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GBTA Convention 2021 Sets The Pace For Business Travel’s Return

Byjcampbell

Business travel is on the road to recovery, as evidenced by the forecasts, insights and turnout at the Global Business Travel Association’s 2021 Convention held last week in Orlando, FL.    After navigating months of pandemic-related planning, the event—the world’s largest business travel expo annually—attracted over 3,500 registered professionals from more than 20 countries, and featured 170+ travel industry and expert speakers, 50 education sessions and 200+ exhibitors. The state of the industry, the future…

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From Setback To Surge: Business Travel Expected To Fully Recover by 2024

Byjcampbell

Business travel recovery in 2021 proceeded at a slower, more cautionary pace than expected from a year ago. However, global business travel spending is expected to surge in 2022 with full recovery expected in 2024–ending the year on pace with the 2019 pre-pandemic spend of $1.4 trillion, and a year sooner than previously forecast. This…

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Business Travel in Western Europe Expected to Fully Recover by 2024; Emerging Europe Set to Take Longer

Byjcampbell

Business travel recovery in 2021 proceeded at a slower, more cautionary pace than expected, particularly across Western Europe where business travel underperformed compared to other markets across the world. This is according to European-specific data from the latest business travel index–the BTI™ Outlook, from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel…

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Check-in With Suzanne

Byjcampbell

I wasn’t sure what I’d be feeling on the eve of this 2021 GBTA Convention. The GBTA Team is here in Orlando, connecting, collaborating and putting on the finishing touches as we get ready to welcome thousands of business travel industry colleagues, partners and friends after nearly a 2 ½ year pause for the pandemic….

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Check-in with Suzanne

Byjcampbell

Being an event, conference or meeting professional is an especially challenging role these days. At GBTA, we understand firsthand what the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) sector has been navigating.   Our plate has been full restarting our own in-person conferences now in Q4 on a regional basis – including in Canada, the US and Europe – as well as planning for 2022 to restart the topical meetings that were put on hold for over two years. There is a lot of pent-up…

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Politics of Travel Stop and Smell the roses with more clarity on International Travel

Byjcampbell

Anticipation is hitting me on so many levels. The U.S. House of Representatives may or may not vote on both the bi-partisan hard infrastructure AND the Build Back Better (BBB) plan on Thursday evening…I am writing this at 3:30 PM Thursday November 4 – its now 8:30 am Friday and they say a vote is happening…

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Politics of Travel Stop and Smell the roses with more clarity on International Travel

Byjcampbell

Anticipation is hitting me on so many levels. The U.S. House of Representatives may or may not vote on both the bi-partisan hard infrastructure AND the Build Back Better (BBB) plan on Thursday evening…I am writing this at 3:30 PM Thursday November 4 – its now 8:30 am Friday and they say a vote is happening…

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Check-In With Suzanne:

Byjcampbell

Last week I joined GBTA’s VP of Government Relations, Shane Downey, for an event in Washington, D.C. featuring U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, Chair of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade and Export Promotion. We were able to grab a few minutes with Senator Rosen to talk more about the proposed omnibus bill — the Travel and Tourism Act, aka the “TourBus” aimed at helping the industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.  This came on the…

Spotlight on Marilyn Markham, 2021 WINiT Top 50 Women in Travel Recipient

Byjcampbell

Marilyn Markham is the Head of the Salesforce Centre of Excellence at American Express Global Business Travel (GBT). In her role, she builds the operational platform necessary to enable modern digital experiences to manage travel for colleagues, business travelers and travel managers. Marilyn moved from London, UK, in 2018 to work in GBT’s New York…

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Check-In with Suzanne

Byjcampbell

What do you value? What do you worry about? We’re listening. Recently over 500 members made their voices heard in a survey about in-person attendance at the GBTA Convention next month. Many shared their enthusiasm:   “I need to connect with my prospects and partners in person and drive business along.”  “Getting back to travel and seeing what the breakout sessions will offer as we work to find our…

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Politics of Travel: Two doses needed for U.S. Travel, Facial Recognition and Bobby McGee

Byjcampbell

Well well here we are, all looking forward to meeting in person current business partners and new ones in Orlando! And Please don’t think convention is all about networking and business opportunities, the Convention is where you learn about the latest trends, tools and thought leadership in the outstanding education sessions and GBTA Main Stage….

