Kevin Bacon Talks Six Degrees at GBTA Convention

Kevin Bacon Talks Six Degrees at GBTA Convention

Monday at GBTA Convention actor, director and musician Kevin Bacon took the stage at Convention Arena. Bacon entertained a packed crowd sharing stories about his career in the entertainment industry; the genesis of the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon game and his Six Degrees Foundation, which connects celebrities with deserving grass-roots charities. He concluded by talking about how…

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….

More Companies Consolidating Meetings, Events and Travel Programs

New research out today from the GBTA Foundation shows technology is playing a key role in knocking down barriers to consolidation. Also, more companies are consolidating their meetings, events and travel programs with a 14 percent growth in adoption over the past five years including a 28 percent increase in completed consolidation. The study, Meetings,…

Global Business Travel Spending to Hit Record High of $1.25 Trillion in 2015

Today at GBTA Convention, the GBTA Foundation unveiled its Annual Global Report & Forecast finding global business travel spending will hit a record $1.25 trillion USD in 2015, 6.5 percent growth over 2014. Growth will remain strong through 2019, with business travel projected to grow 6.9 percent in 2016, 6.0 percent in 2017, 6.4 percent…

Using Tech to Improve Hotel Experiences
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Using Tech to Improve Hotel Experiences

Recently the GBTA Foundation released a whitepaper called Harnessing Technology to Improve Business Traveler Hotel Experiences, sponsored by AccorHotels. The paper was based off a qualitative study with a goal of understanding the technology currently being used by business travelers when they book, arrive and stay at hotels; determining what gaps exist in a business…

GBTA Convention 2015: Coming to Orlando

GBTA Convention 2015: Coming to Orlando

In just four days, GBTA Convention 2015 kicks off in Orlando on Saturday with Convention Kick-Start Sessions and the GBTA Cares Service Project. The event will feature award-winning actor Kevin Bacon, innovator Steve Wozniak and leading news anchor Megyn Kelly, as well as a slate of industry-panels you won’t want to miss. What more does Convention…

Hotel Hot Spots Provide Clues to U.S. Economic Activity

Hotel Hot Spots Provide Clues to U.S. Economic Activity

Earlier today, the GBTA Foundation and Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) issued their 2016 Global Travel Price Outlook, which projects how demand, currency and other factors will impact prices for air travel, hotels, ground transportation, and meetings and conventions around the world. As we were digging through the data, we noticed something very interesting. Underlying the U.S….

Changing Technologies Shift the Role of Travel Managers

Changing Technologies Shift the Role of Travel Managers

It’s no secret that technology is an integral part of a Travel Manager’s role and will become increasingly more important in the future as travel managers seek to take a more strategic position within their organizations. A new study out recently from the GBTA Foundation, sponsored by Sabre, sought to better understand key responsibilities of…