Best HR Practices Award Nominations Now Open

WINiT by GBTA is now accepting nominations for the inaugural WINiT Awards. The WINiT Awards recognize the women, men and companies who together, are driving positive change for the career mobility of women in travel-related industries. As part of the Company Achievement Awards category, WINiT would like to celebrate a company with the Best HR Practices…

Traveler Satisfaction is the Buzz Phrase of Our Industry

A new survey by the Global Business Association in partnership with Dinova has found that only one in five companies have traveler satisfaction programs. Another 29 percent are working on programs and 50 percent said they have no plans to create one, according to the new research released today. The results were based on an…

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New Research: Business Travelers Seek Personalized Options & Payment Efficiencies

Alexandria, VA (July 17, 2019) – Business travelers want hotel options that are convenient, personalized and competitively priced with amenities. New research from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), in partnership with HRS, highlights these preferences while also demonstrating that many corporate travel buyers underestimate how important these elements are for their travelers. The global…

Building and Managing a Travel Program is an Exercise in Balance

Business travelers prefer to book hotels that are close to their work assignments and competitively priced, according to a new survey by the Global Business Travel Association in partnership with HRS. Many corporate travel buyers recognize the importance of practical factors such as proximity and price. But it’s those elements that are key to the…

Companies Better Beware When it Comes to GDPR

The European Union last week imposed fines on two major travel companies under its privacy and data protection law, which went into effect a year ago. Marriott International, the largest hotel company in the world, and British Airways were both ordered to pay millions of dollars in fines under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation,…

Hometown CEOs to Take Center Stage at GBTA Convention 2019

Alexandria, VA (July 15, 2019) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, today unveiled its first Center Stage panel for GBTA Convention 2019, held August 3-7 in Chicago. The session is made possible by RoomIt by CWT. The panel, Hometown CEOs Take Center Stage, will feature two…

Cvent Wraps Successful CONNECT Conference in Vegas

Cvent just wrapped up its annual Cvent CONNECT conference in Las Vegas, and the meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider announced a few new and expanded programs for meeting planners. Here’s what travel buyers may expect to see in the future. A few highlights: Trade Shows Could Get Easier Marketers and trade show managers will…

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Airlines Stepping Up Efforts to Lure Corporate Travelers

While business travelers account for a small percentage of their customers, they are typically twice as lucrative for airlines. Many carriers have been improving their fleets of aircraft, building new lounges, offering more amenities, and creating special programs for their corporate customers. “We’re deeply focused on improving the experience for all customers, including Corporate customers,”…

Nominations for Company Achievement Awards Now Open

WINiT by GBTA is now accepting nominations for the inaugural WINiT Awards. The WINiT Awards recognize the women, men and companies who together, are driving positive change for the career mobility of women in travel-related industries. As part of the Company Achievement Awards category, an organization that supports the professional development of women will be recognized…

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Weekly News Roundup

Delta Air Lines Improves Economy Service Delta Air Lines is improving its economy service on international flights. Airlines have long been criticized for dialing down their service. But on Delta, passengers will now be welcomed by a purser or lead flight attendant. They will get a personal greeting. And shortly after departure, they will get…

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How Will NDC Impact the Travel Buying Industry?

Increasingly corporate travel buyers continue hearing about NDC, or New Distribution Capability. NDC allows airlines and travel agents to make the booking process easier and offer clients more options. It is a set of XML standards that was developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association for the world’s airlines. At a…

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What Are Companies Doing to Educate and Protect Female Employees Traveling Alone?

Women traveling alone face all the usual frustrations that regular people do: plane delays, fatigue, difficulty finding healthy food. But they can come up against other greater risks: sexual harassment or assault, gender-specific health problems, or kidnapping, to name a few. The number of female business travelers has increased over the years as they have…

Message From the Office of the President – GBTA Convention 2019 Update

*This post was also sent as an email to GBTA members.* We are in the home stretch for GBTA Convention 2019 and while we are working diligently to make sure this is the best Convention ever; we are still working on many other projects. See below for a brief update on the latest GBTA happenings….

