With the launch of Airbnb Trips and completion of the Starwood-Marriott merger, 2016 was a big year for the hotel industry across the globe. Hotel brands underwent major changes by re-branding, introducing new technologies, and much more. According to Travel Agent Central, Mexico’s Posadas Hotels & Resorts (Grupo Posadas) introduced La Colección as a re-branding…
Do you remember how you celebrated your last anniversary? Some couples enjoyed an extravagant dinner, gaming brands gave fans freebies in the form of computer games and console games, and Q&A Residential Hotel offered luxury accommodations in New York City for just $11.25. The Furnished Quarters hotel brand extended this offer to guests in honor…
From direct booking pushes to mergers and acquisitions, the hotel space was dramatically altered this year. AccorHotels entered the sharing economy with its acquisition of onefinestay, Marriott and Starwood officially completed their merger, and many hotels began actively pushing for direct bookings. Other companies like City Express Hotels (Hoteles City Express) expanded their portfolio with…
According to Reuters, Qatar Airways has completed its 10 percent stake purchase of LATAM Airlines in a transaction worth $608.4 million USD. Buying Business Travel shares Etihad Airways has agreed to new codeshare deals with Montenegro Airlines and Tanzania’s Precision Air. According to USA TODAY, Delta has reached an agreement with Boeing to cancel an order…
With the holidays just around the corner, Business Traveller reports on aviation strikes that may affect you. According to Buying Business Travel, risk management company iJet International acquired UK crisis management company Red24. Reuters reports American Airlines won $15 million in an antitrust case against Sabre. The jury awarded the airline $5.1 million, which will…
Expense management tools are nothing new in the business travel space. Companies rely on them to save time, gain visibility over expenses, ease the expense report process for employees, and much more. Expense management software provider Chrome River has been in business for nearly 10 years and just recently announced a partnership to deliver integrated…
The success of most companies relies on the relationships built around it, whether that is with customers, suppliers or other partners. Successful partnerships are not built overnight, however, and can often take years to develop, requiring great effort by all parties. When it comes to establishing solid partnerships between hoteliers and corporate travel professionals, there…
Hotel companies like Marriott International and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) are increasingly shifting their focus to Chinese travelers due to a surge in China’s travel market, according to a recent article by Business Vancouver. This shift in focus has resulted in major expansions in China, with some international hotel chains even launching brands tailored to…
Mergers and acquisitions are all the rage this week! Reuters reports Alaska Air completed its acquisition of Virgin America in a $2.6 billion deal. According to Buying Business Travel, Lufthansa Group completed its acquisition of Brussels Airlines, purchasing the remaining 55 percent of shares for €2.6 million. Financial Times reports car rental company Europcar announced plans to acquire…
*The following message was originally sent as an email to GBTA Members.* In the United States, we recently celebrated Thanksgiving, a time when we can take stock of all our many blessings. I continue to be thankful for the honor and privilege to serve as President of GBTA, and for all of the work that…
A new study from the GBTA Foundation, in partnership with Concur, explores priorities and challenges corporate travel programs face today. As the travel industry evolves in response to mobile technology and employee direct-booking behavior, travel professionals are finding they need to modernize their travel programs not only to control costs, but also to increase overall…
Earlier this year, Advito released a 2017 Industry Forecast that predicts pricing across key travel areas, noting the difficulty in projecting demand due to uncertainty surrounding the U.S. presidential election. Despite the element of uncertainty, Advito predicts a five percent to six percent increase in hotel rates and flat pricing for airfare and car rental…
According to the Chicago Tribune, a new study suggests the TSA would save $34 million a year by making PreCheck free for frequent fliers. In addition to saving millions, the agency could create shorter lines and enhance security at many of the nation’s airports. Earlier this year, the GBTA Aviation Committee unveiled a new, revamped…
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