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Using Technology to Align the Needs of Corporate Travel Managers with the Functions of Travel Management Companies

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Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2015

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Abstract

This paper investigates how technology affects the functions and role of travel management companies (TMCs). In depth interviews with corporate travel managers of organisations are used to ascertain what the role of the corporate travel manager is, how the TMC supports the travel manager in effectively managing the travel process, and the potential effects of technology on the TMC in the corporate travel process. Findings show that technology is increasingly being used in the travel management process, but that the TMC could still add value in the management of corporate travel if they continue to reinvent themselves, and use technology to their advantage.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division: Tourism Management, Department of Marketing Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Anneli Douglas & Berendien Lubbe

  2. Haaga Helia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland

    Jarmo Ritalahti

Authors
  1. Anneli Douglas
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  2. Berendien Lubbe
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  3. Jarmo Ritalahti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anneli Douglas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Hospitality Business Management, Carson College of Business, Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington, USA

    Iis Tussyadiah

  2. Faculty of Management, Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom

    Alessandro Inversini

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Douglas, A., Lubbe, B., Ritalahti, J. (2015). Using Technology to Align the Needs of Corporate Travel Managers with the Functions of Travel Management Companies. In: Tussyadiah, I., Inversini, A. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2015. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14343-9_54

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