Business Travel Heroes 2022 Winners
Celebrating the people who get us where we need to be
We’re pleased to announce our Business Travel Heroes 2022 Winners! There was fierce competition for each category, and we extend huge congratulations not only to the lucky well deserved winners, but to all of the fantastic nominees–the true champions of travel!
Business Travel Heroes 2022 uncovers and celebrates exactly that: Business Travel Heroes. We all work with them. They run the show behind the scenes making sure you get from A to B with the least disruption possible! They work to push the boundaries of what is possible in business travel, all so you can have a smooth experience from door to door. These people are there behind the scenes working relentlessly to push their programme forward and to support their travellers.
Gett collaborated with Festive Road, to ensure the independence and credibility of the judging and manage the judging process and panel.
Winners
The Technology Wiz
The business travel hero making things happen behind the scenes. Improving processes and delighting the customer with their unbeatable UX.
Mithlesh Singh
Unilever
“It feels exciting to be chosen as a hero under this category. Business Travel Programs will have to evolve to meet the modern demand, technology will enable & unlock opportunities in the consumer journey to the service element of business travel”
Mithlesh stood out for his efforts to digitalize his business travel processes. The traveller was at the heart of everything as he mapped the employee journey and identified all of the pain points that were within the travel team’s control. Based on this, Mithlesh built a self-service platform for travellers including a live-chat function to ensure no question went unanswered. His focus on the UX was truly impressive.
The Protector
The business travel hero working to ensure that their travellers are looked after and supported should a crisis arise. Often, travellers aren’t even aware of these people, until they really need them!
Alice Linley-Munro
Oil Spill Response
“It is wonderful to win ‘The Protector’ award as acknowledgement of the work that went into keeping our staff moving during the pandemic. I was proud to be able to take the steps I did, amongst wider work being carried out by my colleagues at Oil Spill Response Limited.”
Alice stood out as someone, who really goes above and beyond to ensure her travellers are supported. During Covid, travel continued for her co-workers and Alice’s approach was creative and a model for others in how to manage through a pandemic. Alice supported the families of travellers via a helping hands network and also created a supporting document for loved ones of travellers. This was stripped of any corporate jargon and reassured families that their loved ones were being well looked after on their trip.
The Creator
The business travel hero who pushes the boundaries and challenges the status quo. They don’t copy and paste solutions but look for innovative ways to create new products and services.
Robin Bell
Epicor
“Thank you very much for this recognition. I am honored to have been selected for this award and look forward to continuing to invest in the modern business travel industry, tools and technology!”
Robin was chosen as she doesn’t just accept the status quo in business travel. She works with her suppliers and solutions with them to solve problems. In fact the product development team at her TMC run first passes of products by her in order to ger her feedback. When collaborating with Product Development teams across her supplier base, she thinks outside of her own travel program and provides feedback that she feels will benefit the industry as a whole.
The Collaborator
The business travel hero who partners with suppliers, providers, and departments to find solutions to issues. They strive to solve problems together and embody the true spirit of partnership!
Steve Mitleider
University of Chicago
“Every day, I remind myself to behave with humility. Ours is a service industry in a world under unprecedented stress. Receipt of this award, thank you, seems to suggest I am headed down the right path, with much work still ahead”
Steve has a personal ethos of collaboration and true partnership both with his suppliers, travellers and network of peers. We were particularly impressed with Steve’s approach to bringing suppliers in to talk about issues that extend beyond travel, for example he brought United Airlines in to present on their DE & I policy. This really demonstrates someone, who looks beyond typical supplier / buyer relationships to drive deeper connections.
The Rising Star
The business travel hero who is setting their foundations to be one of the best. This may be someone at the start of their journey in business travel, but they are the one to watch.
Anna Pochlodka-Watorek
AMS
“I am thrilled to be named a “Business Travel Hero”. The awards programme feels fresh, modern, and fun, and I am very happy to be part of it. Thank you so much – it’s a great privilege.”
Anna works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that AMS travellers are supported. Her calm and measured approach takes the emotion out of any situation and people are reassured that Anna really knows her stuff! Anna takes a holistic approach to travel, she understands the importance of engagement but can step back and see the bigger picture. She works to reengineer processes to make things simpler for travellers and stakeholders. Her nominator described her as the ‘true brains of the operation’ at AMS and we think she is one to watch!