HRG, the international corporate services company, has today formally launched an innovative European Service Centre (Euro Centre) in Budapest – the first such operation of its type in Hungary – offering the company’s clients a value focused service option to meet their travel management needs.

The Euro Centre network, which in addition to Budapest includes specialist centres operating in the cities of Berlin (Germany), Glasgow (UK) and Stockholm (Sweden), demonstrates HRG’s commitment to using advanced technology to provide clients with a range of added value features and a comprehensive, flexible service designed to meet their needs.

The Euro Centres’ non-aligned technology and innovative processes allow clients to take advantage of creative, cross-border ticketing solutions. The specialist centres are multi-currency capable, can manage ticketing in the client’s local currency and offer self booking options for clients short on time.

Key to the Euro Centres success is the ability for calls to be routed to the most appropriate country just by dialling one single telephone number. Depending upon client/journey requirements, the Euro Centres can book all or any element of a journey – from low cost flights and hotel rooms, to chauffeur parking or dedicated transfers – with the option of integrated transactions via more than one Euro Centre as appropriate.

 Supporting the company’s extensive branch network, the new Budapest Euro Centre, which is operated by HRG Hungary (formerly trading as BTI Hungary) is a low cost, low contact booking option with particular expertise in facilitating simple point-to-point journeys. An advanced, networked, interactive voice recognition (IVR) telephone system, enables seamless call flows between Budapest and the other Euro Centres and allows the company to take advantage of European time zones to provide extended hours of service.

With a key focus on efficiency, the Budapest Euro Centre offers advanced data capture to measure and monitor:

• Key performance indicators – designed to ensure maximum efficiency is achieved 
• Productivity and behavioural metrics such as sales conversion rate, call duration and booking complexity.

Whilst the Budapest Euro Centre concentrates on simple transactions, the Euro Centres in Berlin, Glasgow and Stockholm have been designed specifically for multinational corporations with more complex travel requirements and a consolidated European service. Together, the four Euro Centres offer a seamless integrated network designed to meet all HRG clients’ needs.

In addition to the multi-language capabilities in the Euro Centres, consultants have also received training to ensure an in-depth knowledge of different European cultures and customs, enabling them to respond to the diverse needs and requirements of European clientele.

David Radcliffe, Chief Executive of HRG, said of the launch: “This is a significant milestone in service delivery for HRG. We are committed to providing clients with the very best solutions to meet their individual needs and, as a result, maximising their return on expenditure. It is therefore important that we continue to develop and enhance our service capabilities to deliver the optimum balance between quality, price and service.”

 He continued: “Clients are increasingly consolidating their business travel programmes, both regionally and globally, meaning we believe that a centralised travel procurement model will best serve the changing needs of our clients and allow for greater corporate control and potential cost savings.

 “The Budapest Euro Centre, with its focus on simple transactions, is a key element of our approach to provide a range of fully rounded service options to meet our clients’ individual requirements.”

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For further information please contact:

Darrel Connell / Pippa Lawrence
Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7467 9200
Email: darrel.connell@bisslancaster.com

Laurie Waugh, Public Relations Manager
Hogg Robinson plc
Tel: + 44 (0) 1256 312 623
Email: laurie.waugh@hrgworldwide.com

Notes to Editors:
HRG Hungary (formerly trading as BTI Hungary) with its head office in Budapest is one of the leading business travel management specialists in Hungary. Founded in 1900, its key business activities include the organization and management of business travel for which it employs around 400 full-time staff. In addition, HRG Hungary operates a dedicated events division specializing in the organization of meetings, incentive travel, congresses and events (MICE).

Hogg Robinson plc is the award-winning international corporate services company whose interests include wholly-owned corporate travel operations in over 20 key driver markets throughout Asia Pacific and Europe which formerly traded as BTI, and in North America where is it was known as BTI Canada, Sea Gate Travel and Robustelli World Travel. It is supported by a strong network of managed partners in a further 68 countries around the world most of which also formerly traded as BTI.

On 3 April 2006, Hogg Robinson’s worldwide network rebranded and is now trading as HRG (Hogg Robinson Group).

Totally committed to a value offering for clients, the HRG worldwide network offers a comprehensive range of services which includes travel management and fulfilment services; low cost transactions; consultancy; expense management and processing; sports travel management services; conferences, meeting, incentives and event management.

BACKGROUND BRIEFING: EURO CENTRES, HRG’S NEW EUROPEAN SERVICE DELIVERY CONCEPT

The Euro Centre network, launched earlier this year by international corporate services provider HRG (Hogg Robinson Group), forms a key part of the company’s strategy to provide a range of service options to meet client needs. It does not replace the company’s existing network of branches servicing HRG clients but provides another alternative. HRG clients can elect to use one or more of the centres, for example:

• One Euro Centre (including Budapest) to handle all European processing
• More than one Euro Centre with serviced countries segmented to take advantage of, for example, different language requirements
• More than one Euro Centre but instead of segmenting by country, the client may segment, if desired, by business or division. For example VIPs could book through Stockholm with other staff requesting to use the facilities in Budapest
• The client may elect to use Glasgow, Stockholm and/or Berlin for client facing activities with some of the back office (non-client facing) activities, such as file finishing, handled by the low cost centre in Budapest.

A unique concept
The HRG Euro Centre network is unique in that it is a purpose built, interlinked network of four specialist European service centres designed to deliver to a wide variety of clients. These centres offer the following features and benefits:

• Dedicated centres providing the service of experienced, educated and skilled HRG staff
• Complimentary language skills with a mix of native language speakers
• Geographic spread providing UK, Nordic and Central European options
• Low cost options
• Multi-currency ability with ticketing in the local currency of each country served
• A networked Advanced Call Data (ACD) system to enable seamless call flowing from a central point. By taking advantage of European time zones the Euro Centres can provide extended hours of service as well as a call overflow facility at times of particularly high call volume
• A single operating structure designed to guarantee enhanced consistency and quality control
• Automated routine activities such as ticketing and quality control
• Skilled consultants will be able to focus fully on adding value in the client-facing aspects of the operation
• Ability to secure lower fares for clients by using creative and cross-border ticketing as well as through HRG’s fares database
• Focal point for processing/fulfilment of both telephone and on-line bookings
• All elements of the travel journey are bookable: air, low cost air, hotels, car and rail
• GDS and non-GDS transactions
• Use of advanced, non aligned technology.