Last week”s Business Travel Show in London”s Earls Court proved a resounding success as thousands of visitors toured the hundreds of stands for advice, meetings and ways to improve their own enterprises.
And with economic uncertainty looming, the buzz around the show was one of how to travel smarter and more efficiently. No-one in the industry is advocating that travel be curtailed, but with all the technology now available, is it always necessary, or environmentally justifiable to jump on that aircraft?
Some of these issues were debated in the hugely successful Seminar programmes on the Centre Stage and elsewhere during the week. Ranging from the implications of the imminent Corporate Manslaughter Act in April, to the impact of Open Skies on corporate choice, the forums provided a genuinely stimulating arena for discussion and questions. A must-attend for next year.
Elsewhere, the Innovation Awards showcased what is best about the industry, from travel management and air travel to corporate social responsibility and ground transportation. And winner of the Gold Innovation Award this year was Sabre Travel Network for Sabre Virtually There.
”I”m really pleased with how the whole show went,” said BTS event director, David Chapple. ”Hundreds of buyers attended and the exhibitors were really happy.
”The conferences were full and the Centre Stage was really buzzing ” I”m already looking forward to another successful event in 2009.”
Full list of the Business Travel Show 2008 Innovation Awards winners
The categories were:
Accommodation
Winner: City Inn ” In-room multimedia business and entertainment solution with iMac
Air Travel
Winner: British Airways ” Club World Cabin
Corporate Social Responsibility
Winner: AirPlus ” Carbon offset feature of the AirPlus company account
Ground Transportation
Winner: Eurostar ” High speed rail on airline GDS display
Technology
Winner: Hilton Hotels ” Personalised online group (POG)
Traveller Service
Winner & Overall Gold Innovation Award Winner: Sabre Travel Network ” Sabre Virtually There
Travel Management Service
Winner: Carlson Wagonlit Travel ” Programme management centre