Reed Smith LLP: A U.S. privately held law firm known for its experience across a broad array of industry sectors

• Annual global travel budget $8 million
• 9 global locations outside of U.S.

Reed Smith’s reasons for consolidating travel globally

• Cost savings (Estimated at between 10-15%)
• Risk management
• Enhanced supplier agreements
• Consistency of service
• Uniform policy compliance
• Uniform credit card usage
• Easiest method to manage total travel expense
• Collection of travel data and preferred supplier usage reports
• Part of a larger consolidation initiative

Method
Reed Smith LLP is an existing customer of Ultramar Travel Management for the past year. All US originating travel is currently serviced via Ultramar’s New Jersey and San Francisco reservation centers. Reed Smith’s Executive Management Team wanted to reduce travel costs worldwide and requested GlobalStar to handle their various International locations.

Each one of Reed Smith’s global sites were matched with a GlobalStar partner location. Europe was selected as the first region and London as the first matched location. Reed Smith’s Management Team in London also supervised three additional European locations. A GlobalStar representative from the US along with the GlobalStar partner in the UK presented a service and consolidation plan to the Global Travel Manager. After the client experienced a short usage period and full satisfaction, the two remaining locations, Paris and Munich were consolidated with local GlobalStar partners.

After six months and a successful European rollout, a plan was established and set in motion for Asia/Pac, the client’s second largest region. Reed Smith LLP’s U.S. management appointed a travel representative in Hong Kong to spearhead the consolidation. GlobalStar also appointed an Asia/Pac representative to coordinate the one client location with a GlobalStar local partner. A full implementation plan will be presented to Reed Smith’s Asia/Pac manager with specific pricing and service issues for each location when the decision has been taken to move ahead.

Ultramar Travel Management, as the lead partner, appointed a Global Account Manager, Michael Bergin, who coordinated all locations between GlobalStar and the client. Policy changes, new and changed supplier agreements, service initiatives and report requirements are managed through the Global Account Manager. The UK and US travel teams have brainstormed on an upgraded report package to suit the client’s management needs.

Traveler satisfaction surveys will be performed for each location. Reed Smith LLP will measure the success of the program to determine savings from policy compliance and consolidated supplier usage.