| |

Business Travel in Western Europe Expected to Fully Recover by 2024; Emerging Europe Set to Take Longer

Business travel recovery in 2021 proceeded at a slower, more cautionary pace than expected, particularly across Western Europe where business travel underperformed compared to other markets across the world. This is according to European-specific data from the latest business travel index–the BTI™ Outlook, from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel…

| |

Check-in with Suzanne

Being an event, conference or meeting professional is an especially challenging role these days. At GBTA, we understand firsthand what the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) sector has been navigating.   Our plate has been full restarting our own in-person conferences now in Q4 on a regional basis – including in Canada, the US and Europe – as well as planning for 2022 to restart the topical meetings that were put on hold for over two years. There is a lot of pent-up…

| | |

New International Border Openings Set to Accelerate Lift in Business Travel

Optimistic signs of return and tangible recovery in the business travel sector could be seen over the past month. In the latest poll from The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), half (52%) of industry respondents reported more optimism compared to September. October also saw an increase to 66% of those polled who said their companies…

| | |

Check-In with Suzanne

Through the twists and turns that have marked the past 19 months, we’ve all continued to navigate to what’s next. For GBTA, that includes how to host an annual convention that re-connects the global business travel industry, safely and responsibly, after a break of over two years amid a lingering pandemic. Last week we all got some positive news. The Biden Administration announced the lifting of COVID-19-related travel restrictions beginning November 8 for fully…

| | |

Check-In With Suzanne

Hi everyone!   I recently spoke with a journalist for a Bloomberg article who asked the question: “What will a strong recovery for business travel look like and when will it happen?” After some discussion, we pretty much landed on: “It depends how you’re measuring recovery and also whom you ask.”    The question came on the heels of the Biden Administration’s loosening of restrictions for international travel to the U.S. This was welcome news across our industry, in the U.S and globally. But we also…

|

Communications During the Pandemic and Associated Risks

It has been approximately 18 months since the inception of the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19, and the world has become used to the “new normal”.  During this time there has been a multitude of information available regarding travel, safety, health, and wellness. It is important to communicate succinctly to employees, travelers, and customers.  The volume of…

|

Check-In with Suzanne:

Many are enjoying the last days of seasonal breaks, kids are headed back to school, and the last business quarter of 2021 is around the corner. And typically, the weeks ahead are busy ones for business travel, meetings and conferences. But thanks to the realities of the ongoing pandemic, again this year, the world looks different.   And that includes for…

| | |

Business Travel Continues Slowed Recovery While Some Companies Consider New Travel Program Approaches

Alexandria, VA – Despite continuing to report an overall willingness and optimism for the return to business travel, business travel industry sentiment continues to waver, due to ongoing uncertainty around the Delta variant and other variants. However, indicators show companies and their corporate travel managers may be looking at new focus areas and ways of working…