In this second episode of the Carbon Compass, host Kelsey Frenkiel, GBTA, is joined by Albena Taseva, WSAudiology, and Townsend Bailey, IHG Hotels & Resorts, to discuss the GBTA Foundation’s Sustainable Procurement Standards (SPS). Together they will dive deep into the background of SPS, challenges for buyers and suppliers, guidelines for implementation, and more.   The Business of Travel Podcast is your ultimate guide to navigating the ever-evolving realm of business travel. Each...

Reflections on the Big Idea: Artificial Intelligence  In this episode of The Business of Travel podcast, join host Kevin Fliess, GBTA, as he speaks with Yannis Karmis, BCD Travel and Aurelie Krau, travel tech geek and innovation consultant, to discuss the findings of the Big Ideas sessions at GBTA Europe Conference and GBTA APAC Conference and what might be on the horizon for AI in the business travel industry.   The Business of Travel Podcast is your ultimate guide to navigating the...

Globally, business travel is moving into a new and next chapter. But how do global transformation and trends in how people are traveling for work now compare – or contrast – to the realities and experiences for key regions around the world? In this podcast, Europe-based GBTA Board President, Mark Cuschieri, is joined for a topical discussion by fellow Board members and regional-based industry leaders. Hear market-by-market insights from Peter Koh, Ex-Officio Member for APAC, Liz Oliveria,...

In this episode, Risk Committee members are discussing the importance of individual profile risk for business travelers. They are focusing on how a specific traveler's unique set of factors and characteristics can impact their safety and well-being during a trip, which is referred to as individual profile risk in travel risk management. These factors encompass personal health considerations, cultural awareness, travel experience, and behavior. Our experts will explore methods for obtaining...

Welcome to the Carbon Compass, a sustainability and planet-focused subseries of the Business of Travel podcast.  In each episode, we will unveil inspiring stories, innovative strategies, and impactful initiatives from special guests: Leaders committed to steering the course toward a more sustainable future for business travel. Together, we explore, unpack, and demystify the world of sustainability in business travel.  In this first episode, Mike Nicholus, Global Operations Environment...

Travel Management in the Age of AI  In 2023, AI took a prominent role in the tech landscape. This shift had significant implications for companies using managed travel solutions. At the corporate level, AI influenced insights and policies, while travel managers and employees benefited from streamlined experiences. In this episode, Vineet Taneja, VP Product Management with Brex, explores Brex's use of AI in travel and expense management. Looking forward, the discussion highlights AI's role in...

This is the second episode in GBTA's quarterly series focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and business travel. This episode explores how airlines and hotels are leveraging AI to improve revenue management, operations, sustainability, and the traveler experience - today. Host Kevin Fliess welcomes Alex Cosmas and Ryan Mann, partners at McKinsey with extensive experience in aviation, hospitality, and digital transformation in the travel industry.  The panel explores how AI empowers...

Business of Travel  Behind the Scenes at COP28: A Global Business Travel Perspective  December 14, 2023    In this bonus episode of the Business of Travel podcast, Suzanne Neufang, GBTA’s CEO is joined by Delphine Millot, GBTA's Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Advocacy, to share insights after attending COP28 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. They discuss the scale and significance of the event, the importance of collaboration between...

Embrace the essence of what's shaping global business travel today with this podcast featuring insights from GBTA Board buyer and supplier members.  Moderator and Board President, Mark Cuschieri, reflects on the association's key milestones in 2023 and is joined by fellow Board members, Rosemary Maloney and Mike Daly, to discuss and provide insights on what lies ahead for the industry in 2024.  They address emerging trends, topics, and top-of-mind concerns for the industry in the...

The intent of this podcast is to educate our membership on the Human Trafficking in Canada from a Meeting Professional, Accommodation and law enforcement perspective in Canada. We will define human trafficking and outline who is at risk from whom and where. We will outline the key sectors that HT is found and what steps travelers can take to help and initiatives in place to improve the situation. We will review Canadian legislation around HT and how that can help. We review what types of...

Travel has seen a shift from Duty of Care to Duty TO Care and the wellbeing of travelers is a key part of that shift. When we take care of travelers, they perform better and are happier and healthier individuals. New technology solutions are enabling better care of travelers and this discussion with industry experts Romain Aubanel, Jack and Ferdi and Josh Gunn, CTM will discuss redefining wellbeing, what data and analytics are telling us and the role of technology. This podcast is moderated...

Business of Travel  Using Technology for Simple Meetings Success  October 20, 2023  In-person meetings and events are driving industry stabilization and the increasing volume is requiring new approaches. Meetings are coming back strong and this discussion with industry experts Ciaran Delany, Hubli and Meredith Smith FESTIVE ROAD, will give you the trends and insights into how companies are using technology to address challenges and see success. This podcast is moderated by Laurie Scott and...

