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Buyers, Suppliers Boost Social Networking: Products, Internal Forums Enhance Traveler Interaction.

Article Excerpt
Social networking has arrived in the corporate travel industry as some buyers are using internal community forums, discussion boards and blogs to facilitate communication between travelers and to promote policy, including Cisco Systems, which launched a travel-specific internal platform in January. Meanwhile, some travel suppliers are providing social networking products, and others plan to later this year.

Sabre Travel Network's February announcement that it will launch its social networking platform through its GetThere online booking tool and distribute it initially through travel management company American Express Business Travel shows corporate travel social networking's growing prominence (BTNonline, Feb. 20). Carlson Wagonlit Travel, in unveiling its 2008 technology plans, said it is developing networking applications to reside in an enhanced traveler tool (BTNonline, Feb. 14).

Although social networking benefits will continue to be debated in the industry for some time, due to concerns related to justifying expense, administration and enabling employees to openly question policy...