Check-in With Suzanne

I wasn’t sure what I’d be feeling on the eve of this 2021 GBTA Convention.

The GBTA Team is here in Orlando, connecting, collaborating and putting on the finishing touches as we get ready to welcome thousands of business travel industry colleagues, partners and friends after nearly a 2 ½ year pause for the pandemic.

As we walk the halls and work together as a team, check out the exhibit space, watch the Main Stage going up, and see the GBTA logo again on the Convention Center, one word comes to mind: gratitude.

Our team and I would like to extend a big “thank you” for getting us as an industry and association from Point A to Point B these past 20 months.

That is, after all, what this great travel industry does.

And we promise to have you covered on what you need to learn, share and grow over the coming months and beyond.

We are looking forward to sharing the next few days with so many of you—onsite as well as those joining us virtually—and sharing insights, stories and news as they happen through our GBTA social media channels. Let’s create what’s next together.

See you soon,

Suzanne

 

News To Know

Two more cruise ships resume sailing 

Both Carnival and Norwegian saw ships setting sail again from ports in Florida. NCL continued its Great Cruise Comeback with the restart of Port Canaveral voyages with the Norwegian Escape. Carnival Pride kicked off the weekend with a “Back to Fun” event in Tampa attended by Carnival Pride Captain Rino Costanzo and more officially welcomed the first guests onboard. 

Canada Jetlines and GlobalX launch their first partnership 

The arrangement between Canada Jetlines and Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. is the first between the two companies since GlobalX completed the spin out of Canada Jetlines in June 2021 to shareholders. They will offer routine charter flights from Toronto to Miami and Fort Lauderdale starting March 2022.  

LATAM to reinstate London-Sao Paulo flights 

Starting December 3rd, South American airline LATAM will be reintroducing services between London and Sao Paolo. Passengers can now connect to over 120 destinations in 25 countries from the Sao Paolo hub. Joao Murias, LATAM Airlines regional commercial director, said: “We are proud to reconnect London to São Paulo, and from there to all of South America. The demand as soon as the news broke that we were back in operation has been incredible, which reinforces that our commitment to connecting the UK to South America is more topical than ever.” 

Lufthansa repays government financial aid 

Last week, Lufthansa Group announced that it had repaid or cancelled all remaining aid received by the German government during the pandemic “much earlier than originally planned.” This repayment was made possible by the rising demand for travel, the fast restructuring and transformation of the group and market confidence in the company. “Lufthansa was able to rely on Germany and Germany can rely on Lufthansa,” said Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr.  

 

GBTA News & Reminders

GBTA Convention Replay 

Can’t make it to Orlando for GBTA Convention? Don’t miss out on the new, unique experience, check out Convention Replay! With 5 livestreaming Main Stage sessions, 25 educational sessions, virtual exhibitor connections, and more, you can reap the value of the business travel industry’s flagship gathering in a way that’s right for you. 

Travel Risk Management Bootcamp: Understanding and Implementing ISO31030 

Explore Travel Risk Management in the context of the new ISO 31030 standard and gain the tools and confidence to update and/or create a robust system within your organization. This one-day course, led by travel risk management experts Global Secure Accreditation in conjunction with GBTA and the Anvil Group, is designed to give practical guidance to anyone involved in building and managing corporate travel programs.