Latest news with #costcontrol
Hospitality Net
14 hours ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
BCD Travel's latest travel buyer report highlights the importance of leveraging travel data to meet program priorities
UTRECHT, The Netherlands – BCD Travel surveyed 197 travel buyers from around the world in top industries including manufacturing, life sciences and financial services. The majority of travel buyers surveyed work for large companies with over 10,000 employees; 48% have global responsibilities, and 41% report to procurement. The results clearly reflect the importance of using data as a tool to develop their travel programs, including boosting supplier negotiations, improving policy compliance and optimizing travel spend. Priorities When it comes to programpriorities, travel buyers list savings and cost control (94%) as extremely or very important. Policy compliance (90%) and duty of care (86%) followed. Data analytics and business intelligence were also highly rated: 82% consider this extremely or very important. The top two data-related priorities include enhancing collaboration with TMCs and travel suppliers around data collection and analysis (48%) and improving data quality (47%). This is followed by consolidating data from different sources (44%), enhancing data analysis (42%), acting on insights (36%) and streamlining data collection (33%). The value of data Indeed, data adds value to travel programs, albeit in different ways. Travel data brings particular value when it comes to negotiating with vendors (65%), improving compliance (59%) and optimizing spend (57%). Challenges Collecting data for data's sake isn't the goal. Rather, understanding the story that data reveals, and turning it into actionable insights, is. Half of the participants struggle with using data proactively versus reactively. This is a significant opportunity for improvement since data can reveal areas for cost savings, traveler behavior trends, and out of policy bookings. BCD captures valuable data from the moment a traveler engages with the TMC. Its configurable technology platform collects, standardizes, normalizes, enriches and shares that data with customers – giving them complete control over their data in real time. APIs allow clients more customization to power their own solutions for traveler security, internet security, sustainability, and more. BCD also uses program travel data with messaging capabilities to influence traveler decisions. This can be used to address policy compliance throughout the trip and remind travelers of key benefits and inclusions, preventing unnecessary purchases like car insurance when it's already included. Further highlights of the report include: Most travel buyers regularly dedicate time to working with travel data. Whereas 74% of respondents have the skills and experience needed to interact with data, 56% prefer to leave working with data to professionals. Although 60% regularly check their dashboards and analyze new data, 40% interact with travel data only when absolutely needed. Lack of time (44%) was the main reason for infrequent interaction with data. TMCs are a major source of travel data for most travel buyers (89%). Respondents report payment and expense solutions (69%) and online booking tools (66%) as their top external data sources. Two in 10 use external data aggregators or consultants. Only one out of 10 use AI to collect, analyze and report travel data. The main reason for employing AI is to save time. Travel buyers consider real-time analytics that allows spotting trends (64%) as the most valuable feature of data analytic tools, followed by built-in dashboards (57%). 'BCD Travel is capturing more data from more sources than ever before,' says Heather Wright, BCD's vice president, Digital Strategy & Advancement. 'We invest heavily in the consolidation, standardization and normalization of this data, ensuring the most accurate, quality data is provided back to our customers. We deliver this data through a variety of unique solutions that allow our customers to make decisions in real time.' By leveraging advanced analytics and new technologies, BCD offers clients accurate, actionable insights that support their evolving needs. Clients benefit from BCD's data solutions and access to its full-service analytics and insights teams. This empowers smarter decision-making across travel programs. To view the full data survey report, click here. About BCD Travel BCD Travel helps companies travel smart and achieve more. We drive program adoption, cost savings and talent retention through digital experiences that simplify business travel. Our 15,000+ dedicated team members service clients in 170+ countries as we shape a sustainable future for business travel. BCD's leading meetings and events management and global consultancy services complete our comprehensive suite of solutions for all aspects of corporate travel. In 2024, BCD achieved US$22.9 billion in sales. For more information, visit
Bloomberg
15 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Morgan Health CEO on Healthcare Costs, Drug Pricing Reforms
Morgan Health CEO Dan Mendelson discusses healthcare costs, getting entitlement pricing under control, and efforts to reform drug pricing on 'Bloomberg Open Interest.' (Source: Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
14-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
ABN Amro Profit Beats Expectations on Cost Control, Fee Income
ABN Amro Bank NV reported first-quarter profit that beat expectations, as cost control and higher fees helped the Dutch lender offset the effect of declining interest rates. Profit at the Amsterdam-headquartered bank came in at €619 million ($693 million) for the three months through March, compared with the analyst estimate of €543 million in a Bloomberg survey. Operating expenses in the quarter rose 4%, while fee income grew 8%, both better than forecast.
