Rep. John Katko Speaks Passionately To GBTA Members About Travel Security
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Rep. John Katko Speaks Passionately To GBTA Members About Travel Security

Rep. John Katko (R-NY) was a featured speaker today at the 14th Annual GBTA Legislative Symposium, an event that brings business travel professionals to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers to share opinions on key industry issues. Rep. Katko spoke passionately about the bills he has worked so hard to get passed in the House….

GBTA Kicks Off 2016 Gift of Knowledge Programs in Shanghai and Beijing
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GBTA Kicks Off 2016 Gift of Knowledge Programs in Shanghai and Beijing

First announced in 2014, The Gift of Knowledge Initiative was created to implement an innovative and comprehensive program to further develop the travel management profession in China. In 2015, more than 200 individuals were able to participate in the inaugural delivery of workshops in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen bringing travel professionals together to discuss timely…

Challenges Persist for International Outbound Travel from the United States

Challenges Persist for International Outbound Travel from the United States

In 2015, the global economic growth rate grew at its slowest rate since 2009. This stagnant growth had a clear impact on international outbound (IOB) travel from the United States according to GBTA’s BTI 2016 Q1 Outlook, which was sponsored by Visa. For years IOB travel growth was a key driver of the economic recovery…

GBTA Calls for China Business Travel Industry to Enact Policies Encouraging Travel

GBTA Calls for China Business Travel Industry to Enact Policies Encouraging Travel

In response to the expansion of the scope of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in China, GBTA issued the press release below: On 5 March 2016, China’s Premier Li Keqiang announced the expansion of the scope of the Value Added Tax (VAT) to several key sectors including hospitality to take effect from 1 May 2016….

How do German and British Business Travellers Feel about Ground Transportation Loyalty Programs?
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How do German and British Business Travellers Feel about Ground Transportation Loyalty Programs?

One of the perks of being a frequent business traveller is gaining points and status through the loyalty programs of preferred ground, air and hotel providers. Indeed, being able to get an upgrade and/or earn additional extras that business travellers value makes being on the road for business that much more pleasant. But how valuable…

Trends in Group and Individual U.S. Business Travel

Trends in Group and Individual U.S. Business Travel

2016 is off to a slow start for business travel for both group and individual business travel according to GBTA’s BTI Outlook – United States 2016 Q1, which was recently released and sponsored by Visa. The study found there was paltry growth for individual business travel volume, which grew 0.3 percent in 2015 and actually…

Global Uncertainty Causing Delays in Business Travel Growth

Global Uncertainty Causing Delays in Business Travel Growth

On Tuesday, GBTA released our quarterly U.S. business travel forecast sponsored by Visa, Inc. According to the GBTA BTI Outlook – United States 2016 Q1 report, U.S. business travel will continue to grow only moderately in 2016 as global uncertainty looms. While the latest GBTA BTI™ Outlook survey found that 2016 will look very similar…

Week in Review

Week in Review

This past week, GBTA released its quarterly U.S. business travel forecast. USA Today’s Nancy Trejos covered the report writing, companies will continue to send employees out on the road this year, but they will do so at a more moderate pace. Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian agreed with the forecast that business travel demand will…

The Travel Habits of Highly Effective Mexico Business Travelers: Overnight Trips Drive a Booming Market

The Travel Habits of Highly Effective Mexico Business Travelers: Overnight Trips Drive a Booming Market

If the typical Mexican business traveler were to set up an online profile, it might read, “successful, college educated, middle-upper management professional male seeks to contribute to $263.2 billion Mexican peso (MXN) industry through frequent, individual, overnight business trips to the South-Central region of the country.”  Indeed, according to a recent study sponsored by the…

Week in Review
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Week in Review

For Earth Day, airports and airlines are marking the day with environment-focused special events, according to USA Today. In major news this week, the Los Angeles Times covered a recent GBTA Foundation report showing China has surpassed the United States as the global leader in business travel spending. Entrepreneur also reported on the reasons behind…

China Overtakes the United States as World’s Largest Business Travel Market

China Overtakes the United States as World’s Largest Business Travel Market

While it is pretty much a photo finish, China edged past the United States in total business travel spending at the end of 2015 by a billion U.S. dollars making it the largest business travel market in the world. The two countries finished the year with $291.2 billion in spend compared to $290.2 billion, respectively,…

The Mexican Business Travel Industry: A Healthy Business Travel Industry is Driving Growth in all Regions of Country

The Mexican Business Travel Industry: A Healthy Business Travel Industry is Driving Growth in all Regions of Country

