Social Networks Seem To Travel Well

Interesting article and even more interesting examples - and more evidence of Cisco "walking the talk" regarding Web 2.0 / Enterprise 2.0.

Buyers, Suppliers Boost Social Networking: Products, Internal Forums Enhance Traveler Interaction

Sabre Travel Network's February announcement that it will launch its social networking platform through its GetThere online booking tool and distribute it initially through travel management company American Express Business Travel shows corporate travel social networking's growing prominence (BTNonline, Feb. 20). Carlson Wagonlit Travel, in unveiling its 2008 technology plans, said it is developing networking applications to reside in an enhanced traveler tool (BTNonline, Feb. 14).

Cisco's travel program on Jan. 15 moved into social networking by rolling out a new travel Web site with blogging capabilities, discussion forums and feedback applications through its GetThere online booking tool. Since its birth, it has been the most-visited Web site in Cisco's finance department, said director of global travel, meetings and events Susan Lichtenstein.
Cisco's discussion forums, which are open to all employees, create message threads posing questions ranging from travel tips to policy. Lichtenstein powers her own blogs that change weekly, including a continual "transforming your experience" blog. Old blog posts and questions are archived and accessible to travelers. Other members of the global travel, meetings and events team create their own message threads.
Lichtenstein said the social networking capabilities are a communications tool, separate from travel policy and approval.
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As Cisco's travel social networking efforts gain momentum, Lichtenstein said the system would be segmented regionally to deliver the most relevant information to the appropriate travelers, in effect creating geographical groups or communities. On April 1, the travel department plans to launch new functionality to enable travelers to post travel plans and set up internal meetings with other employees.

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Westinghouse Electric in February launched a community discussion forum on its intranet open to all employees, including 2,500 travelers, aimed at those traveling or on extended assignment in China. The forums have been grouped into five subcategories: general, Beijing, Shanghai, Sanmen and Haiyang. The Westinghouse human resources department sponsors the discussion forum and its information technology team handles technical support.

While the forum is in its infancy, travelers have posted information including ATM machine locations, in-country practices and links to Google Earth with notes about landmarks near project and office locations.
Westinghouse supplier relations manager Dan Cooper, who also manages the travel program, said that although the forum can be seen as an employee service, he sees it as an opportunity "to remind travelers who our preferred suppliers are and what our travel policy is."

Meanwhile, Sabre plans to launch by mid-2008 its Cubeless social networking platform, which will reside in GetThere as an application module, as do its meetings and ground transportation booking applications. Sabre has used Cubeless internally for about six months and said it has loaded more than 10,000 user profiles into the system. Sabre Travel Studios, the company's emerging technology research and development team, developed the platform. American Express in the coming months will test the platform with a small group of clients before more widescale deployment, said head of public affairs Alicia Tillman.
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Expedia Corporate Travel, on March 3 is launching a "Wiki" platform for user-generated content and community forums enabling users to "create, link and edit experiences," said Robert Greyber, senior vice president of ECT in North America. The platform is an open network available at corporatetravelconsultant.com.

BCD Travel and HRG expect to deliver social networking solutions later this year and non-mega travel management companies, including Columbus, Ohio-based Travel Solutions and Omaha, Neb.-based Travel and Transport, have said they are working on providing forums through their travel portals.

Buyers, Suppliers Boost Social Networking: Products, Internal Forums Enhance Traveler Interaction