In the latest episode of BTN Europe's 'In conversation with...' podcast series, editor-in-chief Andy Hoskins speaks to Derek Sharp, chief operating officer for RoomIt, the hotel division of travel management company CWT.

Sharp discusses business travel's tentative recovery, rate movement, trip value, the future of RFPs, booking tool content and best practice for corporate accommodation programmes. 

He talks about an "epidemic of oversourcing in the past," advising buyers to reduce the number of preferred hotels in a location and to consider locking in some prices to protect against volatility as the market recovers. "Buyers are in a strong position for now, but be a good partner," he says.