Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) reports that its sales volume for the first half of 2011 was US$13.4 billion, representing a 10 percent increase compared to the same period in 2010 (on a constant currency basis). Transactions rose 5 percent to 30.8 million in the first six months of 2011.
Performance was strongest in Asia Pacific, where sales volume versus the first half of 2010 increased by 18 percent, followed by Latin America (12 percent), North America (11 percent) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (9 percent).
Commenting on these results, Douglas Anderson, CWT president and CEO, said, "Sales volume growth has accelerated along with year over year economic growth. Our continued strong customer focus has allowed us to maintain excellent client retention and satisfaction, while winning new sales and creating innovative solutions. Delivering innovative solutions for managed corporate travel continues to be a key priority for CWT."
Since the beginning of 2011, CWT notes that it has introduced a number of product innovations designed to make travelers' lives easier while supporting travel program objectives. CWT To Go allows travelers to access their CWT travel itineraries from their mobile devices as well as verify flight status, check in, research alternate flights, review and select dining options, find destination weather information, etc. CWT launched local and global versions of CWT Market, a dynamic, free application for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry users that aggregates best-of-market travel apps and mobile websites into one convenient app. CRS by CWT was launched as a new central reservation system for non-GDS hotels to facilitate bookings and boost program compliance.
In the first half of 2011 CWT acquired its partner agency Kaleva Travel, a Finland-based travel management company with a presence in several important European markets: Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.
CWT also stressed the importance of improving the traveler experience at the same time as focusing on savings was emphasized in two reports published by the CWT Travel Management Institute: the first, an annual survey, Travel Management Priorities 2011, and the second, an in-depth report entitled Traveler Services: Finding the Right Fit.
In 2010, sales volume for wholly owned operations and joint ventures totaled US$24.3 billion.
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