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CWT
Telepresence enables clients to meet business objectives and contain
costs
Carlson
Wagonlit Travel (CWT), a global leader specializing in business
travel management, and Tata Communications today announced they
will team up to provide CWT Telepresence¡Xan enhancement to the company¡¦s
broader demand management offering¡Xwhich will allow CWT clients
to access the Tata Communications network of public Cisco TelePresence
Suites around the world. In an economic environment that requires
companies to look for ways to reduce costs, clients now have an
additional solution for effectively managing their travel and meeting
expenditures while realizing their business objectives. Furthermore,
CWT Telepresence offers flexibility, enabling organizations to bring
together employees who might not ordinarily travel to participate
in meetings.
CWT
Telepresence offers clients a full range of services from help in
determining if and when a virtual meeting meets their business needs,
through management of the reservations process in any of Tata Communications¡¦
public telepresence rooms, to regular reporting on adoption and
related cost savings. In addition, CWT reinforces its position as
a leading integrator of top-tier technology that enables clients
to optimize their travel and meeting programs.
¡§CWT
recognizes the intense pressure corporations are under to contain
rising T&E costs and maximize return on investment,¡¨ said Pauline
Quere, CWT vice president, Customer Product Marketing. ¡§By incorporating
telepresence into the full range of products and services in our
demand management offering, CWT provides a compelling alternative
and solidifies its role as a key partner in helping clients demonstrate
measurable return on investment. To that end, we are very pleased
to be moving forward with Tata Communications, an industry leader
in the telepresence arena.¡¨
John
Landau, senior vice president, Global Managed Services for Tata
Communications, added: ¡§Tata Communications became the world¡¦s first
provider of public Cisco TelePresence Suites in July 2008. Today,
we offer state-of-the-art private and public rooms that enable companies
to boost their productivity, cut costs, and conduct meetings as
often as needed while reducing their carbon footprint. Furthermore,
the seamless interconnectivity of our private and public rooms through
our telepresence exchange minimizes distances across the globe and
brings more people together quickly and easily.
¡§Using
Tata Communications¡¦ telepresence services increases the accessibility
of businesses beyond their major company offices to their wider
ecosystem of users, including customers, suppliers, remote workers
and business partners. We are excited to be working with Carlson
Wagonlit Travel and look forward to helping them add a new dimension
to their clients¡¦ managed travel programs,¡¨ Mr. Landau added.
Tata
Communications¡¦ managed telepresence technology allows small groups
to use high-definition video and real-time audio to meet at any
time of the day or night while in multiple locations worldwide.
Equipped with life-size images and immersive technology, participants
have the effective experience of sitting opposite one another in
the same room. In addition to connecting and managing on-site private
telepresence facilities for companies worldwide, Tata Communications
manages several public rooms available on a pay-per-use basis in
the United States, England, India, South Africa and the Philippines.
The company also recently announced plans with Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide to open additional rooms worldwide in Starwood
Hotels by the end of 2009.
CWT
clients will also have access to Tata Communications¡¦ Global Meeting
Exchange (GMX). The GMX is designed to conveniently support business-to-business
sessions on a global basis between any Cisco TelePresence rooms
(public or private), irrespective of the network service provider.
This pioneering global service will grow in reach over time and
will enable subscribers to expand the use of telepresence from an
internal meeting solution to one that reaches their global business
partners outside of their company.
Smart
demand management
Aligning
the underlying drivers of demand for travel with business objectives
means ¡§traveling smarter,¡¨ not necessarily traveling less. CWT Telepresence
complements a full range of products and services CWT offers to
help companies effectively balance business travel with business
needs and control costs.
CWT
Meetings & Events helps clients optimize savings, improve services,
increase control, enrich attendee experiences, and reach their company's
unique strategic objectives.
CWT
Solutions Group, the company¡¦s global consulting arm, can help clients
define and implement best practice demand management strategies
based on their travel needs and their company¡¦s specific objectives.
CWT
Policy Builder helps companies design a travel policy that sets
clear parameters and mandates to contain costs while driving business
performance. Communicating the policy to all travelers through CWT
Portal helps drive compliance.
Online
booking tools and CWT travel counselors can help travelers make
informed decisions at the time of booking by documenting the trip
purpose and proposing alternatives adapted to business needs.
Automated
emails targeted to individual travelers via the award-winning CWT
Policy Messenger encourage behavioral change that supports business
objectives.
Consolidated
data that tracks the quantity, frequency and specifications of travel
as well as realized savings is available through the award-winning
CWT Program Management Center.
Acknowledging
the role demand management plays in a well-managed travel program,
Ms. Quere said, ¡§The key to successful demand management is to be
holistic in your approach. At Carlson Wagonlit Travel, we are committed
to helping our clients make and implement the best choices that
will enable their employees to connect easily and efficiently with
key stakeholders and drive their business to new heights.¡¨
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