Responding to Vallourec Travelers' Evolving Needs

Challenge

• Developing solid partnerships with an international company with complex needs
• Managing travel needs of employees throughout nearly 20 countries
• Offering a travel experience that is simple, efficient and safe

Solution

• Implement GBT’s Neo online booking solution
• Increase savings via bulk purchases of air travel, hotels and car rentals
• Foster awareness of program innovations and Neo through training courses
• Gain an in-depth understanding of the client’s diverse needs

Results

• Built, implemented, formalized and supported client’s travel policy
• Delivered significant savings through active hotel and air negotiations
• Carefully managed global activity through reliable reporting tools

Situation

Vallourec is a world leader in tubular solutions for companies in the energy sector. They pride themselves on being innovators and seek out partnerships with those of a like mind—to better serve their 19,000 employees spread out over nearly 20 countries. Building a travel policy that is simple to execute, as well as efficient and responsive to evolving traveler needs is very important to them. Vallourec also presents a unique challenge in that it must closely follow the fluctuations of the global oil and gas markets and requires a travel policy that can readily respond in kind.

Approach

For more than a decade, Vallourec has partnered with American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) and attributes this relationship as integral to its business success. GBT offers Vallourec cutting-edge technology to help them easily review expenses and plan travel more wisely—throughout all their offices.

GBT’s Neo is the go-to technology for managing travel budgets and tracking traveler activity. This solution saves money by enabling the client to negotiate the best rates for travel, hotels and car rentals and ensures uniform service standards from office to office. And Neo’s capabilities can quickly address the traveler’s diverse needs and concerns daily.