Week in Review
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Week in Review

The Wall Street Journal’s Scott McCartney asks how the airlines should spend their windfall driven by dramatically lower oil prices and years of cost-cutting and huge consolidation. He talks with GBTA’s Mike McCormick among others to find out ways the airlines could use that money to reinvest and improve the traveler experience. The Huffington Post…

For Travel Buyers, Negotiating Hotel Contracts Offers the Biggest Bang for the Buck
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For Travel Buyers, Negotiating Hotel Contracts Offers the Biggest Bang for the Buck

Where do travel buyers get the most valuable add-ons for the lowest cost to their organization? According to a new survey of over 100 travel buyers across North America sponsored by Amadeus, it is hotel contracts where travel buyers can provide the most sought add-ons for their travelers at the lowest cost to their organizations….

Week in Review
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Week in Review

With GBTA’s headquarters located in Alexandria, VA just outside of Washington, D.C., there has been much talk of the impending blizzard. USA Today writes about how the east coast blizzard is already a travel nightmare thanks to preemptive cancellations and notes that airlines are waiving changes fees ahead of the snowstorm. Let’s talk loyalty. Skift…

GBTA Calls for New Dialogue on Expanded Business Traveler Bill of Rights
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GBTA Calls for New Dialogue on Expanded Business Traveler Bill of Rights

Every year at GBTA Convention, I have the privilege of giving attendees an update on the advocacy issues affecting our great industry. Below you will find the speech I plan to deliver this afternoon. As you may have seen, the sharing economy hit the campaign trail. Just a few weeks ago, some of the most…

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Southwest & Etihad Talk Competition, Service and the Future of Airlines

Yesterday, GBTA Convention kicked off its first industry session at Center Stage with Charisse Jones of USA Today asking hard-hitting questions from Southwest Airlines’ Gary Kelly and Etihad Airlines’ James Hogan. The interviews focused on the future of airline competition, Open Skies, antitrust issues and the characteristics that each CEO felt set their airline apart….

Nearly Doubling Airport Tax Won’t Fly

Nearly Doubling Airport Tax Won’t Fly

GBTA has been vocal in its opposition to raising the Passenger Facility Charge, which would unfairly burden business travelers who help to drive the economy. Travel should be promoted, not pummeled with always-increasing taxes and fees. Here is an excerpt from an op-ed in The Arizona Republic where we say, let Washington know that hiking…

GBTA Pleased IATA “Hit the Pause Button” on Proposal to Reduce Carry-on Baggage Dimensions by 20 Percent
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GBTA Pleased IATA “Hit the Pause Button” on Proposal to Reduce Carry-on Baggage Dimensions by 20 Percent

As many of you heard, yesterday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an airline industry association, put on hold on its recommendation that standard carry-on baggage sizes be reduced to dimensions about 20 percent smaller than what most major airlines currently allow — to 22 inches tall, 13 1/2 inches wide and 7 1/2 inches deep….

GBTA Says Proposal to Slash Carry-on Baggage Size Must Be “Permanently Scrapped”
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GBTA Says Proposal to Slash Carry-on Baggage Size Must Be “Permanently Scrapped”

Yesterday, we announced that we were pleased IATA put on hold its proposal to reduce the size of carry-on baggage by 20 percent. After polling our Members we now believe the proposal should be entirely scrapped. We released the statement below this morning that includes our polling data along with a comment from Senator Chuck…