Week in Review

This week in business travel, Nancy Trejos of USA Today tells us that InterContinental Hotels Group, the largest hotel chain in the world by room numbers, has agreed to acquire one of the most well-known U.S. boutique hotel brands, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants.

Mobile is frequently in the news these days and this week was no different. Skift reports that more than half of U.S. air passengers say they’d let an airport track their mobile devices if it meant getting accurate, updated wait times to help alleviate airport stressors. Do you count yourself among this majority? In The Business Journals, Walter Isenberg details how millennials and mobile are changing business travel. He believes the hospitality industry has to keep up with these changing needs and wants to remain relevant. Also in mobile, business travelers looking to use Apple Pay for their corporate cards may eventually be able to. PYMNTS.com asks if Apple Pay is eyeing corporate travel citing GBTA data projecting $292 million in corporate travel spending for this year.

GBTA was excited to see several Board and Foundation Board members named to the 30^th annual BTN Top 25 Most Influential Executives of 2014. Our volunteer leaders always work to positively influence the industry so seeing Mick Lee, Rita Visser and Steve Singh on the list came as no surprise to us!

Looking around the world, Express TravelWorld reports on the strength of Asia in business travel sharing highlights from ITB Asia 2014 including GBTA’s business travel forecast for the BRIC Markets.

GBTA has long been a proponent of “silence is golden” when it comes to cell phone voice calls on air planes, and it appears that British Airways agrees. This week the airline announced it will not allow passengers to make in-flight mobile phone calls.

As a business traveler you are likely familiar with spending time in airports. USA Today highlighted the best new airport amenities of 2014.

Business Traveler wrote about seven tech topics coming of age in 2015 and their impact on travel. Think mobile payments, wearables and sharing among others. What else should you expect in the New Year? The Huffington Post reports on 14 things that will be more expensive next year and both air travel and hotels made the list.

Finally, Joe Brancatelli of The Business Journals tells us “forget luxury luggage, here’s what a business traveler really wants for Christmas”. Do these items make your wish list?