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Weekly News Roundup

Beijing’s new airport is completed Construction of Beijing’s new international airport has been completed, and flights will begin later this year, China’s Xinhuanet.com reports. The new airport is known as Beijing Daxing International Airport though its official name has not yet been released. Located about 28 miles from Beijing’s city center, the new airport will…

GBTA Names Lisa Censullo New Executive Vice President

Alexandria, VA (June 28, 2019) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, today announced Lisa Censullo as its new Executive Vice President. In this newly designed role, she will partner closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors on developing a strategic plan and operating model, impacting…

Best Male Mentor or Coach Nominations Now Open

WINiT by GBTA is now accepting nominations for the inaugural WINiT Awards. The WINiT Awards recognize the women, men and companies who together, are driving positive change for the career mobility of women in travel-related industries. Nominate a male leader who champions women in the travel industry for the Best Mentor or Best Coach Award. The…

Andy Cohen to Deliver Keynote at GBTA Convention 2019

Alexandria, VA (June 27, 2019) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, today announced Emmy Award-winning host, producer, and author Andy Cohen as a featured speaker at the 51st edition of GBTA Convention 2019, held August 3-7 in Chicago. Cohen’s keynote address will take place at the Convention…

Travel Management Companies are on a Shopping Spree These Days

American Express Global Business Travel, the largest travel management company in the world, said it plans to acquire Germany’s DER Business Travel, the corporate arm of the DER Touristik Group. With the acquisition, American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) will grow its presence in Germany. Frankfurt-based DER Business Travel has 42 locations across Germany with…

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Weekly News Roundup

FAA bans U.S. flights over Iranian airspace The Federal Aviation Administration has banned U.S. airlines from flying over Iranian airspace in the wake of escalating tension over the two nations. All flights above the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are prohibited for U.S. carriers “until further notice due to heightened military activities and increased…

Nominate Your Best Female Mentor or Coach for the WINiT Awards

WINiT by GBTA is now accepting nominations for the inaugural WINiT Awards. The WINiT Awards recognize the women, men and companies who together, are driving positive change for the career mobility of women in travel-related industries. Do you know a woman who makes a determined effort to elevate others? The WINiT Awards would like to recognize…

GBTA Board of Directors Election Absentee Ballot Request Process Now Open

*Please note the following post was sent as an email to GBTA Members directly from the Election Services Co. on June 20, 2019. If you are a Direct or Allied member of GBTA and did not receive this email, please reach out to GBTAhelp@electionservicescorp.com for assistance.* Make Your Voice Heard – Determine the Future of GBTA Absentee…

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Guest Post: What Does the Next Generation Storefront Mean for Business Travel?

The Next Generation Storefront was a topic of discussion at the fifth annual GBTA Ladders Summit, a gathering of the travel industry’s most talented professionals to exchange ideas on how to navigate and lead the travel industry. The discussion was led by moderator Dena Fradette, Head of Travel Partnerships at TravelBank, and panelists Anne Kolodziej,…

Google Shutting Down Trips App in Favor of Google Travel

Google Trips app users need to mark this date: Aug. 5. That’s when the app will officially shut down. The app debuted in September 2016 and became a handy tool for frequent business travelers. It would help them organize all their airplane, hotel, car rental, and other reservations in one place, information which would normally…

GBTA Notice of Annual Meeting

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING Annual Report; Election of Directors; Absentee Ballot Request Instructions and Timelines   Notice of Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), Inc. (“GBTA”) will be held on August 5, 2019, at 10:15am in Chicago at McCormick Place on Center Stage in Grand Ballroom S100. Election of…

GBTA Named Honorable Mention Recipient in Prestigious Ragan PR Daily Awards in Two Categories: Media Day and Redesigned Website

Alexandria, VA (June 17, 2019) — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, has been named an honorable mention recipient in Ragan’s 2018 PR Daily Awards in the Press Event or Media Tour category for its Media Day and in the Website category for its Redesigned Website. Ragan…

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GBTA Pulses Buyer Members on Confidence Around Boeing MAX Aircraft

In March 2019, airlines and governments around the world grounded the Boeing 737 MAX in response to a fault in the aircraft’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) which resulted in two crashes in October 2018 and March 2019. In May 2019, Boeing completed a software update and developed updated pilot training. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg…

WINiT By GBTA Volunteer of the Year Award Nominations Now Open

WINiT by GBTA is now accepting nominations for the inaugural WINiT Awards. The WINiT Awards recognize the women, men and companies who together, are driving positive change for the career mobility of women in travel-related industries. Every volunteer deserves to shine, and WINiT is looking to cast the spotlight on the brightest volunteer of the year….

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REAL ID: What You Need to Know

Now is a good time to look at your driver’s license and consider getting a new one. Starting Oct. 1, 2020, only driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet increased security standards will be accepted by the federal government to board commercially operated flights. The same will apply to anyone who wants to enter a…