2015 U.S.-Booked Air Volume: $100 million
Principal Card
Supplier: American Express
Consolidated
U.S. TMC: American Express
Global Business Travel
Merck's
revenue dipped 6.5 percent in 2015 to about $39.5 billion, but BTN estimates the pharmaceutical firm’s 2015
U.S.-booked air volume increased from 2014. For 2015, Merck reported 144,400
metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions related to business
travel—including air and rail travel, car rentals and hotel stays—up about 20
percent year over year. The company finalized a reorganization of its TMC
services this year. American Express Global Business Travel now provides
service in the Americas and Europe, while BCD Travel handles the Asia/Pacific
region. Previously, Amex provided service in North America and Asia/Pacific,
while BCD handled parts of Europe and Latin America.
Merck
works with Amex GBT for strategic meetings management services and American
Express for corporate card services. The company encourages the use of remote
conferencing tools as an alternative to traveling for business or meetings.
Merck also offers within its online booking tool an option to book rail travel
as a means of reducing the company’s carbon footprint. The firm had 68,000
employees at the end of 2015, down from 70,000 one year earlier.