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…
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,…
In the wake of a tragedy like the recent crash of Amtrak 188 killing eight people and injuring 200 others near Philadelphia, we need time to mourn and then time to understand what happened and what went wrong. It is important to learn from this crash, however, and apply those lessons to our nation’s infrastructure…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
A recent study from the GBTA Foundation found high interest in both corporate hotel loyalty programs and adding incentives to individual programs to encourage booking through authorized channels. The study, Making Hotel Loyalty Programs Work for You and Your Travel Program, sponsored by Hilton Worldwide, surveyed more than 200 U.S. Corporate Travel Managers and revealed…
The GBTA Foundation has been rolling out a multitude of research this week. Tnooz covered a new report showing current business traveler attitudes and experiences including the impact of technology, journey pain points and the general state of corporate travel. Travel Daily News reported on a study looking at the future of travel managers saying…
Last week, the first ever GBTA Global Business Traveler Sentiment Index™ in partnership with American Express revealed how business travelers across the globe feel about their travel experience and how those feelings affect their actual behaviors related to travel. A key finding of the study revealed a massive technological transformation is changing the face of…
Last week, the first ever GBTA Global Business Traveler Sentiment Index™ in partnership with American Express revealed how business travelers across the globe feel about their travel experience and how those feelings affect their actual behaviors related to travel. While most travelers are significantly satisfied with their trip experience, a key finding of the study…
Earlier this week the GBTA Foundation released its latest quarterly forecast for business travel in the United States. Here are the key stats you need to know: U.S. business travel spending will increase by 4.9 percent in 2015 to $302.7 billion and the 2016 outlook anticipates a surge in economic activity and confidence leading to…
Last week, GBTA and German business travel buyer association VDR announced that Carsten Spohr, Chairman and CEO of Lufthansa Group, will be a featured speaker at our joint conference this November at the Congress Center, Messe Frankfurt. Spohr has served as Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Lufthansa AG since May 1,…
Earlier this week, GBTA released our latest outlook for business travel in the United States. Our forecast shows business travel spending will increase by nearly 5 percent in 2015 to $302.7 billion, yet ongoing concerns about the U.S. economy are reining-in what could be even sharper growth. Global business travel both drives, and is driven,…
In late June, GBTA hosted its third annual successful conference in Sao Paulo, Brasil with more than 300 total attendees bringing together business travel professionals from Brasil with suppliers worldwide. The event took place at the Pullman Hotel, Vila Olympia, Sao Paulo, located within one of the city’s most prominent financial centers. With the continuing expansion of…
In May, the GBTA Foundation and American Express teamed up to bring you a first-of-its-kind study looking into how U.S. business travelers feel about their travel experience and how those feelings affect their actual behaviors related to travel. Today the two companies are back with an all-new global outlook. The first-ever GBTA Global Business Traveler…
Yesterday, a GBTA op-ed appeared on The Hill’s Congress Blog about our opposition to an increase in the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) – yet another tax on business travelers. Road warriors strengthen the economy, create jobs and drive economic security. Travel should be promoted, not hit with never-ending taxes and fees. Here is an excerpt from…
It was a busy week for business travel news! On Monday, U.S. News & World Report wrote the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly confirmed Coast Guard Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger as the new leader for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) by a vote of 81-1. GBTA urged the new TSA administrator to conduct a top-to-bottom independent review…
Today, the GBTA Foundation released a new study on virtual payment solutions sponsored by U.S. Bank. The following press release went out announcing the new report: Majority of Suppliers Accepting Virtual Payments About 20 percent of American businesses today pay for travel using cardless single-use “virtual” accounts, up from 13 percent last year, according to a…
The eyes of the world are now on Greece, watching and waiting to see if it will accept the terms of a third bailout, and ultimately whether it will leave the Eurozone. The more fundamental question, however, is what impact the Greek crisis will have on the larger European Economy? One way to gain insight…
The business of travel has brought the world within reach, with borders blurring and people intersecting in all corners of the globe. GBTA Convention brings the entire industry together every year making it a “do not miss” event. Every year there is a spectacular line up of speakers, educational offerings, the largest travel Expo floor…
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…
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….
The UK boasts the second highest level of spending on business travel in Western Europe according to a recent forecast from the GBTA Foundation. In 2014 business travel spend in the UK totaled $43.5 billion USD – 5.4 percent growth over the previous year. GBTA expects momentum to continue to build with business travel spending…
GBTA’s recent forecast for business travel in Western Europe shows the French economy continues to have one leg in the northern tier and the other in the southern periphery. Still, business travel spending began to gain momentum in 2013 and continued to advance in 2014, albeit at a modest rate of 2%. After slowing to…
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…
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…
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…
The industry reacted swiftly and loudly this week after IATA introduced a proposal that standard carry-on baggage sizes be reduced to dimensions about 20 percent smaller than what most major airlines currently allow. IATA put the proposal on hold after much opposition including New York Senator Chuck Schumer who came out against the proposal saying…
Last night, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Barack Obama’s choice of Peter Neffenger to be the next head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) by a vote of 81-1. GBTA issued the statement below calling for a top-to-bottom review of TSA. First Order of Business for New TSA: Right The Ship On Monday night,…
Yesterday, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Meetings Committee and the Convention Industry Council (CIC) APEX Workgroup (APEX) released a new joint whitepaper, Improving eRFP Efficiency and Effectiveness for the Meetings Industry. The following press release went out announcing the new resource: The whitepaper combines findings from complimentary research conducted by the two groups in…
This week’s round-up starts with raves and rants. Money reports on the most loved and hated airlines in America ranked by the number of passenger complaints. Southwest and Jet Blue found themselves among the most liked according to the report. What do you look for from an airline? Skift reported on a SITA survey showing…
*This post originally appeared as an op-ed in Global Business Travel magazine volume three, issue two.* That’s the name of the game at July’s GBTA Convention 2015. This year’s Convention, July 25-29, is in Orlando, Florida, the home of Walt Disney World. Branding itself the “happiest place on Earth,” Disney World is a place predicated on…
GeekWire tell business travelers that your carry-on bag is about to become obsolete thanks to new guidelines proposed by IATA calling to shrink the size of carry-ons allowed on planes. According to IATA, this new size limit is an “optimal size” that will guarantee every passenger can fit a carry-on in the overhead bin. There…
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…
Germany holds its position as the brightest star in the European sky when it comes to business travel as strong economic growth and relatively competitive labour markets continue to propel business travel activity. The GBTA Foundation’s recent business travel forecast for Western Europe showed overall spending on business travel in the country in 2014 finished…
The week in review is back this week wishing everyone a happy Memorial Day weekend! Let’s start with what not to do on your next business trip: USA Today reported that a man stripped naked in the Charlotte airport after becoming upset that his flight was overbooked. Ever wonder why America can’t have high speed…
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