Top Travel and Hospitality Operators Go High Tech and Soft Touch

Top travel and hospitality companies for 2017 include Christopherson Business Travel, Snooze, an AM Eatery, and Breckenridge Grand Vacations.

Nora Caley //September 20, 2017//

Top Travel and Hospitality Operators Go High Tech and Soft Touch

Top travel and hospitality companies for 2017 include Christopherson Business Travel, Snooze, an AM Eatery, and Breckenridge Grand Vacations.

Nora Caley //September 20, 2017//

WINNER

CHRISTOPHERSON BUSINESS TRAVEL

In July, Christopherson and Utah-based software company Domo teamed up to develop a cloud app for travel managers. The new mobile solutions include the Travel Leakage Analyzer app to allow travel managers to control and visualize "out of program" spend; the Hotel Spend Analyzer app, which instantly finds hotel spend or total nights to help travel managers better negotiate contracts with vendors; and the Travel Analytics dashboard of best-practice visualizations, to help travel managers easily and intuitively connect multiple real-time travel data feeds into the Domo platform.Travel has gone very high tech, way beyond just being able to book flights online. Christopherson Business Travel, which offers intelligent business travel management, online travel tools and business travel resources, has invested heavily in the development of cutting-edge travel technologies.

Christopherson also takes care of employees. Last year, the company surveyed nearly half of its 433 employees to learn how it could improve and continue to meet their needs.

“We recruited two senior executives from outside our company, we promoted six internal team members to new management positions and we created and filled another six newly created positions where we identified needs and gaps,” CEO Mike Cameron says. “We're confident that this significant investment in human resources will not only close the gaps, but prepare us for the future."

For 20 years, Christopherson has partnered with CHOICE Humanitarian. Christopherson employees can choose to have a portion of their pay deducted, which is then matched 2 to 1 by the company before being donated to CHOICE. In 2016, Christopherson saw a record number of employees contributing for a total of $85,000.


FINALISTS

SNOOZE, AN AM EATERY

Snooze opened its first location in 2006, and there are still long lines for brunch. The full service restaurant now has 18 restaurants in Colorado, California, Arizona and Texas. Not only is the place renowned for its pancakes, mimosas and customer service, but Snooze supports each community. It donates 1 percent of sales annually, and partners with nonprofit in the areas of sustainability, education and "Wild Card," which means nonprofits within five miles of each restaurant. Staff members, called Snoozers, are inspired by the mantra, "It Only Takes a Moment to Make a Difference" in the community, on the team and in their own lives.


BRECKENRIDGE GRAND VACATIONS

Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV) was founded in 1984 and is parent company of Grand Lodge on Peak 7, Grand Timber Lodge, Gold Point Resort, and the new luxury Grand Colorado on Peak 8 resort. Today, BGV creates Grand vacations for nearly 25,000 owners and employs over 500 staff members. To foster teamwork and reduce stress, BGV incorporates daily activities in the workplace such as wellness walks, meditation sessions, and departmental outings such as ski trips, fly fishing and even Rockies games.