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New International Border Openings Set to Accelerate Lift in Business Travel

Byjcampbell

Optimistic signs of return and tangible recovery in the business travel sector could be seen over the past month. In the latest poll from The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), half (52%) of industry respondents reported more optimism compared to September. October also saw an increase to 66% of those polled who said their companies…

Education Opportunities In The Thousands

Byjcampbell

 Education. Training. Professional Development. Upskilling. Learning. No matter what you call it, it matters and especially in these changing times. It not only benefits our professional journey and careers but also our personal growth. Education programming has always been a cornerstone of GBTA’s mission and value, delivering leading programs by and for members and…

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U.S. Lifts Restrictions on Some International Travel

Byjcampbell

Today, the Biden Administration announced its new travel policy that beginning November 8 foreign national air travelers can enter the United States with the requirement that they be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status to fly to the U.S. Fully vaccinated travelers will continue to be required to show a pre-departure negative test taken within…

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Check-In with Suzanne

Byjcampbell

Through the twists and turns that have marked the past 19 months, we’ve all continued to navigate to what’s next. For GBTA, that includes how to host an annual convention that re-connects the global business travel industry, safely and responsibly, after a break of over two years amid a lingering pandemic. Last week we all got some positive news. The Biden Administration announced the lifting of COVID-19-related travel restrictions beginning November 8 for fully…

Spotlight on Allison Ausband, 2021 WINiT Outstanding Woman of the Year Award

Byjcampbell

Allison Ausband is Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer for Delta Air Lines. She previously served as Senior Vice President — In-Flight Service, leading a team of 24,000 flight attendants, supervisory and support personnel around the globe, as well as Delta’s onboard global food and beverage operation and experience. Her key responsibilities included…

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Check-In with Suzanne

Byjcampbell

Education, learning and professional development sometimes don’t get the credit they deserve for how much they do to inform, inspire, engage and advance us. But at GBTA, they are not unsung heroes–they are the stars.    When it comes to volume, breadth and relevancy, GBTA takes deep pride in leading the industry in year-round learning and…

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Politics of Travel: Delayed Passage of Infrastructure Bill, NetZero Air Emissions and the Last Unvaxed Train to Clarksville

Byjcampbell

It is the end of the first week of October! So many things are coming up, Canadian Workshops, GBTA Convention, U.S. Thanksgiving, the best day of the year,  GBTA Conference Europe 2021 and Christmas! I will happily send you my letter to Santa. BUT before we get there, we must first finish the Politics of Travel. As for the…

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Spotlight on Maren Hanschke, 2021 WINiT Top 50 Women in Travel Recipient

Byjcampbell

Born in Germany and based out of Mexico,  Maren Hanschke brings with her more than 20 years of travel industry experience, specializing in Business Travel and Global TMC´s. She graduated with a Business Management Degree at the Universidad Iberoamericana Golfo Centro in Puebla, Mexico and is fluent in 3 Languages. Consolidating and structuring the FCM…

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Check-In With Suzanne

Byjcampbell

Hi everyone!   I recently spoke with a journalist for a Bloomberg article who asked the question: “What will a strong recovery for business travel look like and when will it happen?” After some discussion, we pretty much landed on: “It depends how you’re measuring recovery and also whom you ask.”    The question came on the heels of the Biden Administration’s loosening of restrictions for international travel to the U.S. This was welcome news across our industry, in the U.S and globally. But we also…

Spotlight on Silke Koehnecke, 2021 WINiT Top 50 Women in Travel Recipient

Byjcampbell

Proudly connecting People to what is important in their lives since 1999. Silke began her Southwest Airlines journey in Marketing and has since served in a variety of Leadership positions in Corporate Sales, Business Development, and currently Southwest Business where she is part of the Leadership Team responsible for the business travel sales strategy for…

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Check-In with Suzanne

Byjcampbell

Fifty days and counting until the business travel industry comes together as we have for so many years. Once again at GBTA Convention 2021 we’ll learn, connect and do business, while making health and safety a priority. But we also know due to current circumstances, some may not be able to attend in-person this year.  We want everyone to…

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Communications During the Pandemic and Associated Risks

Byjcampbell

It has been approximately 18 months since the inception of the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19, and the world has become used to the “new normal”.  During this time there has been a multitude of information available regarding travel, safety, health, and wellness. It is important to communicate succinctly to employees, travelers, and customers.  The volume of…

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Check-In with Suzanne:

Byjcampbell

Many are enjoying the last days of seasonal breaks, kids are headed back to school, and the last business quarter of 2021 is around the corner. And typically, the weeks ahead are busy ones for business travel, meetings and conferences. But thanks to the realities of the ongoing pandemic, again this year, the world looks different.   And that includes for…

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Politics of Travel Help Needed on Legislative Push, Grandma Jim’s Rollercoaster

