BCD merges M&I and travel groups

WORLD – A meetings and travel organiser has merged two divisions to cut costs and streamline jobs. Former BCD M&I Global President Scott Graf (pictured) will take the reins at BCD Meetings & Events, with more than 700 employees and operations in over 40 countries. The new structure has been created by merging the meetings and incentive and travel groups. A spokesman for the group said the integration of the two departments cuts out duplication in products and services that had been offered separately by each organization. BCD M&I was billed as a pioneer of the “strategic meetings management concept” providing meeting and event management for single meeting and event opportunities, incentive travel and full strategic meetings management programmes. BCD Travel Groups provided in-country services for meetings, incentives, events and group travel. Graf said: “The time was right to integrate these two operational units. While we found great success in meeting market needs with separate meetings and group travel organizations, the new configuration positions us better for future growth and scalability. The meetings and events business is booming around the world, and our shareholder is committed to seeking out investment opportunities in the meetings and events space. The new brand positions us for growth.”