The recent Smart, Safe, and Sustainable Summit was an inspiring convergence of industry leaders, technology innovations, and thought leaders in the global mobility and business travel sectors. The event provided a wealth of insights, innovative solutions, and collaborative opportunities, making it a pivotal moment for all attendees. The closing remarks, delivered by Carol Fergus, Director of Global Travel, Meetings and Ground Transportation at Fidelity, encapsulated the essence of the day, highlighting key takeaways.
Carol began by describing the event as an "AltoVita 360 day," a comprehensive experience filled with invaluable information and insights. She acknowledged the challenge of summarising such a rich and diverse day but approached it as a mental storyboard, capturing the highlights and essence of each session.
- Consolidating Travel and Mobility for a Better Employee Experience
- Cost-Savings through Consolidated Accommodation Programmes
- Streamlining Complex Group Moves for Enhanced Traveller Wellbeing
- Embracing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in travel programmes
- AltoVita's Pioneering Tech and Collaboration: From Revolutionary Rate Forecasting and Historical Data Analysis with Alto360 to Ecostats Development in 10 days
- Inclusivity, Transparency & The Human Element in AltoVita’s Operations
Carol underscored the critical importance of integrating business travel with global mobility, focusing on synergy, value, efficiency, and strategic consolidation. She posed pertinent questions about the role of the workplace in shaping decisions in these sectors, laying the groundwork for a deep dive into these themes.
During a panel discussion, Souhilla Taarabit, Group Head of Corporate Travel Services at Al-Futtaim Group, shared insights into her motivation for adopting a unified approach. Emphasising the importance of smooth relocations for employee well-being, she recounted her personal relocation experience from Europe to Dubai and its associated challenges. This narrative highlighted her commitment to enhancing relocation experiences as part of her broader consolidation efforts.
Diogo Matos, Global Mobility Services Manager at Solvay, discussed the benefits of merging business travel with global mobility, noting the cost savings, streamlined processes, and simplified operations. This consolidation aims to refine and optimise accommodation programs, significantly enhancing employee experiences.
Furthermore, during the fireside chat with Samanthan Van Leeuwen from, we learned that PwC's partnership with AltoVita showcases a prime example of cost-saving benefits through the consolidation of corporate accommodation programmes. Carol describes it as “Sam’s vision” as it taught the audience the different modules that there are in terms of the accommodations programmes.
Before embarking on a consolidation journey, it's essential to evaluate your company’s readiness in terms of culture and internal processes. For large organisations, combining mobility and travel efforts requires careful decision-making and practical implementation. Ensuring alignment between travel policies, supplier selection, and overall strategy is crucial.
In 2023, PwC implemented a centralised corporate accommodation programme with AltoVita, creating an integrated ecosystem. This rapid 5-months integration streamlined operations and reduced accommodation expenses by up to 48%.
AltoVita's tools, like AltoInsights and the EcoStats carbon calculator, have been key in optimising PwC's programme, monitoring CO2 emissions, and managing accommodation spending effectively.
Centralised spending across departments allows PwC to leverage its purchasing power, reduce intermediaries, cut costs, and enhance operational efficiencies. By focusing on serviced apartments and using AltoVita’s technology, PwC has shown the cost-saving potential of integrating business travel and global mobility.
PwC's strategic move to centralised corporate accommodation management with AltoVita serves as a model for other organisations aiming to optimise expenses.
A standout session for Carol was with Beverly King, VP of Client Partnerships at AltoVita and Seb Hammond, Head of Customer Success Operations at AltoVita, who highlighted the importance of partnership and inclusivity. They have created something without even realising, said Carol regarding the A to Z toolkit for both clients and suppliers, addressing crucial elements such as traveller wellbeing, sustainability, and technology. Carol praised this toolkit as a valuable resource for all stakeholders in the travel and mobility sectors.
In the past, managing group moves was a labour-intensive and cumbersome process. Companies had to rely on manual coordination, spreadsheets, local agents, paper documentation, and limited visibility. AltoVita’s technology has revolutionised the way group moves are managed. The process has become significantly more efficient and streamlined.