Byjcampbell

I am pondering how to describe the last two weeks and it is getting late – so here you go. It was a dark and stormy Wednesday and I was looking forward to a long weekend away from DC spent at a good friend’s (since 1st grade) wedding. But I was also growing flummoxed on how…

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GBTA’s Suzanne Neufang Testifies On Business Travel and Travel Recovery For Senate Subcommittee Hearing

Byjcampbell

Suzanne Neufang, GBTA CEO, was among the experts who testified before a Senate subcommittee on reviving the travel and tourism industry. Witnesses provided the Committee with feedback on the Travel and Tourism Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at helping the industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch Suzanne’s six-minute opening statement below or read the written…

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Business Travel Continues Slowed Recovery While Some Companies Consider New Travel Program Approaches

Byjcampbell

Alexandria, VA – Despite continuing to report an overall willingness and optimism for the return to business travel, business travel industry sentiment continues to waver, due to ongoing uncertainty around the Delta variant and other variants. However, indicators show companies and their corporate travel managers may be looking at new focus areas and ways of working…

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Spotlight on Mary Kohler, 2021 WINiT Top 50 Women in Travel Recipient

Byjcampbell

As Sr. Director, Global Client Group, Mary leads a global client team, providing global integrated solutions both on-line and off-line to help Fortune 500 companies manage and optimize their travel investment through consultation on process and purchasing savings, innovative solutions and traveler experience. Mary possesses thirty years of successful management in employee, customer and supplier…

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Global Business Travel Association Canada Looks Forward to Working with New Federal Government

Byjcampbell

Toronto, Ontario – Today, the Global Business Travel Association Canada (GBTA Canada) congratulated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on forming Canada’s new Federal government. GBTA Canada also commended the other party leaders, candidates and volunteers for their effort in this historic election. “GBTA Canada congratulates Prime Minister Trudeau on forming Canada’s new Federal government and looks…

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Politics of Travel Updates on Canada and EU, Reaction to US position and French Fries

Byjcampbell

Happy September! I don’t know about you, but work hit me like a wrecking ball the Tuesday after Labor Day. We have a lot of items to cover, so sit back, read, and listen to this special song about how I feel about our global elected officials coming back.  CANADIAN ROAM: As of midnight Monday night, the Canadian government…

Spotlight on Michelle Ward, 2021 WINiT Top 50 Women in Travel Recipient

Byjcampbell

Michelle is a highly seasoned sales professional with 19 years of experience with Best Western/BWH Hotel group and over 25 years in the hospitality industry building relationships and creating new solutions for partnerships that deliver results for customers and hoteliers. What advice would you give to women just starting their careers in business travel?  Stay…

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Check-in with Suzanne

Byjcampbell

Last week I presented on the topic of business travel recovery at a Citi Client Conference for an audience of senior procurement professionals from FTSE200 organizations. Also presenting was Ulrika Rosén, Travel & Meeting Manager for Tetra Pak, a leading global food processing and packaging company who said her company hasn’t stopped traveling throughout the pandemic. She said the company has more compliant travelers now than they had pre-pandemic – because business travelers can’t travel on auto-pilot anymore.  That struck home. Even experienced travelers are having to adapt to the new reality – one of more complexity and…

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GBTA Calls For Details On Return To International Travel

Byjcampbell

Alexandria, VA  – GBTA supports the goals of the six-point plan to tackle the surge of COVID-19 put forth by President Biden today. The importance of vaccinations and testing are important and GBTA fully supports these initiatives. However, we were disappointed that another week has gone by without any details from the COVID Task Forces on when or…

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How Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Reshape Corporate Meeting and Event Planning?

Byjcampbell

 In this episode of The Business of Travel, Chris Ely, Research Director, GBTA and Julie Haddix, Senior Director, Industry Solutions, Cvent discuss how the coronavirus pandemic will reshape corporate meeting and event planning. This discussion, based on a recent GBTA research study sponsored by Cvent, examines how corporate meetings and events will evolve as…

Delta variant impact on business travel’s recovery

Byjcampbell

 Has the Delta variant and other variants thrown a curve ball into the path of business travel’s recovery? How is the industry feeling now? And what do they expect for the months ahead? In this GBTA COVID-19 Recovery Poll podcast, Mark Sharoff, Research Manager, and Debbie Iannaci, head of Communications take a look at…

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Global Business Travel Association Welcomes the Return of International Travel in Canada

Byjcampbell

Toronto, Ontario – The Global Business Travel Association Canada (GBTA Canada) welcomed the return of international travel (essential and non-essential) to Canada, for fully vaccinated travellers from across the globe. While the Government of Canada loosened restrictions for international travel into Canada over the last several weeks, most business travel into the country continued to…