SEPTEMBER 2014 Super- GIRL Fikile Nkala is on a quest to streamline Super Group’s travel commodity Ebola outbreak – tighten up your duty of care Premium economy: is it worth it? Low-cost carriers enter long-haul market How to liven up your year-end: 5 budget-friendly ways TB1769SD Contents COMMENT: A new chapter T can be a cliché to say that during industry events and new COVER all good things come to members including those from an end but in this case it is new regions slowly joined the This month we profile Super Group, a global logistics true in the sense that this ranks and stood up to have their and mobility group. Looking after the group’s travellers is Iis my last issue of Travel Buyer, voices heard too. Fikile Nkala from the Group Procurement division. as I move on to work on new It really has been an honour to Cover photograph by Shannon Van Zyl. projects. I have been with the have been part of the industry’s publication for many years yet development for so long and so News 2 it seems like yesterday that we it is with a great sense of pride • MasterCard launches digital payment first in SA were excitedly setting the that I leave you, our readers, • Ebola – SA issues travel advisory wheels in motion for the launch advertisers, friends and industry • Save the dates: GBTA and ABTA of a new specialist business colleagues in the capable hands travel publication aimed at of Natasha Tippel who will the corporate travel manager, continue as editor, supported News 4 a newly and loosely defined by Debbie Badham who has • Duty of care during the Ebola outbreak role within corporations at been promoted to assistant the time. editor. They will take Travel Buyer We have grown with the forward on the next phase of its Q&A 6 sector, sharing its successes journey with you. • The Super Group story and hardships, watching with There is never enough space interest while trying to facilitate for the words I want to write, so I the empowerment of travel will keep it simple. Meet 8 buyers within our industry. I Thank you, thank you, thank • Plan greener meetings and events have loved hearing your stories you. • The good, the bad and the unusual Everything of the very best, and it has been a privilege to • Budget-friendly ways to liven up your year-end share them with readers as our always. • Sweetening the deal community grew. I have watched with fascination as debates KIM COCHRANE became more sophisticated ([email protected]) On the radar - LCCs 13 Low-cost carriers enter long-haul market PUBLISHER’S NOTE KIM Cochrane has been associated with Travel Buyer since its first On the radar - Premium classes 16 edition 13 years ago, when it was launched as Business Travel Now. As Premium economy: is it worth it? consulting editor, she has guided and grown the publication, with an unswerving focus on South African corporate travel buyers, making Travel Buyer a monthly ‘must read’ for those responsible for managing On the radar - Rail travel 20 significant corporate travel expenditure. Full steam ahead Kim’s vision, expertise and exceptional work ethic will be missed. We thank her for her commitment, for setting the bar high for a professional publication and wish her everything of the best in her Deal detective 24 future endeavours. – David Marsh Travelinfo’s latest top travel deals PUBLISHER Kate Nathan GROUP PUBLISHER David Marsh EDITOR Natasha Tippel Brought to you by Now Media, Travel Buyer + Meet is a CONSULTING EDITOR Kim Cochrane Editorial ASSISTANT Debbie Badham Editorial CONTRIBUTORS Linda van der Pol, Dorine Reinstein, Michelle Colman, Liesl Venter DESIGN professional travel publication aimed at South African & LAYOUT Tanya Bosch PHOTOGRAPHER Shannon Van Zyl SALES [email protected] travel procurement decision-makers in travel-buying ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Courtney Canham SUBSCRIPTIONS [email protected] companies. This publication aims to reflect an unbiased ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RSA R295.00 (Free to target readership only), African R680.00, perspective of the corporate travel industry offering International R890.00 PRINTED BY Juka Printing (Pty) Ltd PUBLISHED BY Travel & Trade insight and tools encouraging readers to manage their Publishing (Pty) Ltd, Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Rd, Illovo Boulevard, Illovo, Johannesburg, travel spend better. Travel Buyer is the media partner of PO Box 55251, Northlands, 2116, South Africa. Tel: +27 11 327 4062, Fax: +27 11 327 4094, ABTA, ACTE and the GBTA e-mail: [email protected], web: www.travelbuyer.co.za TB1829SD September 2014 • TRAVEL BUYER 1 News MasterCard launches digital payment first in SA ASTERCARD has payments without the repeated launched its digital hassle of entering these details wallet services – each time. MasterPass – in South SAA is among the first Africa,M the first market in Africa merchants to accept MasterPass and the Middle East to receive as a payment method at TIPPEL the technology. Launched in checkout. A 2013, MasterPass is