Spain Surprises with Strong Business Travel Growth

The Spanish economy was one of the most challenged in Western Europe from 2011 through 2013 as it battled high levels of public debt, soaring unemployment and stagnating economic growth. The latest GBTA business travel forecast for Western Europe shows a surprising turnaround for the country however. Spain has exhibited a remarkable economic turnaround driven…

Italy: An Economic Struggle Hurts Business Travel

Poor economic prospects continue to take their toll on the Italian business travel market according to the recent GBTA Foundation Western Europe business travel forecast. Italy’s labour and markets continue to lack the structural and political reforms necessary for getting the economy back on its feet. Spending on business travel in Italy only grew 1.3…

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Brazil Business Travel Facing Significant Headwinds in 2015

Today and tomorrow, GBTA is hosting its 3rd annual GBTA Conference in Sao Paolo, Brazil bringing together travel buyers and suppliers in Latin America. Attendees will be able to network, build relationships, discover new opportunities and trends in the corporate travel market and learn best practices for travel management. Conference attendees will also hear industry…

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5 Key Takeaways from GBTA’s Western Europe Business Travel Forecast

Business travel in Western Europe is finally standing on solid ground. Companies however are still showing a penchant toward saving for the future in case the economy backslides – that pessimism is slowly starting to abate, but optimism has not fully set in. Still, the stronger economy, lower energy prices and smart fiscal policies are…

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Travel Risk Management Protocols on the Rise

A recent GBTA Foundation study released earlier this week showed an overwhelming majority (83 percent) of organizations that have travel risk management programs, have risk management protocols in place as part of their travel programs to ensure the safety and well-being of their business travelers. GBTA only expects this number to go up. Of those…

U.S. Business Travel Volume on the Rise

The GBTA Foundation released its latest quarterly U.S. business travel forecast today and trip volume is on the rise. While we lowered our forecast for business travel spending from last quarter because the costs of travel are falling and are now expecting 3.1 percent spending growth to $295.7 billion, we increased the forecast for person-trip volume…

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Project ICARUS Recognizes Outstanding Examples of Sustainability at Berlin Conference

Many of you are probably already familiar with Project ICARUS. For those that aren’t, this GBTA Foundation initiative launched in 2006 is the definitive source of information, education, support and recognition programs for sustainability in the business travel and meetings industry, globally. Just last month at GBTA Conference 2014 Berlin, Project ICARUS announced the winners…

Technology is Transforming the Role of Travel Managers

Technology is Transforming the Role of Travel Managers

Last week, the GBTA Foundation released a study that showed technology is poised to transform the role of Travel Managers within the next three to five years. Currently, Travel Managers find that tactical tasks – managing vendor relationships, developing and monitoring programs and policies, etc. – dominate their current responsibilities. Thanks in part to technology…