Through detailed programme analysis, market insight, and strategic sourcing, WTW successfully redesigned its travel and meetings management initiative across multiple regions. The result was a more consistent delivery model, enhanced data capabilities, and a programme structured to adapt and scale for future growth.
WTW provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital. Leveraging global perspectives and local expertise in 140 countries and markets, they help sharpen strategy, strengthen organisational resilience, motivate workforces, and maximise performance.
Challenges
- Travel programme operating in “maintenance mode” with incumbent TMC
- Limited programme content and low transparency
- Fragmented local support model lacking hub efficiency
- Data access constraints limiting insight and reporting
- Underperforming SLAs misaligned with corporate priorities
The Mission
The organisation aimed to future-ready its travel and venue sourcing programme across 50 countries, improving efficiency, consistency, and oversight. Key goals included resolving service and data challenges, enhancing programme visibility, and ensuring the programme could scale in line with evolving business needs.
The Issue
Aligned with their corporate strategy of grow, simplify, transform, WTW’s travel and venue sourcing programme needed to be positioned for the future. The contract had been in place for nearly ten years, prompting a review of the market and available options. WTW sought broader supplier options, improved programme content, innovative technology and greater visibility across multiple regions.
The Solution
Festive Road addressed the challenges with an integrated strategy and sourcing approach. Our hive mind team analysed traveller and stakeholder experiences to uncover pain points and identify opportunities to align the programme with strategic objectives. A market review assessed the latest industry innovations, outlining the ‘Art of the Possible’ for the future programme.
Suppliers were then evaluated for cultural alignment, capability match and through scenario workshops the suppliers’ capabilities were tested. The workshop process gave the WTW team a deeper understanding of key partnership areas. Each supplier spent a full day with the team, with individual members leading specific sessions to gain insights into service quality, broader content, and robust reporting.
By combining market insight, structured commercial analysis, and stakeholder engagement, Festive Road collaborated with the client to design a programme that scales efficiently, increases transparency, and adapts to future needs. Practical solutions and strategic guidance were delivered throughout, enabling WTW to confidently manage its global travel and venue sourcing programme well into the future.
Outcomes
- Regional hubs improved operational efficiency and consistency
- Enhanced data & analytics delivered clearer insight and reporting
- Expanded content offerings enriched the traveller experience
- Total Cost of Ownership aligned with market benchmarks
- Expert guidance and strong market relationships ensured seamless delivery
The Result
The Festive Road team lived their customer promise (Trusted, Curious, Experts who deliver Results), by futureproofing the travel and venue sourcing programme.
The programme was reorganised into regional hubs, improving consistency and responsiveness. Enhanced data and analytics provided better oversight and more informed decision-making, increasing programme visibility. The incumbent TMC supplier expanded non-traditional content offerings and better aligned operations with WTW’s organisational objectives, while the total cost of ownership is now more in line with market conditions.
In Their Own Words
“I wanted to feedback how impressed I have been with the Festive Road colleagues on our account. They have really helped this RFP to move forward in a well-considered, diligent manner – but also at the pace needed. This has resulted in a better RFP outcome for WTW which we will benefit from over the next 5 years, with the WTW teams also learning a great deal from the Festive Road approach & market insights shared.”
Richard Goff
Chief Procurement Officer & Willis Limited CFO
“The team’s knowledge, expertise, and project management skills were outstanding throughout the entire project. I would highly recommend Festive Road.”
Clare Francis
Global Travel & Meetings Manager, WTW
“This project demonstrates the impact of combining deep market insight with a client-focused strategy. Our goal was to deliver tangible results while creating a programme that can evolve with the organisation’s needs.”
Lora Ellis
Head of Consulting, Festive Road
Festive Road is an independent company providing consulting and outsourcing services globally to travel and expense buyers.