American Airlines’ Chief Doug Parker Returns to GBTA Convention
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American Airlines’ Chief Doug Parker Returns to GBTA Convention

We have been on a roll lately announcing featured speakers for our GBTA Convention 2014 this July in Los Angeles. If you haven’t heard yet, Kevin Spacey (or “President Underwood” if you are a House of Cards fan) will be presenting live in Convention Arena on Monday, July 28. Throughout the week at Center Stage,…

Announcing GBTA Ladders
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Announcing GBTA Ladders

(Reposting from an email issued on April 20, 2014 to GBTA members) Dear GBTA Members, We are writing to tell you about an exciting new program: GBTA Ladders.  The Ladders program pairs rising young stars from all parts of the travel industry with superstar industry veterans. Essentially a mentoring program, Ladders gives younger members an opportunity to…

Concur CEO Coming to GBTA Convention’s Center Stage

Concur CEO Coming to GBTA Convention’s Center Stage

I was very pleased when Steve Singh, Concur CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, accepted our invitation to be a featured speaker at this year’s 2014 GBTA Convention. As the chairman of the GBTA Foundation, Steve is no newcomer to GBTA events. Thoughtful and innovative, Steve embodies entrepreneurial thinking and his vision about…

Navigating the Wonderful World of Corporate Travel: The Advice I Wish I Had Received Eight Years Ago

Navigating the Wonderful World of Corporate Travel: The Advice I Wish I Had Received Eight Years Ago

As promised, here is the second blog posting in our series from the finalists from the GBTA Ladders Program.  Great Advice!  Thank you, Damar! I’m sure you figured out from the title that I have been part of the corporate travel industry for almost eight years now.  I had the privilege of spending the first…

Traveling Home

Traveling Home

Here is our third blog posting in our series from the finalists from the GBTA Ladders Program. Every few weeks, I find myself boarding an airplane.  Like so many of you, I’m sure, it’s a ritual of sorts.  You’ve done it so many times…arriving at the airport, parking your car, navigating the shortest TSA lines,…

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GBTA Unveils Global Leaders Directory 2014

I’m excited to announce that today GBTA unveiled an important new networking resource for the industry – The Global Leaders Directory 2014. The Directory is the very first of its kind for the business travel industry! This new resource will enable you to connect with key leaders in our industry: directors, corporate officers and members…

China Business Travel Continues to Surge

China Business Travel Continues to Surge

Nîn håo! I’m writing this post from Shanghai as we kickoff our 2nd annual GBTA China Conference 2014. The conference promises to offer both local and international participants the opportunity to learn more about the Chinese business travel market – a market that continues to grow at impressive levels according to our latest forecast. Yesterday,…

Breaking Down the Budget – A Business Travel Perspective

Breaking Down the Budget – A Business Travel Perspective

The White House recently released its proposed fiscal year 2015 Federal Budget. Although there is no chance that Congress will pass the budget in its current form, it does provide us with a sense of the President’s travel-related priorities. But more importantly, it is a cautionary tale about the future without a comprehensive, long-term national…

Breaking Down the Budget – A Business Travel Perspective Part II

Breaking Down the Budget – A Business Travel Perspective Part II

On Friday, we wrote about what President Obama’s proposed 2015 budget means for business travel. Here is a closer look at the four things that are good for business travel and four things that are bad for business travel in the proposed budget – and what they really mean. We’ll start with the positives, albeit…

Winter is out. Business Travel is on The Move.

Winter is out. Business Travel is on The Move.

U.S business travel is expected to continue its surge in 2014 despite a record-breaking, seemingly endless winter where the effects of the polar vortex and multiple snowstorms halted travel across much of the country. Despite all of this, for the second quarter in a row, we are increasing our business travel spending forecast for this…