As the industry gathers for the final day of the Business
Travel Show, we take a look at few highlights from today’s conference
programme.
Thursday, 27 February
1000-1100 – London Room – Take ownership of your travel technology
The role of the travel manager is increasingly evolving towards curating tech
offerings from an ever- wider range of start-ups and well-established
providers. But how do you choose the right offerings and plug them all
together? Who 'owns' and puts together your tech stack: you, your TMC, or your
lead tech provider? Learn how you can take control of your tech destiny.
1130-1230 – Pillar Hall – Are travel suppliers choosing
their clients instead of the other way around?
TMCs, airlines and hotels say they are becoming much more careful about who
they do business with. Is this really true? And, if so, how do they decide who
they will accept as customers, and how should buyers adjust to get the best
possible deals? This session is chaired by Jen Bankard, director of content
solutions and conferences at the BTN Group.
1130-1230 – London Room – Alternative accommodation: Is it
time to include the new providers in your travel programme?
Travel managers continue to be wary of home-stay providers but travellers are
using them anyway, and the new-gen suppliers are working hard to become more
corporate-friendly. Is it time to rethink how you work with this sector? And
what about alternatives to 'alternative accommodation', like serviced
apartments? Could they be the ideal compromise? This session is chaired by
David Meyer, executive director of conference content and strategy at the BTN
Group.
1230-1250 – Wellness Retreat – Mental health in travel: A
new perspective?
In this session, XenZone's CCO Annie Meharg
will be presenting early insights from Kooth Work's National Travel Survey and
discussing how employers can deploy a range of positive workplace initiatives
to provide better mental health for employees on the move.
1300-1310 – Pillar Hall – Business
Travel Show Innovation Faceoff Results
Our judging panel present their findings and award the winner with the
Innovation Faceoff award. The winner of the People’s Choice Award chosen by
fellow buyers will also be announced.
1310-1410 – Pillar Hall – How AI
is changing the way you manage business travel – and what you can do about it
AI is starting to transform ' often in unseen ways ' the way your travellers
search, book and receive assistance during their trips. Pricing, supplier
selection, policy compliance and duty of care are all affected. Our experts
spell out what AI is, how it's already being used and how it will reshape your
travel programme now and in the future. This session is chaired by
Elizabeth West, editorial director of the BTN Group.
1430-1530 – Pillar Hall –
Forecasting Forum 2020: The travel price and risk outlook for the next 12
months
What's going to happen to air and hotel pricing in the year ahead? And what and
where are the major risk hotspots likely to be? Don't miss our ever-popular
crystal ball session that sets out what every travel manager should be thinking
about for the rest of 2020 and beyond. This session is chaired by Michael
Baker, senior editor transportation at Business Travel News (BTN).