtual payment methods have recently been
introduced in the market. Players are curious about how these work, and how they
will revolutionise the industry.”
The Procure Travel Africa Summit provides an ideal platform for exploring these and other
relevant matters. “As a buyer-led event, the stage is set for robust and progressive
conversation. The only speakers at the event are buyers, who will lead panels
debating and weighing in on the topics that have them scratching their heads at
present. “As a collective, they will be able to find answers and explore new ways to
address challenges, sharing knowledge and best practice with their peers,” she says.
Unique in that it is neither an exhibition nor a trade show, the Procure Travel Africa Summit
sees the coming together of buyers and sellers, with more of the former, at an
independently owned, peer led event focused on senior sourcing executives. ‘Must-
attend’ features include debates around the Chief Procurement Perspective in
sourcing; how to evaluate the success of your travel programme, and key indicators
to manage travel. Also coming under the spotlight are issues such as how clients
can achieve real savings by looking at their programme from a new angle. A number
of round table discussions will also take place later in the day.
The Procure Travel Africa Summit is an equally compelling proposition for suppliers, whose
sponsorship will allow them exclusive access to senior level decision
makers from leading South African companies, which may culminate in lead
generation that accelerates the sales cycle. This is, furthermore, an opportunity to
build loyalty among clients and consolidate market position, while drawing attention
to differentiating factors and raising brand awareness. Participation at Procure Travel Africa
also allows suppliers to learn from leading procurement executives and
partake in relevant discussions that will impact how they do business and service the
South African market. “It’s a chance to be part of the change to lead and drive
innovation and value in the travel industry,” Fouché comments.
She envisages the Summit as a platform “owned” by the industry; a
forum where they can brainstorm and find solutions. “This is a space where suppliers
can take on the role of observers and use their learnings to innovate their product
and service offering, so that they are able to better support (and understand) buyers’
needs. In turn, buyers will walk away from the event feeling enlightened and
empowered with actionable items they can implement in their programme, so that
they are immediately able to unlock value for their business,” she concludes.
ENDS
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Prepared on behalf of Procure Travel Africa by Cathy Findley PR. Contact
Jacqui Moloi with any queries on (011) 463-6372 or email jacqui@findleypr.co.za
For more information, visit www.procuretravelsummit.co.za
To enquire about customised sponsorship opportunities, contact sponsor@procuretravel.co.za
For other queries, email info@procuretravel.co.za