*The following is a guest blog post by Ann Brennan, executive vice president of GBTA – Wisconsin* This past August, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and the Wisconsin Business Travel Association hosted our first ever, “Travel Talk Roundtable” with U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee,…
Nearly three months ago marked the final day of our 49th annual Convention in Boston. GBTA Convention 2017 featured over 400 exhibitors, including nearly 100 first-time exhibitors, giving both buyers and suppliers the unique opportunity to establish new relationships as well as fortify existing ones. GBTA has long been a proponent of face-to-face meetings and…
Shortly before it was set to take effect, two federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland blocked Trump’s third travel ban, reports Mother Jones. According to USA TODAY, United Airlines estimates hurricanes cost $210 million in revenue with 8,300 canceled flights. Travel Trade Daily reports Singapore Airlines added Android Pay and Apple Pay as payment options…
Average compensation for U.S. travel buyers saw a 5.5 percent year-over-year increase in 2017, reaching an average of $107,000, according to new findings released today. Median salaries are also up, increasing 7.5 percent to $98,000. The GBTA Foundation’s 2017 Compensation and Benefits study delves into salaries, bonuses and benefits for U.S. travel buyers and reveals…
According to The Verge, Delta will automatically check in passengers with its mobile app. Passengers who use the iOS app will automatically be sent boarding passes 24 hours prior to their flight, forgoing the need to check-in online. Skift reports Lufthansa is closing in on a deal to buy part of bankrupt carrier Air Berlin….
Earlier this week, the GBTA Foundation released a new study, in partnership with Sabre Corporation, focused on creating a frictionless travel experience. The study surveyed business travelers across the globe and revealed the dramatic impact business travel has on employee retention, recruitment and results. Three R’s that are important to every company’s bottom line. Retention…
Through the lifecycle of a trip, the business traveler will encounter different challenges that can impact their travel experience. Last week, the GBTA Foundation released a new study, in partnership with Sabre Corporation, identifying the most challenging aspects of business travel. While there are many similarities among business travelers around the globe, there are also…
When reading the American Conservative Union’s (ACU) recent op-ed in The Hill, “’Conservative’ air traffic control bill fails to privatize industry”, I couldn’t decide if ACU’s opposition is a good thing. ACU’s support hinges on its “Seven Principles of Privatization,” essentially a guide for lawmakers to privatize for the sake of privatizing. Broad-brush principles seldom…
Holly Woodruff Lyons, Deputy General Counsel, House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Staff Director, Subcommittee on Aviation, discussed committee efforts regarding the FAA Reauthorization Bill and modernizing infrastructure at the 15th Annual Legislative Summit, an event that brings more than 100 travel professionals to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers to share opinions…
*The following is a guest blog post by Cindy Heston, lead instructor for the Corporate Meetings Program and Design. Here’s a litmus test for all buyers: Hint: Answer the optimal answer. All answers are somewhat correct… Jeopardy music playing in the background. What’s the best way to increase your visibility within your organization? Negotiate better…
Winsome Lenfert, Deputy Associate Administrator for Airports, FAA spoke about passenger facility charges (PFCs) and funding for airport infrastructure at the 15th Annual Legislative Summit, an event that brings more than 100 travel professionals to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers to share opinions on key issues. She told attendees that she has visited hundreds…
According to MarketWatch, Monarch Airlines declared bankruptcy and collapsed, leaving 110,000 passengers without flights. TTG Media reports AccorHotels snapped up hotel reservation company Gekko in a deal worth €100 million. Business Traveller notes that American Airlines made a $200 million equity investment in China Southern, with plans to begin codesharing before the end of 2017….
The following post is written by Reade Bush, PA-C, Assistant Medical Director, Generali Global Assistance on behalf of the GBTA Risk Committee. Three recent hurricanes that struck Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico, have left many short- and long-term health effects which will make for a very difficult recovery process. In the first days of a…
GBTA Executive Director and COO Mike McCormick kicked off the 15th Annual GBTA Legislative Summit, an event that brings more than 100 travel professionals to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers to share opinions on key issues. McCormick discussed the importance of passenger rights in light of recent events with United Airlines and American Airlines….
Mexico City International Airport suspended operation for several hours on Tuesday due to a 7.1-magnitude earthquake, reports Business Insider. According to CBS Chicago, airlines began resuming flights to Puerto Rico on Friday, following Hurricane Maria’s devastation of the island. Travel Leaders Corporate shares news of Travel Leaders Group’s acquisition of Raleigh-based TMC Travel Management Partners….