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The Harsh Realities of a Broken Healthcare System: New Podcast Pulls Back the Curtain
Calling healthcare a 'rigged game,' industry insider Ray Kober is empowering companies and consumers with ways to win. 'Healthcare is a rigged game, and the people paying the bills — employers and employees — are the ones getting played.'— Ray Kober NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, May 12, 2025 / / -- Healthcare expenses are one of the biggest financial burdens on American companies and consumers, observes Ray Kober, a healthcare industry innovator and self-described champion for the underdog. For Kober, who was raised by a single mother, the fight to help control healthcare costs is personal — and worth showing up for every day. 'Healthcare is a rigged game, and the people paying the bills — employers and employees — are the ones getting played,' Kober said in a recent interview. 'But what happens when we flip the script? What happens when we pull back the curtain, expose the system for what it really is, and give businesses the tools to take back control?' The answer, he said, is: 'We change everything.' Kober is the founder of Benefixa, a health insurance agency specializing in mid- to large-market businesses. And now, he brings his decades of expertise into the intricacies of healthcare expenses and insurance company operations to listeners everywhere through his eye-opening new podcast, 'Broken Healthcare.' Through interviews with thought leaders, solution providers, medical professionals and everyday people who share their personal experiences, Kober sheds light on the complexities of healthcare and empowers listeners with insights on how to pay less and access high-quality care — concerns for the general public as well as for businesses for which healthcare is typically the number one expense after payroll. With keen observations and practical counsel, Kober urges his listeners to seize control of their healthcare by scrutinizing and questioning medical service costs, akin to how they approach the purchase of other consumer goods. 'There absolutely is something they can do to reduce the cost and improve the quality of their health care,' Kober said. Among the dozens of episodes currently available are: • Strategic Approaches to Employee Benefits • From Cigna Exec to Whistleblower: Wendell Potter • Exposing Hidden Fees • Cutting Costs with Healthcare Transparency • Behind the Scalpel: Transforming Surgery Decisions 'Broken Healthcare' doesn't just expose the inefficiencies and complexities within the healthcare landscape; it serves as a clarion call for both consumers and employers to demand transparency, enabling them to make better-informed decisions about their healthcare. 'Whether grappling with insurance policies, overseeing health benefits for a company or simply seeking clarity on the actual expenses of a doctor's appointment, this podcast furnishes listeners with indispensable guidance and empowerment in the pursuit of a more transparent and accessible healthcare system,' Kober added. The 'Broken Healthcare' podcast is available on YouTube and most podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify. About Ray Kober Ray Kober is a healthcare industry innovator and champion for the underdog. As the founder of Benefixa, a health insurance agency specializing in mid- to large-market businesses, Kober is on a mission to help companies unlock better healthcare solutions while cutting costs. Before launching Benefixa, Kober served as a Regional Sales Leader for Aflac in the New York Metro market, where he excelled in driving growth and building high-performing teams. In his distinguished sales and leadership career, he was renowned for training and mentoring some of the best talent within Aflac US, leaving a legacy of success and development that continues to impact the organization. For more information, visit or find Kober on LinkedIn at Trish Stevens Ascot Media Group, Inc. +1 832-334-2733 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Facebook X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Travel Daily News
06-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
House of Travel Bahrain and QuadLabs unveil HOTBizz
House of Travel and QuadLabs launch HOTBizz, a next-gen corporate travel platform enhancing efficiency, compliance, and cost control across the Middle East. House of Travel (HOT), a leading travel management company in the Middle East, has partnered with QuadLabs, a global travel technology leader, to launch its dedicated corporate travel platform – HOTBizz. This strategic collaboration aims to elevate corporate travel management by integrating cutting-edge technology that delivers seamless, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for businesses across the region. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the evolution of corporate travel, combining HOT's extensive market experience with the innovative capabilities of QuadLabs. The HOTBizz platform is purpose-built to meet the dynamic needs of today's enterprises – streamlining travel booking and administration while ensuring full compliance with corporate travel policies. Powered by QuadLabs' next-generation Travog system, the platform offers a robust suite of features tailored to the corporate sector. Companies can manage all aspects of their business travel through a single, intuitive interface. Key functionalities include real-time bookings, policy enforcement, expense tracking, and seamless approval workflows – delivering higher operational efficiency and a simplified user experience. Jehad Amin, CEO- Vice Chairman of House of Travel, commented: 'We are committed to delivering forward-thinking travel solutions for our corporate clients. This partnership with QuadLabs allows us to launch a next-level platform that transforms the way businesses manage travel – enhancing cost control, compliance, and operational effectiveness.' Gaurav Chiripal, CEO of QuadLabs, added: 'We are excited to partner with House of Travel to bring HOTBizz to life. Our mission is to empower corporate travel managers with advanced tools that redefine the travel experience – making it smoother, more transparent, and policy-compliant.' HOTBizz is poised to reshape corporate travel management in the Middle East, further cementing House of Travel's leadership in providing comprehensive business travel solutions. QuadLabs is a global leader in travel technology and expense solutions, offering a wide range of products designed to streamline corporate travel management. With over two decades of expertise, QuadLabs delivers advanced solutions that enhance efficiency and user experience in the travel sector.
