Accor creates forum to ‘shape’ future of corporate travel

French hotel giant Accor has created a new Global Leadership Council (GLC) designed to “shape the future” of business travel.

The company’s new advisory board, which includes travel managers and buyers from 17 major international corporations alongside senior Accor executives, is being tasked with “reimagining the future” of business travel and corporate meetings.

The council, which met for the first time earlier this month, agreed that they would focus on three main priorities: traveller experience and wellbeing; cost management and optimisation; and sustainability.

Sophie Hulgard, who is chief sales officer at Accor and also hosted the first GLC meeting, explained: “The dynamics of corporate travel are evolving rapidly. It is essential for both our clients and hospitality businesses to adapt to new demands and priorities.

“The GLC is a critical forum for sharing insights and collaborating on solutions that meet the changing needs of business travellers and delegates. It aims to generate valuable insights and actionable strategies to drive and transform business travel, impacting the sector globally.”

Accor said that buyer members of the new council were responsible for a combined 2.7 million travellers across their programmes. They have been drawn from a range of sectors and industries including financial services, engineering, manufacturing, transport, energy, professional services and technology. 

GLC members will look at traveller experience issues such as corporate employee engagement, wellness, traveller security and digital efficiencies. They will also examine cost management topics including programme compliance, pricing and cost reduction/avoidance strategies.

When it comes to sustainability, the council will discuss taking sustainable action, carbon budgets and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) among other subjects.

Hulgard added that Accor would use the GLC’s findings to create a report on business travel to be published later this year.