available in For retailers, MasterPass H natas nine other countries – the US, UK, provides a more secure, faster : IC Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and easier way to check out P Italy, Singapore, China and customers. Celebrating the launch of MasterPass are (from left): Mark Hearne Poland. “Check-out happens with (MasterCard South Africa), Kim Thipe (SAA) and Andrew Wilmot Digital wallets accessible just a few clicks or taps (Standard Bank). through the MasterPass network whether at home, in a taxi, allow consumers to store all their at work or at a supermarket, MasterCard or other branded so merchants can look MasterCard South Africa’s head bank to offer a digital wallet credit, debit or cheque card forward to fewer customers of business development. As powered by MasterPass information, and shipping and abandoning their shopping carts, MasterPass evolves, it will also via the free Standard Bank billing address details securely which, according to research, enable in-app and in-store MasterPass app, which anyone in one place. This gives them affects over 67% of online purchases. can use even non-Standard the ability to make secure online purchases,” says Mark Hearne, Standard Bank is the first local Bank cardholders. Ebola – SA issues travel advisory, airlines cancel flights NO MORE he South African affected areas in West Africa. Africa but had stepped up temporary passports Department of Health Most recently, Kenya Airways measures to protect has issued a travel suspended commercial flights its passengers, crew and he Department of Home advisory against all to Liberia and Sierra Leone. ground staff against the Affairs will no longer issue Tbut essential travel to Liberia, The airline will continue Ebola virus. temporary passports from Guinea or Sierra Leone. At operating all its scheduled Staff will be on the lookout September 1. TA circular from the DHA states the time of going to print flights to Nigeria and Ghana, for passengers who have the Department released however, Kenya Airways’ specific and visible symptoms that SA citizens have been refused a statement saying: “South ceo, Titus Naikuni, said associated with the virus. entry into a number of countries Africans are not restricted from he reserved the right to Passenger interviews and when travelling on temporary travelling to these countries, cancel flights to any other tests will follow, conducted passports. “Temporary passports however all returning travellers destination should the by the health authorities. In have been abused for corruption from these countries will be situation warrant it. the event that there is any purposes, which puts South Africa subjected to rigorous screening Earlier in August, Asky, doubt regarding the medical at risk of its travel documents and medical assessments Arik Air, and British Airways condition of any suspected being unreliable.” before being allowed entry into suspended flights to Liberia passenger, SAA may deny the Only an Emergency Travel the country.” and Sierra Leone. Emirates passenger boarding. Certificate (ETC) will be issued to an applicant under circumstances Meanwhile, various airlines suspended flights to Guinea. g For more on the Ebola story, have cancelled flights to Ebola- SAA continued to fly to West see page 4. of emergency travel purposes. TB1826SD 2 September 2014 • TRAVEL BUYER KENYA rethinks visas for SA travellers Save these dates: GBTA and HE Kenyan High are negotiating, hence a pause Commission has as we await feedback from the ABTA conferences suspended visa negotiations.” requirements for South In June it was announced OR the first time, the inaugural ABTA Africa Business TAfrican nationals – for now. that SA passport holders Global Business Travel Travel Conference. The Deputy High would, from September 1, Association (GBTA) The conference takes place Commissioner for Kenya need to acquire a visa before Southern Africa annual from November 2-4, 2014 at in South Africa, Helen travelling to Kenya; in a tit-for- Fconference will be held in the the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel. Gichuhi, told Travel Buyer the tat move as a reaction to the greater Sandton area. Over 200 delegates from suspension of the visas could new immigration laws in South The 2014 conference will be across Africa and the globe are just be a temporary reprieve. Africa. The decision has been held at the Bryanston Country expected to attend. “The Kenyan government and heavily criticised by tourism Club, Johannesburg, from The theme is Education- the South African government and travel stakeholders. October 15-16. Strategy-Power. The event The venue had been chosen will have a corporate travel to enable travel buyers to education and networking minimise time away from the focus where delegates will Australia launches online visa applications office, while maximising the experience a host of highly benefits from attending the pertinent sessions pertaining OUTH African passport three months, although this can event, the GBTA SA said.