Tech giant Google has appointed American Express Global
Business Travel (GBT) as its sole global TMC on a long-term contract, GBT has
confirmed to BTN Europe.
An independent industry source who informed BTN Europe about Google’s move from its previous travel agency, CWT, speculated it marks a
shift towards a more tightly managed travel programme for the company.
GBT also confirmed speculation that it has been appointed by PayPal, Palantir
and Eli Lilly and Company, who have also moved across in recent months.
All four companies are understood to have appointed GBT as their
sole global TMC on long-term contracts and are now in the early stages of
implementation.
Meanwhile, BCD is also believed to be close to announcing a
significant business win, with client movement showing little sign of slowing
down in the current environment.
A
statement provided by GBT said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to
partner with Google. Our value proposition at GBT is rooted in delivering
secure, managed travel and meetings programs. We look forward to creating an
experience for Googlers that reflects the environment of innovation, creativity
and diversity in which they operate around the world.”
CWT said it does not comment on customers but added its client retention rate is more than 96 per cent this year, consistent with its running rate over the past four years.
Google recently ranked fourth in BTN’s Corporate Travel 100
with around $400 million of US-booked air travel in 2019, when CWT was its
primary TMC and handled 50 per cent of both US and globally booked air volume.
The organisation is known to have taken a non-mandated,
‘open booking’ approach to its corporate travel programme in the past.
PayPal ranked 96th in the Corporate
Travel 100 with $44 million of US-booked air travel in 2019, while
pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly was 99th with $38 million of
US-booked air travel.