In this episode, John Morhous, Chief Experience Officer at Flight Centre Travel Group, and Amir Amidi, Managing Partner in Travel and Hospitality at Plug and Play, join Tara Erwin, Communications and Public Relations Manager with GBTA discuss Flight Centre's digital journey, the distinction between internal and third-party innovation projects, the impact of AI on the travel industry, KPIs for measuring innovation success, and share startup success stories within Flight Centre's digital...

In the inaugural episode of "GBT-AI," a series exploring the role that AI has to play in business travel, host Kevin Fliess, GBTA's Chief Marketing Officer, brings together a panel of experts in the field of artificial intelligence and business travel. Joining the discussion are Tom Allen, CEO at AI Journal; Sam Hilgendorf, CIO at Fox World Travel; and Mat Orrego, CEO and co-founder of Cornerstone Information Systems. This episode serves as the foundation for a long-term conversation on the...

Business of Travel  There is Power in Women Supporting Each Other in the Workplace  September 22, 2023     Having programs for women in the workplace is considered table stakes for most companies, but in order to drive meaningful progress, more needs to be done.  Cynthia Barnes and Jennifer Miranda from American Airlines discuss their experiences and the benefits from being a part of their company’s women’s leadership programs as well as the impact that formal and informal...

GBTA’s Advanced Principles of Business Travel Management has been a core professional development offering for business travelers for nearly a decade. This course is designed for travel buyers overseeing a managed business travel program and suppliers offering travel-related products and services. It serves as the next step after GBTA’s Fundamentals courses as well as a preparatory course for individuals interested in taking the Global Travel Professional (GTP) Examination.  Instructor Sandy...

A discussion on how your corporate travel policy can reflect the LGBTQ+ business traveler in 2023. Organizations have an obligation to ensure their workforce is safe, regardless of individual profiles, and it is essential that your travel risk management program acknowledges and plans for the diverse risks faced by its LGBTQ+ employees. How can travel and security managers ensure the safety of their LBGTQ+ employees while respecting individuals’ privacy and autonomy? What do the recent...

Brought to you by the US Accommodations Committee. In the third installment of the GBTA Accommodation Committee's Hotel Sourcing Podcast Series, Steven Van Overmeiren (Baker McKenzie), John Berkley (Tripbam), Lukasz Dabrowski (HRS), Iggy Fisher (Club Quarters), and Chris Massucci (Marriott) discuss a macro view of current industry trends and what we can expect to see as we head into the traditional sourcing season for 2024 hotel programs. They discuss expectations regarding volume, rates, and...

In this podcast, we discuss GBTA Ladders and speak with the Season 9 winning team, Travel Change! The group discusses the premise of their project and how rounding up on every travel transaction can be a force for change in today’s world!   Moderating the discussion is Grace Morrisey, Director, Travel & Expense, General Atlantic and GBTA Ladders Co-Chair who is joined by members of the Season 9 winning team: •    Anja Turner, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, BCD Travel ...

New Distribution Capability (NDC) has been around for over a decade in the travel industry – but now the effort has accelerated. In a recent GBTA poll, 53% of business travel industry professionals said airlines are trying to roll out NDC too quickly. So where does the industry stand now on NDC and what’s next? In this podcast, experts discuss their view on how NDC is impacting the industry ecosystem, how execution has been going - from readiness to uptake, what’s going well and what’s...

Brought to you by the GBTA Meetings & Events Europe Committee. Dan Humby, VP Sales Europe with Groups360 and co-chair of the GBTA Meetings & Events Europe Committee, is joined by fellow committee members travel buyers, Jennifer Pape, Global Meetings & Events Manager with Shell, and Jason Hart, Strategic Sourcing Manager with Amgen. Their discussion explores the most prominent trends in the Meetings & Events space at the moment and aims to understand how they’re impacting...

The GBTA Tech Committee brings you the podcast version of the Tech Safari Series which showcases new technologies launching cutting-edge solutions in business travel. In this episode, Mike Daly, Chair of the GBTA Tech Committee, will interview expert data analyst and serial entrepreneur, Jean Belanger, CEO and Founder of Cerebri AI.   Amidst the recent chaos surrounding NDC, the significance of travel analytics has soared to new heights. Accompanied by sustainability and DEI initiatives, as...

This GBTA WINiT podcast explores the transformative impact of female angel investors in the startup ecosystem. In this episode, we speak with Cara Whitehill, advisor, and angel investor at her firm, Unlock Advisors, where she has taken early-stage startups from 0-1 and larger organizations from $10m-$100m+ in revenue growth. We’ll discuss the journey - including her roots in the travel industry – that got her to angel investing. We also delve into the untapped potential and value that women...

Discussing key types of agreements for the meetings and events supply chain to include NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements), MSA (Master Services Agreement), and RFP (request for proposal).   Shauna Whitehead, GBTA Meetings & Events Committee Donna Patrick, Abbott     Music track is Space Jazz by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/