The Business Travel Show is Europe’s largest specialised exhibition and conference for buyers and managers of business travel.
It takes place on 25-26 February 2015 at Olympia Grand in London. At 21 years old, the long established and reputable event provides business travel buyers and managers with access to suppliers, knowledge and contacts to help them develop successful travel programmes.
1) Forward thinking travel solutions – around 250 business travel suppliers, from Qatar Airways to Carlson Rezidor, Virgin Trains and Sixt Rent a Car, will be on hand to showcase the brightest innovations in business travel.
2) Get ahead on the year ahead – cost cuttings, cost saving and budget stretching is still a high priority for many travel managers so don’t miss the annual Forecasting Forum at midday on Wednesday 25 February.
3) Be bang on trend - the first Business Travel Show Corporate Travel Industry Trend Report analyses and compares data from buyer surveys dating back to 2008 to provide rare insight into the trends that have shaped the industry. It is available as a free download to everyone who pre-registers/attends.
4) The big five for ’15 – find out why airline pricing, cost control, compliance, increased hotel rates and traveller safety are five of the biggest issues affecting business travel and the impact they will have on buyers in 2015 with key sessions in the conference programme.
5) Global hotel giants – featuring leading global and local hotel providers including IHG, Carlson Rezidor, Hilton, NH Hotels, Best Western and Melia Hotels International, the popular International Hotel Village returns for a second year and has doubled in size, providing overseas accommodation inspiration. The ASAP Serviced Apartment Pavilion also returns, has increased in size and is featured alongside the brand new International Serviced Apartment Pavilion. Together, they provide a great source for discovering alternative accommodation solutions through a wide range of serviced apartment providers.
6) To share or not to share – with the rise and rise of disruptive travel suppliers, such as Airbnb, which are now pitching to the corporate market, find out whether buyers should be embracing them or keeping them at arm’s length in the 10am panel session on Thursday 26 February.
7) Network with the best to become the best – more than 6,500 travel professionals attend the Business Travel Show, many senior buyers with global remits and budgets in the millions. That’s a lot of expertise and experience to share and benefit from making a real difference to the way buyers buy and manage travel in the future.
8) Get the lowdown on NDC– NDC has been on the agenda for over a year now, yet 63 per cent of buyers still feel too ill informed to decide if they are in favour or against. Industry expert Amon Cohen will moderate us through a panel session to explain, once and for all, how NDC will affect travel programmes.
9) Comply or die – with 74 per cent of travellers still booking outside policy, compliance is a major focus in this year’s conference programme, including Wednesday’s roundtable session ‘Let’s Talk Policy Compliance,’ which looks at whether buyers should be tightening or loosening policy, how to drive business towards preferred suppliers, and whether it’s even relevant to the Millennial generation.
10) Two shows in one – the Business Travel Show runs alongside Travel Technology Europe and a visitor pass gives buyers access to both shows.
Registration is open now at www.businesstravelshow.com. Pre-registering guarantees fast track entry and qualifies visitors for our free Corporate Travel Industry Trend Report, courtesy of Business Travel IQ, the complete knowledge resource for business travel buying professionals.
BBT is media partner for The Business Travel Show