The Mexican economy boasts a highly fluid and sophisticated economy with a free flow of goods, services and business travelers throughout the country’s various regions and states. Business travel itself is a huge driver of the country’s economic growth and health – accounting for $263.2 billion Mexican Pesos (about $15 billion) in 2015. A recent…

GBTA Canada Conference Education Sessions Seek to Connect, Inspire and Unite Attendees

GBTA Canada Conference Education Sessions Seek to Connect, Inspire and Unite Attendees

Next week, GBTA Conference 2016 Toronto will kick off the largest business travel management event in Canada. GBTA is committed to delivering Canada’s most comprehensive educational and informational business travel management show as we look to connect, inspire and unite travel professionals across North America. In addition to a stellar line-up of speakers, the conference…

Week in Review
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Week in Review

GBTA’s Mike McCormick joined the Skift team this week along with Evan Konwiser, VP Digital Traveler for American Express Global Business Travel, to talk about how business travel is trying to become more traveler-friendly. Listen to the full podcast to hear more about traveler satisfaction, bleisure, technology in business travel and more. Also in Skift,…

Despite a Majority of Business Travellers that Prefer an OBT, Many still use other Options

Despite a Majority of Business Travellers that Prefer an OBT, Many still use other Options

It’s a common frustration among travel buyers: despite time, energy and resources that go into securing advantageous contracts with preferred air, ground and hotel providers, many business travelers still go outside of a business’ official travel channels such as a corporate online booking tool (OBT). A recent survey of European business travellers sponsored by Concur,…

How Successful are Travel Buyers at Communicating Company Travel Policy?
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How Successful are Travel Buyers at Communicating Company Travel Policy?

82 percent of travel buyers believe they successfully communicate their company’s travel policy, according to a new survey, Valuable Vendor Contract Add-ons: Prioritizing + Communicating = Saving. The survey, which was sponsored by Amadeus, found that travel buyers by and large feel they effectively communicate company travel policies regarding approved vendors and booking channels for…

GBTA Urges Call for Transparency Between Airlines and Business Travel Industry On Faring Issues

GBTA Urges Call for Transparency Between Airlines and Business Travel Industry On Faring Issues

This afternoon, GBTA issued the statement below on recent changes in fare structures on multi-city trips from several airlines: The buyer members of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) were frustrated with the marketplace news that United, Delta and American all changed fare structures on multi-city trips without any advance communication to corporate travel managers….

Is The Safety of Your Business Travelers Worth 45 Minutes?

Is The Safety of Your Business Travelers Worth 45 Minutes?

Today GBTA announced the launch of a new Travel Risk Management Maturity Model (TRM3™) Self-Assessment Tool created in partnership with iJET International. Duty of care is a major component of a travel buyer’s job. Travel security risks or medical emergencies can happen anywhere and anytime in today’s world, so it is imperative for organizations to…

Week in Review
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Week in Review

The aftermath of dealing with the tragic terror attacks in Brussels last week continued to dominate the news. The Economist’s Gulliver Business Travel blog wrote about why acts of terror are unlikely to stop business travelers from hitting the road. Travel Market Report’s Anna Gleskman reported on a GBTA poll showing 81 percent of global…

GBTA Poll Shows Vast Majority of Companies Have Effective Risk Management Plans
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GBTA Poll Shows Vast Majority of Companies Have Effective Risk Management Plans

Following the tragic terror attacks in Brussels, GBTA and our European partner associations conducted a lightning poll of our global members to assess the immediate impact and learn more about their company’s risk management plans. Below is the press release we issued today on the results. GBTA Poll Shows Vast Majority of Companies Have Effective…

The Critical Need for Duty of Care
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The Critical Need for Duty of Care

Once again, last week, the world watched in horror as scenes from another terrorist attack unfolded. Three attacks, coming just days after one another, were all in popular, busy sections of cities, where commuters, tourists and business professionals carried on with their day-to-day lives. Of course, as the world watches and mourns, life for bystanders…

For Travel Buyers, Negotiating Hotel Contracts Offers the Biggest Bang for the Buck
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For Travel Buyers, Negotiating Hotel Contracts Offers the Biggest Bang for the Buck

Where do travel buyers get the most valuable add-ons for the lowest cost to their organization? According to a new survey of over 100 travel buyers across North America sponsored by Amadeus, it is hotel contracts where travel buyers can provide the most sought add-ons for their travelers at the lowest cost to their organizations….

Statement & Information on Brussels Attacks
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Statement & Information on Brussels Attacks

*Updated March 28 at 10:20 AM ET* Today, GBTA issued the following quote from GBTA President Christle Johnson: “GBTA is deeply saddened by the news of the terrorist attacks this morning in Brussels,” said Christle Johnson, GBTA president. “Dozens of innocent people were killed in an attack that was more than just an attack on…