Puneet Mehta

Strategic Leadership, Coordination and Support:

• Together with the team, spearhead strategic support in crafting and implementing the Global Travel Roadmap.
• Act as the ambassador for the Global Travel Process, fostering a culture of efficiency and compliance within the organization.
• Balance priorities adeptly between headquarters and local countries, demonstrating a keen understanding of regional nuances.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Continuous Improvement:

• Develop and maintain robust internal relationships with stakeholders, including HR, Finance, Management, Sourcing, and International Mobility across diverse cultures to streamline processes.
• Play a key role in global travel projects focused on efficiency, process optimization, and savings initiatives.
• Support potential sourcing initiatives for enhancements in travel processes.

Operational Excellence:

• Provide support through incident management and emails for the Global Travel Process and Online Booking Tool.
• Deliver training sessions to key users and new employees, enhancing overall understanding and compliance.

Supplier Management:

• Act as the primary contact between the company and the travel suppliers, ensuring effective communication and resolution.
• Engage in RFPs, contract negotiations and conduct data analysis with diverse suppliers, including Travel Management Companies (TMCs), hotels, and car suppliers, to optimize costs, identify savings opportunities and enhance overall operational efficiency.

Financial Acumen and Implementation:

• Oversee and administer Lodge & Virtual Card payment solutions within the organization, ensuring effective management, compliance and maintenance of these financial systems.
• Together with Finance team, demonstrate strong management skills in implementing and integrating the online travel booking tool seamlessly with T&E system and payment solutions, thereby optimizing the end-to-end travel process.
• Participate in the successful deployment of technology solutions to enhance efficiency and accuracy in travel arrangements, expense reporting, and financial transactions.

Compliance and Audit:

• Ensure compliance by monitoring Online Booking Tool performance and supplier Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Provide support in global audits for travel bookings and reporting, ensuring adherence to policies and guidelines.

Insurance and Risk Management:

• Serve as the point of contact for travel insurance-related inquiries, demonstrating expertise in managing insurance-related matters.
• Coordinate with ISOS, ensuring seamless support and assistance for travelers in emergency situations, enhancing overall travel safety and well-being.

Strategic Policy Development:

• Formulated and implemented comprehensive travel policies for corporate travel, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory compliance.

Technology Management:

• Successfully led the management, configuration, and maintenance of the Online Booking Tool (OBT), ensuring seamless integration of travel policies and facilitating user-friendly experiences for travelers.

Supplier Relationship Management:

• Established and nurtured relationships with travel suppliers, including preferred Travel Management Company (TMC), airlines, hotels, and car rental services.
• Negotiated rates to optimize travel-related expenses.

Geographical Expansion and Implementation:

• Spearheaded TMC expansion, implemented OBT across countries, and conducted global training sessions for effective tool utilization.

Cost Control and Compliance:

• Enforced strict travel policies, conducted compliance checks, and optimized processes for cost control. Monitored and corrected AD feed data for accurate traveler information flow to the TMC for traveller profile creation.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Analyzed data for travel budgets and MIS reports. Reported high-value and out-of-policy incidents to headquarters for corrective action.

Risk Management:

• Collaborated with ESH for incident response during travel disruptions, strikes, natural disasters, ensuring effective communication and resolution

SAP Concur Implementation:

• Globally implemented SAP Concur T&E tool, provided Level 2 support, managed 'Service Now' incidents and efficiently processed T&E reports.

Travel Management Leadership:

• Led a team of three in overseeing and managing end-to-end travel desk operations by managing international and domestic travel arrangements, including air bookings, hotels, cab bookings, and insurance while strictly adhering to approved travel policies.
• Orchestrated project parties, outings, team lunches, and MICE events.

Travel Data Oversight:

• Prepared and managed MIS reports and budgets related to travel for effective tracking and analysis.

Vendor Management and Negotiation:

• Cultivated relationships with travel vendors (hotels, car providers, travel agents, airlines) and conducted frequent checks to ensure quality services and negotiated secure preferred rates.

Vendor Payments and Reconciliation:

• Ensured timely reconciliation and submission of invoices for prompt vendor payment processing

Inter-department Coordination:

• Collaborated with various departments to ensure seamless management of travel and events within the organization.

Led international ticketing team, managing travel services for major corporate clients including POSCO, Cognizant, R-systems, ITC, and L'Oreal. Oversaw ticketing, visa processing, travel insurance, and forex services for both corporate accounts and walk-in clients.

Managed customer service desk, supported travel agents in Amadeus GDS, resolved GDS entries, fares, and errors. Investigated and handled Agency Debit Memos (ADMs). Guided agents in adhering to IATA and airline norms for fares and ticketing. Orchestrated cutover to IATA ticketing for Travel Agency.