Travel Hub Manager

**Role**:

- Responsible for deployment, managing/running and development of our platform for business travel bookings and expense management (with interfaces to travel agencies, online booking systems, GDS systems, corporate credit card, accounting) as a shared service function.
- Managing customer relations and service provisions for Allianz operating entities, which participate in the Travel Management Service program.
- Field of responsibility covers end-to-end implementation process, as well as workflow and process management of the regional travel platform, including communication towards travelers.
- Also responsible for Fleet management Services which is part of GMS, alignment with Fleet management provider, communication with end-users.

**Key tasks**:

- Implementation of Allianz’ global travel program including deployment of digital travel& expense platform (Amadeus Cytric), including their interfaces (Travel Security, Global Hotel Solutions, etc.)
- Act as regional business owner for Cytric, interacting closely with the project and technical team, travel agency, service providers and internal interfaces to ensure accurate set-up of the system.
- Definition and administration of travel policy rules and requirements in booking channels as well as requirement management of functionalities and workflow for platform development.
- Manage standardization and harmonization of processes to reduce costs and to make use of competitive advantages in the area of travel-approvals, booking, on-trip services, payment, reimbursement for mobile, online and offline processes.
- Implementation of new products and supplier/service providers, as well as setting up respective interfaces and ensuring agreed service levels.
- Supplier management (steering, evaluation and development) both for travel and fleet management across different countries participating in the regional hub.
- Spend management, performance controlling, and reporting requirements to identify trends, gaps and opportunities (cost savings, policy compliance, etc.)
- Communicate operational requirements (security, tax, airline, hotel etc.) requirements clearly and in a timely fashion to key stakeholders and travelers through the various channels both for travel and fleet management.
- Act as secondary point of contact and support for all travel& fleet related issues for all company employees.
- Stakeholder management with interfaces and contact persons for travel& fleet services in Allianz entities (Allianz entities, Allianz group functions.

Key requirements/knowledge/experience
a) Qualification and work experiences
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration (or similar studies) or professional training as travel agent, and 5-10 years of work experiences.
- Minimum 5 years of work experience in travel management or in strategic sales for travel agency, travel online booking tool, or GDS providers.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and timelines.
- Strong knowledge and experience of service delivery processes in business travel, best practices, and new trends.
- Knowledge of leading travel& expense tools preferable (e.g. Concur, Amadeus Cytric, KDS, etc.)
- Work experience at a global corporation is advantageous.
- Languages: fluent written and spoken English - further languages are advantageous but not mandatory.

b) Skills and knowledge
- Strong understanding and profound knowledge for planning, booking, payment and expense processes in the field of business travel.
- Profound knowledge of and experience in business travel industry standards, best-practices, functionalities, workflows in GDS systems, digital online booking tool systems as well as in operations of business travel agencies.
- Profound product knowledge in the field of airlines, hotel, rental cars, and rail.
- Ability to interface / engage with stakeholders via excellent communication and interpersonal skills; high assertiveness and solution-oriented thinking as well as strong service orientation.
- Passion and enthusiasm for the area of responsibility and the ability to take initiative in their work to ensure the company has a successful travel program where employees engaging in the program have a seamless travel experience.
- Strong level of ownership while acting and working in a team and network. Strategic and innovative business development in business travel market.
- Excellent knowledge on Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.