Michael Bartone
Senior Consultant

Michael Bartone offers extensive experience in:

- Travel agency operations/call center management (31 years experience)
-Global Travel Agency program development/deployment
-Quality Control program development
-Travel policy
-Travel contract strategy and re-negotiation
-Staff Development

Before becoming affiliated with Consulting Strategies, Michael Bartone was a senior executive with American Express Company. His most recent position was as a National Director/General Manager of Global Corporate Services. Throughout his career at American Express, Mr. Bartone gained a reputation for “expanding customer relationships” and “developing quality standards,” doing so for a client base ranging from small entrepreneurial firms to Fortune 100 companies. He has significant P&L and call center operations experience as well as experience developing and leading globalization plans for multi-national clients. Also known for building effective work teams and developing his leadership teams’ talent, American Express has recognized Mr. Bartone with a number of awards for outstanding achievement and leadership. These include American Express’s Hall of Fame Award, President’s Club, Management Excellence, and the Chairman’s Quality Award. These awards represented his consistent position as one of American Express’s highest-performing leaders.

Mr. Bartone has a B.S. in Business Administration and Economics from Elmira College and has earned the Certified Travel Consultant (CTC) credential. He also serves on a number of Boards of Directors and is involved in activities supporting his local community.

Hugh Edwards
Senior Consultant

Hugh Edwards joined Consulting Strategies in August 2005 as their UK representative, having been in travel management consulting since January 2000.

Hugh offers expertise in:

· Travel management processes
· Travel policy
· Travel management company performance, tender, selection and implementation
· Airline, hotel, car rental strategy and negotiation
· The marine and offshore market

With over 38 years industry experience, Hugh is unique in the UK travel management consultancy arena in that he has worked for an airline, a travel agent and was Corporate Travel Manager for a large multinational corporation.

Hugh was with British Airways for 20 years in a variety of sales, marketing and operational roles, working in the UK in London, Aberdeen and Bristol and numerous countries overseas including Russia, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, Canada, Japan and the Seychelles.

He has also been Marketing Director of a leading UK-based Travel Agency with offices in Bristol and Oslo.

As a Corporate Travel Manager he was the driving force in educating employees throughout the parent company in travel cost disciplines and maximizing savings from its global spend which at one time exceeded UK£100 million.

Hugh's clients include Stolt Offshore, AMEC plc, Skanska, AEA Technology, Yukos, Westland Helicopters, United Utilities, Scottish and Southern Energy, Hanson plc, Imperial Tobacco and AMP.

Daniel Feige
Senior Consultant

Daniel Feige is a native of Argentina and has been a Business Travel consultant since 1998. He has written and developed content for several training courses (Sales for Travel Agents, Teamwork, Leading Teams, Business Redefinition, Market Trends and Challenges) and has shared his knowledge across Latin America, including: Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela & Argentina among others.

Daniel has held posts in Oracle as Corporate Travel Manager LATAM and has consulted for corporations such as HSBC Holdings, SAP, Bank of Boston, IT Convergence, AVON Cosmetics, Arcor, Cargill, COPA Airlines & Walt Disney Co.

He is fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese and French.

Bridgitte Jakubowski
Senior Consultant

Brigitte Jakubowski - Brigitte is Paris-based and has served the travel industry for 20 years and held in several positions in Business Travel during that time. Brigitte has a reputation for being one of the industry’s leading experts in France . She is quoted regularly in industry press and presents often to ACTE in Paris . She also is an MBA course instructor in International Purchasing for ESSEC and BORDEAUX MAI (a French University ).

Brigitte’s experience includes travel agency bid selection, travel policy management, and many other types of projects. Her many European clients include Renault and BMC Software.

 

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