CWT REACHING OUT

Throughout the year CWT employees organise and participate in various fundraising events to help children around the region

CWT in Australia supports the Starlight Foundation, a children’s charity that aims to brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children – and their families – throughout Australia (www.starlight.org.au). CWT teams around Australia regularly organise fundraising events. The team in Perth, pictured top right, paid to swap their usual business attire for an ‘everything green’ day to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and raise over AU$200 for the Starlight Foundation.

In Melbourne, a CWT team of 14 took part in the Run for the Kids 2009 event and contributed to the AU$1 million raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal (www.goodfridayappeal.com.au).

The Great Adventure Race for the CureKids charity proved to be a challenge – but a worthwhile one – for a CWT team in New Zealand. The team of four competitors, helped by four support crew, ran, trekked, cycled and swam their way through Hunua Ranges – which frame the region’s southeastern skyline and make up Auckland’s largest forested landscape – to complete the race and raise money for a very worthwhile cause (www.curekids.org.nz).

AWARDS

Carlson Board Chairman Marilyn Carlson Nelson receives World Business Award

Marilyn Carlson Nelson received the World Business Award during the 2009 Women’s World Awards ceremony in Vienna. She was among 12 women honoured for their unique vision, personal strength, commitment to their ideals and passion for creating a better world in the 21st century.

In addition, Carlson Nelson participated in the second Women’s World Congress held in conjunction with the awards event. The purpose of the two-day meeting was to raise public awareness of particular problems women in various cultures face. Among other topics, the group discussed how the global economic crisis evolved and its effect on women around the world. “It’s hard to find any good news in this economic crisis, but for women in business, this could herald significant cultural change in organisations around the world.” Carlson Nelson said in her speech to the congress. “When it becomes apparent that the status quo, the old guard, the tired paradigms no longer serve us well, we are more open to new solutions, new models of leadership. In times of chaos, there are often opportunities to hurry history.”

The awards honour women whose achievements in a variety of fields are seen to give courage and provide inspiration to others. Other 2009 winners included model, philanthropist and businesswoman Elle McPherson.

Carlson Nelson served as Carlson’s CEO from 1998-2008, and continues to serve as chairman of the Carlson Board of Directors.

TRAVELLER SAFETY

There are many things to take into account when planning a business trip: flight schedules, time zones, meeting times, visa requirements, weather, currency conversions and using preferred suppliers. With so many elements to consider, it is easy to forget your personal safety when away from home

Recent global events such as the H1N1 virus and the unrest in Thailand have once again highlighted the importance of personal security for businesspeople. Companies have a responsibility to inform and protect their employees, and CWT helps them to do this via tools such as CWT Portal, the ideal vehicle to arm travellers with the information they need for safe travel.

CWT Portal is an ideal solution, because it:

• brings all the elements of the travel programme together. It is an online gateway that provides access to all CWT web based travel tools and services. These services allow users to research and book a trip; add customisable links; and view travel documents and company news.

• provides enhanced security information with detailed risk assessments of destinations. All of this information is available in one place at any time of day, from anywhere in the world.

• allows one click access to real time news and alerts for the latest information on health, transportation and weather events with an impact on travel.

• includes a Destination Intelligence facility (powered by CWT Guardian), which allows you to research your next destination through an interactive map providing country specific information. In addition to airport maps, transportation options and public holidays, you can obtain detailed risk assessments, visa and passport requirements and health information, to enable you to make informed decisions about potential health and safety risks while travelling.

Next time you travel, visit the CWT Portal for assistance with your travel arrangements and research your destination to ensure you are fully informed of safety and security information relevant to your trip. Remember that a delayed flight or lost luggage is not the worst thing that can happen while travelling for business.

For more information, please contact your CWT Program Manager

CWT’S TOP TIP

Unused airline tickets is money left on the table. MICHAEL MANNIX, CWT’s Global Head – Air Solutions Group & Vice President Solutions Group Asia Pacific, explains how your CWT service centre can help

Under current economic conditions, companies are looking for additional savings opportunities more aggressively than ever. The tracking of unused airline tickets is one area of travel programmes often overlooked as a way of capturing savings. Tickets for cancelled or deferred air travel can be used as payment towards future travel.

Generally, depending on the terms and conditions, airline tickets expire after 12 months, so there is usually enough time to activate this process – even for infrequent travellers.

As a traveller, if you cancel a trip or only use a portion of your airline ticket, you should advise your CWT service centre - they will let you know if the ticket can either be used for future travel, or they will log it with the airline for a refund. Refund time varies by airline and can take several months to process. If the ticket can be used for future travel, CWT will hold it in a ‘ticket bank’ and will advise you when you next travel.

Tips for Travel Managers:

To increase the likelihood of redemption and the possibility of applying unused tickets to future travel, communication to travellers should happen several times over the course of the year and through a variety of channels:

• Use the messaging capabilities of your online booking tool. Many online booking tools can prompt travellers to apply unused tickets when new bookings are underway.
• Consider an email campaign to remind travellers to fulfil unused tickets during their next booking, both online or with a CWT travel counsellor.
• If the company culture is one that embraces contests or reward-based competitions, initiate an unused ticket incentive programme.

For more information about maximising the value of unused tickets, please contact your CWT Program Manager