P Squared… Plan… Prepare

As a society, we prepare and make contingency plans for those events or situations that are beyond our control. That’s what insurance—health, car, homeowners, flood, etc. is for. Similarly, on the financial front, there are emergency savings accounts and retirement plans that help us plan and prepare for our financial futures and unanticipated circumstances.

And, today, as I’m writing this, the world is about to confront yet another potential crisis into uncharted waters: H1N1 (Swine Flu), and we are being asked to plan and prepare. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a plethora of information geared to personal and business use, and so does the World Health Organization (WHO), as do many healthcare providers. Simple precautions like washing hands frequently, covering mouths when coughing, using hand sanitizers, getting the flu vaccination, and staying home from work or school should we experience symptoms, are those things we can do to be prepared. ABC Corporate Services has implemented a simple policy regarding this unique health crisis so that all employees are informed and aware of steps to take.

The Business of Travel is no different. It is important to have strategic and tactical processes in place should emergency strike. TESS – ABC’s Travelers Emergency Service System is all too aware of the ways that circumstances beyond our control happen and can be handled. This team works 24/7 to support many of our customers, not only after hours, but when unexpected events occur. Recently they responded to a customer whose main offices and travel agents were incapacitated when a violent storm and record flooding shut them down for nearly 48 hours. Our TESS agents were called into action immediately to service travelers and process PNRs until our customer was back on their feet. They met a very clear customer need. Refer to the cover of this newsletter for a more detailed case study. 

Does your organization have a contingency plan if your agents are unable to make it to work or weather catastrophe strikes? Make sure you do. If you need help with after hours and emergency service, feel free to contact your ABC account service representative. Seamlessly, ABC has been a part of our customers’ disaster plans for more than 30 years, and we do it for leisure as well as corporate travel.

It is equally important to make sure your clients and their travelers have the intelligence they need so they are secure as they travel around the world. On both local and global levels, events like strikes, political unrest or natural weather disasters happen. Effective travel risk management tools from eTravel Technologies, an ABC preferred partner provide, offer security updates before and during travel. Contact your account service representative for more information about eTravel’s solutions or for more details about TESS. They will help you develop the contingency plans that meet your needs, not just for today but into the future.

On behalf of everyone at ABC Corporate Services, I wish you a happy, healthy, safe and secure Holiday Season and prosperous New Year!

Best Regards,

Beverlee S. Patterson

President & COO