Ascend Summer 2019 | Page 25

WANT TO START A STRATEGIC SOURCING PROGRAM? WHAT YOU SHOULD DO FIRST. BY ANTHONY PAOLA, CMP I f I’m a Travel Manager or Event Organizer, how do I start a strategic sourcing program to help me leverage my spend for hotels? You might be wondering, how can I take my small team of executive admins who plan our meetings to the next level of meetings management with the help of technology and some good policies? We in the industry refer to these requirements as a lighter version of a Strategic Meetings Management program, or “SMM LITE” Turn the page to discover some easy ways to get started. Elevating the Art of Business Travel 23