*The following is a guest blog post by Cindy Heston, lead instructor for the Corporate Meetings Program and Design. Here’s a litmus test for all buyers: Hint: Answer the optimal answer. All answers are somewhat correct… Jeopardy music playing in the background. What’s the best way to increase your visibility within your organization? Negotiate better…
On Sunday night, President Trump announced his latest travel ban which affects travelers from Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, Buying Business Travel reports. The new travel restrictions will take effect on October 18. GBTA’s Mike McCormick states that the initial travel bans enacted in January and March have created the…
Travel Ban Expanded to Include Chad, North Korea and Venezuela Restrictions Tailored By Country Yesterday the President and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced enhanced global security measures that included adding Chad, North Korea and Venezuela to the list of countries subject to travel restrictions. Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia are again…
In 2016, organizations invested significantly in business travel, with global business travel spend approaching $1.3 trillion. However, as companies increasingly invest in business travel, they must equally invest in a managed travel program that balances employee needs with corporate goals. Unraveling the intricacies of travel management can be daunting without a travel management company in…
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, flights began resuming service on Tuesday, reports USA TODAY. Over 16,500 flights were cancelled due to the natural disaster. According to AINonline, regional airports were working to minimize issues on Wednesday, such as lack of power and sufficient fresh water. According to the Los Angeles Times, airlines say that…
Buying Business Travel reports Houston airports are returning to full service in the wake of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation. USA TODAY reports Hurricane Irma has resulted in heavy damage to St. Martin’s Princess Juliana Airport, one of the world’s most famous airports. The same source states that over 2,000 Florida flights have already been canceled due…
*This post was also sent as an email to GBTA Members.* Recently, GBTA launched a GoFundMe campaign created specifically for GBTA or Texas BTA members who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Nearly 600 individuals who are members of GBTA or Texas BTA live in the impacted areas and now face the destruction left behind following…
Although GBTA Convention 2017 came to an end nearly two months ago, it’s still fresh on our minds. Our 49th annual Convention in Boston brought together nearly 7,000 travel professionals and industry leaders and featured over 400 exhibitors, including nearly 100 first-time exhibitors. We had a chance to speak to a handful of first-time exhibitors…
According to TechCrunch, the battle between hotels and Airbnb has escalated in New York City. A campaign backed by a union representing hotel workers and the Hotel Association of NYC claims there’s a link between Airbnb’s short-term rentals and public security threats. Business Traveler reports that Airberlin and JetBlue have partnered to offer connecting flights….
Buying Business Travel reports that the UK laptop ban has been lifted on Tunisia flights. According to USA TODAY, Qantas is planning for a 20-hour non-stop flight from Australia to London. Buying Business Travel reports that Vietnam Airlines and Garuda have agreed to an extended partnership including more codeshares. Business Traveller notes that the disparity…
According to USA TODAY, airlines have canceled more than 11,000 flights across the nation since Hurricane Harvey first began affecting schedules. Airports reopened on Wednesday, but flights are running on a limited schedule. If you would like to help with relief efforts, please make a donation to the Red Cross. You may also donate to…
Travel management encompasses a variety of industry players: non-profit corporations, hoteliers, small and medium-sized enterprises, airlines, travel management companies, data consolidators, consultants that act as a liaison between buyers and suppliers – the list goes on and on. Despite the wealth of available information, diving into managed travel as an individual with little to no experience…
*This post has also been distributed as an email to GBTA members.* By now, most of you have seen numerous news stories of the historic flooding in Houston and surrounding areas in recent days. As a Houston area resident, my heart goes out to all that are impacted by the devastation resulting from Hurricane Harvey….
According to The Hill, David Pekoske was sworn in as TSA administrator on Thursday, one week following his unanimous approval by the Senate. Al-Jazeera notes that the UAE and Bahrain have granted Qatar Airways new routes following a two-month blockade. Skift reports that Qatar has ended tourist visa requirements for 80 nationalities. According to The…
According to Buying Business Travel, passengers traveling through major European airports are facing up to four hours of immigration delays caused by the introduction of a new set of rules. 4Hoteliers reports that the TSA has announced new U.S. airport screening procedures for electronics in carry-on bags. Travelers must begin placing all electronics larger than…
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