Martin Rockman

Background and experience

Martin has always been a behind-the-scenes man, spending much of his early career building corporate experience while working for an airline. After a few years, he realised that what he really wanted to do was build a service-led corporate travel business. VMR Travel was the result.

It’s been an interesting journey, starting off as a one-man operation, with travel on the side. Now, he’s the director of a company, overseeing a team that brings diverse talents to the table.

VMR was one of the companies positioned to flourish after Covid-19, as people jumped at the chance to engage face-to-face again, instead of over digital platforms. Business boomed and Martin had to bring in staff to cope with demand.

That doesn’t mean that he’s hands-off. As a boutique business, Martin is involved in everything, from HR, tax, technology, SEO, and sales to reservations. What keeps him engaged is the variety. He loves to learn something new each day, but what he finds most rewarding is working with his diverse colleagues, building these relationships every day.

The highlight is creating harmony out of diversity, watching his staff grow as individuals and as a team, bringing their best to work every day because they share Martin’s passion for the industry.

How Martin leads

Martin’s approach to leadership is built around trust. He deliberately avoids micromanaging.

“Most of us know well enough how to work best.”

Martin’s approach to leadership is built around trust. He deliberately avoids micromanaging.

One project he is particularly proud of is the full rebranding of VMR Travel, carried out alongside a brand consultant, web designers, and an SEO team. It was an extraordinary learning curve, but he enjoyed every moment of the challenge.

Throughout all this growth and change, and while keeping pace with a rapidly changing industry, Martin’s ambition for VMR remains straightforward: To show clients and staff alike that it is possible to run a business on ethical principles and still be commercially successful.

What Martin Writes About

Martin’s extensive experience in the travel industry enables him to write articles on the VMR Travel blog that cover the most important subjects for CFOs, HR directors, travel managers, and executive assistants responsible for managing business travel. For example: policy design, duty of care, traveller wellbeing, cost control, risk management, and the technology that holds it all together.

He also covers current topics that are reshaping the industry right now, including AI and predictive analytics, ESG and sustainable travel, inclusion and diversity in travel programmes, and what managed travel means for fast-growing SMEs.

The common thread running through everything he writes is the belief that good travel management is as much about people as it is about process.