❓ WA Parliamentary Question reveals instances where government departments (Synergy, Western Power, Horizon Power) used alternative booking platforms (Airbnb, Wotif, etc.) instead of the mandated Corporate Travel Management (CTM) for accommodation, citing cost savings or administrative reasons.
AnsweredQoN 1997Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the use of booking agents, booking platforms or multinational online travel agencies by departmental staff and Ministers, and I ask: (a) in the last year have ministerial departments used the services of booking agents, booking platforms or multinational online travel agencies other than Corporate Travel Management (CTM) for the provision of accommodation for the Minister, ministerial staff and departmental staff; and (b) if yes to (a), please list the following information: (i) the name of the booking agency, booking platform or multinational online travel agency; (ii) the number of times it was used; (iii) for which portfolio area of responsibility; (iv) who the booking was made for; (v) and the reason for the travel; and (vi) the reason why CTM was not used for the booking?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 April 2019
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
9 days
Synergy
(a) Yes
(b) See below table.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
AIRBNB
1
Energy
Synergy
Muja power Station site visit
Administration staff unavailable to make booking through CTM
Wotif.com
1
Energy
Synergy
Denham site visit
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Agoda.com
1
Energy
Synergy
Denham site visit
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Pacific Travel DMC
1
Energy
Synergy
Insurance presentations to the underwriters in London
Cheaper rate was secured through an alternate supplier than that offered by event host
Booking.com
5
Energy
Synergy
Bright Energy Investments
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Energy
Synergy
Wind industry forum 2019
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Energy
Synergy
HR Summit 2018 Conference
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Energy
Synergy
Site meeting
Administration staff unavailable to make booking through CTM
Energy
Synergy
Generation Leadership Team Operations and Strategy Meeting
Staff did not have previous CTM booking access. Booking.com was used at no additional cost
Wester Power
(a) Yes
(b)
(i) Bookaroom
(ii) Once
(iii) Energy
(iv) Western Power
(v) Site visit to Badgingarra.
(vi) Cheaper rate secured through alternate supplier.
Public Utilities Office
(a)-(b) Please refer to Legislative Council Question on Notice 1994.
Horizon Power
(a) Yes
(b) See below table.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
FCM Travel Solutions
(part of the Flight Centre Travel Group)
1,335
Energy
Horizon Power employees and contractors
Work Related – examples include site inspections and audits; meetings and work
Horizon Power is a Government Trading Entity and not bound to use Common Use Arrangements (CUA) providers, such as CTM, and engages FCM Travel to leverage their scale and corollary discounts for our corporate travel requirements.
(a) Yes
(b) See below table.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
AIRBNB
1
Energy
Synergy
Muja power Station site visit
Administration staff unavailable to make booking through CTM
Wotif.com
1
Energy
Synergy
Denham site visit
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Agoda.com
1
Energy
Synergy
Denham site visit
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Pacific Travel DMC
1
Energy
Synergy
Insurance presentations to the underwriters in London
Cheaper rate was secured through an alternate supplier than that offered by event host
Booking.com
5
Energy
Synergy
Bright Energy Investments
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Energy
Synergy
Wind industry forum 2019
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Energy
Synergy
HR Summit 2018 Conference
Cheaper rate secured through an alternate supplier
Energy
Synergy
Site meeting
Administration staff unavailable to make booking through CTM
Energy
Synergy
Generation Leadership Team Operations and Strategy Meeting
Staff did not have previous CTM booking access. Booking.com was used at no additional cost
Wester Power
(a) Yes
(b)
(i) Bookaroom
(ii) Once
(iii) Energy
(iv) Western Power
(v) Site visit to Badgingarra.
(vi) Cheaper rate secured through alternate supplier.
Public Utilities Office
(a)-(b) Please refer to Legislative Council Question on Notice 1994.
Horizon Power
(a) Yes
(b) See below table.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
FCM Travel Solutions
(part of the Flight Centre Travel Group)
1,335
Energy
Horizon Power employees and contractors
Work Related – examples include site inspections and audits; meetings and work
Horizon Power is a Government Trading Entity and not bound to use Common Use Arrangements (CUA) providers, such as CTM, and engages FCM Travel to leverage their scale and corollary discounts for our corporate travel requirements.
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