Check-In With Suzanne

Collaboration with a Fresh, Strategic Approach in APAC

Over 200 attendees from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond gathered last week in Bangkok with a focus on “Getting Back to Business Travel, Tourism, and MICE” – the theme of the inaugural APAC Travel Summit organized by GBTA in partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). The two-day event explored key themes and identified opportunities and trends in the ever-changing, dynamic recovery of the Asia-Pacific region.  

It was an incredible week… in many ways it revived the global-with-regional focus of the corporate travel space long held previously in APAC by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (whose assets were bought by GBTA at the end of 2020). But this event also brought forward GBTA membership commitments and engagement on sustainability, the future of work, risk management, and wellbeing.

The event had attendees, speakers, sponsors and organizers focused on the region while giving context on a global scale. Sponsor booths were busy, the new convention center was spectacular, and programming and education were engaging and relevant – “strategic” and “fresh” were words used to describe the experience by more than one senior attendee in their comments to me. There was also recurring discussion onsite as to whether and how travel ecosystems would respond when China business travel continues to scale up, including pent-up demand and “revenge travel.” The exciting culmination of the event was announcing our intent to host a second PATA-GBTA APAC Travel Summit in Singapore in September 2023.

We have formed a solid partnership with PATA, even with nearly 100% remote interactions across 7- to 16-hour time zone differences. It was nice to meet our event partners face to face for the first time! We are truly grateful for the partnership with PATA and our industry sponsors, and we look forward to another great event in 2023. In APAC and across the global business travel community, I am excited to see how we are already setting up for success for the year ahead. 

GBTA also marked a milestone last week as we published our 100th podcast – this one featuring my conversation with Delphine Millot who heads up the GBTA Foundation and its mission to help our industry create a better future for people and the planet. “The Business of Travel” podcast series spotlights insightful and important topics through dialogue with industry leaders, subject matter experts and other guests. Check out the 100th episode and all the others here or wherever you get your podcasts.  

Suzanne 

Industry Spotlight

Happening Tomorrow
GBTA Europe Town Hall

Join GBTA’s volunteer leadership as the European and Global committees share what they see as the key themes for 2023 and what they are planning to deliver in the fields of:

• Accommodations
• Aviation
• DE&I
• Meetings
• Payment Solution
• Risk
• Sustainability
• Technology

Sign up for our last GBTA Europe Town Hall on 14 December.

GBTA Europe Advisory Board 
Call for Applications

The GBTA Europe Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and support to GBTA’s activities and development in the region. The Board strives to represent the European membership base, GBTA wishes to fill its 3 vacant seats and create a pipeline of members for the 5 seats which will become vacant in November 2023.

Resources

Crisis24 Intelligence Brief

Australia - Aviation security personnel threaten to hold work stoppage at Canberra Airport (CBR) in Canberra, Australia, Dec. 16. Confirm flight status.

Bahrain - Protests are likely in Shi'a areas in Bahrain on National Day and Martyrs' Day, Dec 16-17. Transport and business disruption possible.

Peru - State of emergency declared in parts of Peru Dec. 12 as protests, roadblocks, and airport closures continue nationwide.

South Korea - Disability rights activists likely to continue to stage protests at subway stations in Seoul, South Korea, through at least late December.

United Kingdom - Unionized transport employees to stage multiple strikes in England, Scotland, and Wales Dec. 13-Jan. 7. Rail travel disruptions likely.

More Information