Introduced in 2023, the group bookings tool that uses our AltoCurate technology, revolutionises how AltoVita handles large booking requests. It enhances guest experience by providing greater visibility and control to our customers. With access to granular data reporting, customers can effortlessly navigate through comprehensive information on all bookings, guests with check-in and check-out dates, and detailed statuses.
Businesses also need to embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in their travel programmes. “I am safe, I belong, I matter” said Magdalena Jennings, Global Mobility Business Partner at Equinix during the Road Warrior panel discussion which resonated with the entire audience.
It’s critical to collect detailed information about the individual’s cultural and personal preferences before relocation. For example, understanding dietary restrictions, religious practices and family arrangements can significantly reduce the stress of moving. For example, take into consideration local amenities, such as access to Halal food and nearby places of worship.
It’s also important to look beyond just the employee, and consider their family and personal needs during relocation. Even the ability to offer interconnected rooms for an employee's visiting children shows how an organisation is putting employees first, said John Kerr, Head of Global Mobility, Pinsent Masons, during the summit.
However, there’s also a growing trend to focus on "Inclusion and Culture", according to Linda Bekoe, CEO, About Partners Luxury Brands Collection, and Chair of the Global Business Travel Association’s Inclusion and Culture committee. She argued at the summit that changing the language can make the concept more palatable and engaging for organisations and employees., while it also emphasises the importance of including everyone rather than just checking DEI boxes.
The breakout sessions provided deep dives into various topics, including emergency relocation, mental health, supply chain management, and regional insights into North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pac. Carol found these sessions particularly enlightening, especially regarding the Middle East, an area where she sought to expand her knowledge. The sessions facilitated knowledge sharing and provided actionable insights for both suppliers and buyers.
Carol applauded AltoVita's technological advancements, including AltoVerse, AltoCurate, AltoSearch, AltoOne, and AltoInsight. She highlighted the significance of Alto360, a tool in development that promises to revolutionise rate forecasting and historical data analysis. Carol emphasised the importance of tools that drive behaviour and policy, making them indispensable for managing business travel and global mobility effectively.
“One of the key reasons for me moving to AltoVita is because of the technology. They can build something that nobody else has and they can customise it.” on why she has decided to start working with AltoVita.
The rapid development of Ecostats in just ten days was a highlight, demonstrating AltoVita's capability to deliver technology and support swiftly. The collaborative approach at AltoVita was emphasised, celebrating the company's inclusiveness, flexibility, transparency, and integration—qualities that every partner values.
Regarding the Ecostats development, she emphasised on the fact that anyone that can provide development, technology and support in just 10 days deserves an “applause”.
Carol underscored the inclusivity and transparency inherent in AltoVita’s operations. She shared her personal decision to transition to AltoVita, citing our transparency and honesty as key factors along with our technology. According to Carol, AltoVita is known for their "yes" attitude, always finding ways to support their clients.
Regarding putting people at the heart of everything that we do, Carol’s remarks echoed Vivi Himmel’s, CEO and Co-founder at Altovita sentiments about the importance of people. Vivi highlighted that people are at the core of the organisation. According to Carol, while AI and technology play significant roles, the human element remains paramount. Understanding influencers, decision-makers, and those driving change is crucial for successful implementation of any technology or strategy.
“People run through the veins of everything that we do. AI and technology definitely have their place, but without the people, you can't do any of that.” said Carol so eloquently when stressing on the importance of people.
In her concluding thoughts, Carol reiterated the themes of the summit: being smart (leveraging technology), being safe (prioritising risk management and security), and being sustainable (focusing on long-term impacts on people, the planet, and the environment). She praised the summit for integrating these elements seamlessly, creating a cohesive and impactful event.
Carol closed the Summit by summarising that the day has been a testament to the power of collective learning and innovation. Why reinvent the wheel when we can learn from those who have already embarked on the journey? Let's take forward the insights and strategies discussed today to enhance our accommodation programmes and business practices.
Karolina and Vivi also shared their visions for the future of AltoVita, highlighting new obsessions with personalisation and the consolidation of extended and short stays. They emphasised the importance of working with the right partners to achieve these ambitious goals.
The AltoVita Smart, Safe, and Sustainable Summit not only showcased the latest advancements and strategies in global mobility and business travel but also reinforced the importance of collaboration, inclusivity, and human-centric approaches in driving the industry forward.