American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) is taking the mobile-first approach, expanding its messaging capabilities and enhancing its Amex GBT Mobile platform to enhance the experience for business travelers and planners.
Live chatting with a GBT travel counselor via Apple Business Chat has expanded to more than 24 countries beyond the United States, including Canada, France, Germany and Britain. GBT planners can send messages and tips to travelers based on their location; in coming months, two-way conversations via push notifications will also be available.
Travel Vitals is key to the company’s mobile-first strategy. With this platform, travelers can now access up-to-date information to ensure they’re traveling safely. Users of the app can use a know-before-you-go feature that highlights specific data from Travel Vitals to create a pre-trip summary about relevant regulations and restrictions.
Connect Portal is another online hub through which travelers can communicate, as well as access their company’s online booking information, policies and news, plus personal itineraries, invoices and profile information. Further expansion of these popular messaging channels is planned before year’s end.
The app’s integration capabilities include the ability to book accommodations and transportation, such as air, rail, taxis, black cars and ride shares.
“Mobile and messaging channels have untapped potential to be a conduit between the travel manager, traveler and travel counselor in today’s constantly changing travel information environment,” said Andrew Crawley, GBT’s chief commercial officer. “COVID-19 has been a catalyst for the expansion of our messaging capabilities and platform. We are thinking differently about information as a service and want to help our clients support the needs of their travelers by being present in the channels they trust.”
