The Business Travel Show has confirmed that Airbnb’s head of business development will be one of its speakers at next year’s event.
Marc McCabe will feature on a panel session that will be calling on the corporate travel industry to wake up to the sharing economy.
The company, which is also exhibiting at the Business Travel Show for the first time, is at the forefront of the peer-to-peer service industry and began actively chasing the business travel market earlier this year.
McCabe will take part in the debate alongside Ajay Thakkar from NH Hotels, Isabel Montesdeoca of Concur and BCD Travel’s Claudia Unger.
“The sharing economy is one of the hottest business debates of the year and ccompanies like Airbnb have attracted massive publicity following their success in the leisure market,” commented Business Travel Show event director David Chapple.
“Now they are going after business travellers, it’s critical that buyers stand up and take note. This panel session will debate, for example, whether corporate travel buyers should allow companies like Airbnb into their travel programme, whether they are going to end up costing more or less than conventional travel suppliers and whether there are risks which could compromise duty of care. It’s an absolute must-attend session.”
The Business Travel Show takes place on 25-26 February at Olympia Grand in London. Register for a free visitor pass at www.businesstravelshow.com/register