ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global business travel management company, BCD Travel, today announced the names of three recent university graduates chosen to participate in its highly selective Management Associate Program (MAP). The graduates will travel across the world for six weeks to learn from travel industry professionals, experience diverse cultures and get firsthand exposure to corporate travel.
“One of BCD Travel’s great strengths is our ability to attract and retain exceedingly talented people needed to fulfill our mission of helping businesses to travel smart and achieve more,” said Christian Dahl, SVP of Talent Management and Global Human Resources for BCD Travel. “This program attracts exceptional recent graduates and prepares them to embark in successful careers in the corporate travel industry. It also positions BCD Travel as an employer of choice for other bright and talented people looking for satisfying careers.”
BCD Travel partnered with the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) to develop MAP. The three associates will meet with executives in New York, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and New Delhi. Upon their return, they will begin internships at BCD Travel, with an opportunity to earn offers for permanent positions with the company.
“Despite its size and importance to every economy, the corporate travel industry often escapes the awareness of many students as an opportunity for building a career,” says Dahl. “Travel and Entertainment represents the second largest single expense for many companies, and total global expenditures on business travel exceed $1.2 trillion each year.”
The associates chosen for the 2018 MAP include:
Jenn O'Connell –a graduate in digital marketing from The University of Georgia, Terry College of Business, in Athens, Ga. A student of advertising and marketing, she has developed a passion for effective communication and building strong, lasting relationships. A volunteer swim coach, she hopes through MAP to build a greater understanding from different cultures and to boost her ability to identify and leverage the strengths of team members. “I want to learn from my peers and colleagues across the globe about how travel changes people’s perspectives of the world around them,” says O’Connell.
Chad Palucka – a graduate in international business from Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Pa. The former soccer captain plans to apply lessons about teamwork and performing his best on the field to his professional career. He will join BCD following an internship with an engineering and electronics company in Germany. “I am fascinated by other cultures, and feel that working with people of various backgrounds is an important part of any company's or individual's growth,” he says.
Korie Wilson – a graduate in meeting and event management from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich. Wilson worked and volunteered in event management and tourism. “I want a career that is constantly challenging me and pushing me to grow as an individual and professional who makes a difference,” she said.
About BCD Travel
BCD Travel helps companies make the most of what they spend on travel. For travelers, this means keeping them safe and productive, and equipping them to make good choices on the road. For travel and procurement managers, it means advising them on how to grow the value of their travel program. In short, we help our clients travel smart and achieve more. We make this happen in 109 countries with almost 13,500 creative, committed and experienced people. And it’s how we maintain the industry’s most consistent client retention rate (95% over the past 10 years), with 2017 sales of US$25.7 billion. For more information, visit www.bcdtravel.com.
About BCD Group
BCD Group is a market leader in the travel industry. The privately owned company was founded in 1975 by John Fentener van Vlissingen and consists of BCD Travel (global corporate travel management), Travix (online travel: CheapTickets, Vliegwinkel, BudgetAir, Flugladen and Vayama), Park 'N Fly (off-airport parking) and joint ventures Parkmobile International (mobile parking applications) and AERTrade International (consolidating and fulfillment). BCD Group employs over 13,000 people and operates in 100+ countries with total sales of US$25.4 billion, including US$10 billion partner sales. For more information, visit www.bcdgroup.com.
