Week in Review

As passengers fled a burning plane in Moscow last week, some individuals grabbed their luggage. The New York Times published an article exploring the unpredictable human psyche in traumatic situations like an emergency evacuation or a natural disaster.

The World Travel & Tourism Council is launching a global taskforce to combat human trafficking, 4Hoteliers notes. The human trafficking industry is worth a shocking $150 billion annually and entraps 40 million individuals worldwide.

Google just announced a major revamp of its travel planning tools, HotelMarketing’com notes. Travelers can now view all of their existing bookings and information pertaining to previously reserved trips all in one spot.

According to Business Traveller, Japan’s All Nippon Airways will trial self-driving electric wheelchairs at Tokyo Narita International Airport. The airline would like to increase accessibility options for travelers with mobility issues.

The Asia Pacific region witnessed nearly 700 million international arrivals in 2018, 4Hoteliers reports. The region saw just under 562 million visitors in 2014, and the annual growth of visitors has increased consistently every year.

Peer-to-peer car-sharing companies are facing heat from the car rental industry, CityLab notes. In 34 state legislatures, lawmakers are considering bills that would require these companies to abide by the guidelines already established for rental car companies, like paying the same taxes and following certain safety requirements.

In other car rental news, TechRadar claims Lyft is experimenting with car rental for a small pool of individuals in San Francisco. The company is currently offering traditional car rentals to

GBTA announced nominees for the 2019 GBTA Board of Directors this week. Elections will be held Monday through Tuesday, August 5-6 at GBTA Convention 2019 in Chicago. Click here for more information on voting in this year’s election.

According to Skift, Japan is testing the world’s fastest high-speed train. Scheduled to run in 2030, the Alfa-X bullet train would be capable of speeds of up to 400 kilometers (249 miles) per hour.

The fifth annual GBTA Ladders Summit took place in Washington, D.C. this week, bringing together over 120 professionals spanning multiple travel industry sectors. Individuals from across the globe convened to exchange ideas and collaborate on best practices for navigating and leading our industry. Read about the highlights from the first day of the conference.