Rosenbluth seeks to reduce its own travel spend
Rosenbluth International is using an online meeting tool so that its employees in different countries can work through the same training programmes without having to travel.
Use of the new tool, called PlaceWare, was pioneered by the travel management firm in the UK as a way of cutting costs following the September 11 terrorist attacks and is now also being used throughout Europe. Employees on the training courses not only see the same pages on their computer screens, but are also linked through conference call technology so they can speak to each other and discuss problems.
Rosenbluth general manger for HR strategy and associate development Stephen Filby said there was no contradiction in a travel management firm seeking to reduce its own business travel spend. He told TravelMole: “As a travel management company you are targeted to reduce travel spend. We can introduce this tool to our clients on a shared saving basis.
He added: “I have done training with staff in Sydney when its 9pm at night here and 8am in the morning there and it’s worked fine. There are only 60 people in Australia so it doesn’t warrant a full time training programme.”
Rosenbluth has also looked at ways of reducing staff turnover as another way of keeping its costs down in a difficult economic climate. Managers are being given training in motivating, coaching and teambuilding and Rosenbluth claims the courses have had a marked improvement on staff retention levels. Between January and July 2001 3% of employees working under managers who had completed the course left the company, while the exit-rate was four times higher (12%) for staff working under managers who had not been on the programme.
Mr Filby said: “We estimate it costs about six months salary to replace someone who has left the company so this has saved the organisation millions of dollars.”
For more on Rosenbluth, see this week’s TravelMole Interview.
See previous stories:
22 Mar 2002: Zero commission hits agents in US
06 Feb 2002: Rosenbluth and BTI address post September 11 security fears
16 Oct 2001: Rosenbluth implements 10% pay cuts
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports