Call for Education Proposals – Brussels

GBTA is seeking industry professionals to contribute new ideas, solutions, and innovations for current issues and challenges that confront the travel industry. Now more than ever, content focused on the industry’s recovery will be critical. Our highest-rated presenters have challenged conventional wisdom and have been willing to share real “lessons learned.” Submission Portal closes 6 April 2022. View Email

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GBTA Conference 2022 - Brussels in Partnership with VDR 
8-10 November

NEWS TO KNOW
How Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Could Hurt Travel's Recovery
(SOURCE: CNN)

This was supposed to be a year of recovery for a travel industry hit hard by the global coronavirus pandemic. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have just changed that.

After two years of disrupted travel due to ever-changing Covid-19 restrictions, airlines and tour operators are once again bracing for closed skies, cancellations and a cloud of uncertainty over international travel.

More than 30 countries have so far closed their airspace to Russia, with Moscow reacting in kind. Russia's Civil Aviation Authority announced it has closed off its airspace to the carriers of at least 37 countries as of Tuesday. The airspace over Ukraine, Moldova and parts of Belarus also remains closed.

In the short-term this means flight cancellations or a diversion of air routes. But the long-term consequences for the travel industry could be much more far reaching. Here's why:

Rising fuel costs will hike travel prices
Global crude oil prices surged to more than $110 per barrel on Wednesday as investors fear Russian energy exports will be limited or halted as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.  

Lessons From International CES And The Return Of Large Events

Everyone across the business travel industry is now talking about continued, and hopefully accelerated, recovery as we move through the pandemic. Meetings, events and conferences are a critical part of our industry. But they are also areas that have been significantly impacted by the pandemic, essentially putting the brakes on in-person gatherings and especially larger ones. So how has this sector been navigating so far and how are they getting ready for what’s next?

Our latest GBTA podcast provides insights from guest Kara Dickerson, VP of Strategic Relationships and Conferences for the Consumer Technology Association or (CTA). CTA owns and operates the International Consumer Electronics Show, or (CES), one of the largest annual trade shows in the world. In 2021, due to the pandemic, CES was held as an all-digital event. But in 2022, CES returned to its home in Las Vegas and welcomed more than 40,000 attendees from over 119 countries.

In this episode, Dickerson explains some overarching trends in the large meetings and events space, what went in to returning to in-person events, lessons learned and valuable advice for organizations as they start to get back into hosting larger events and conferences.  

Arabian Travel Market 2022

On 11 May GBTA will be delivering its first in person education sessions as part of the Arabian Travel Market 2022. Looking at ‘The Future of Business Travel’ and ‘Building a Sustainable Business Travel Programme’ the sessions will address the critical issues facing our industry today. GBTA will also be hosting an buyer round table dinner to gather leading travel buyers in the region to share best practice and discuss these topics. Huge thanks to our content steering committee – Chris Pouney, Goldspring Consulting; Gemma Greenwood, Content Inc. and Emre Kirazci. Sofitel.