GBTA Looks Into Crystal Ball For Future Predictions Of Airline and Travel Management Industry During Day Two of the Strategic Travel Symposium

The fate of the airline industries and the future of travel management were among the hot topics discussed on the final day of the 2011 Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)'s Strategic Travel Symposium (STS). Designed to inform, connect and educate travel professionals, industry leaders and media on the latest trends affecting the industry, GBTA's STS concluded yesterday at the Hilton New York in New York City.



In Tuesday's first session, "The Hottest Topic: Airline Strategies and the Shape of Things to Come," Mike Boyd, president, Boyd Group International, provided attendees with a colorful discussion on airline trends. Boyd began by telling the crowd that the airline industry needs to be thinking globally, not nationally. "Going forward, the carriers with no international access will be behind the curve in this country." He stated that global alliances would eclipse local national strategies. He also predicted that "it is the alliance that will be the brand in 10 years."



Joe Bates, GBTA Foundation director of Market Research, moderated a panel, "The Future of Management" which discussed how the industry is changing and what the future holds for the travel manager. The panelists discussed how companies are leaving profits on the table by not managing their travel programs. "Travel managers are increasing their company's profitability, and building company loyalty by making the traveler comfortable and safe," said panelist, Cindy Gillen, national director, Procurement and Travel, BDO. "I consider myself to be a collaboration manager." Panelists were in agreement that the role of the travel manager is expanding and that the best way to communicate travel's ROI is to have a well balanced managed travel program.



Today GBTA announced former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former e-BAY CEO Meg Whitman will be keynote speakers at the 2011 GBTA Convention, being held in Denver, CO, August 21-24, 2011. The GBTA Convention, with more than 6,000 attendees, is the largest, most comprehensive annual gathering of business travel and meetings managers, meeting planners, procurement professionals and suppliers in the world. 



Also, the GBTA Foundation revealed the results of a "shock scenario" survey regarding how fluctuations in oil prices would impact business travel spending. The research indentified scenarios in which oil prices would remain at $125, $150 and $200 per barrel from 2011 through 2013. It found that future growth in business travel spending and the number of trips taken would be impacted-- but would not force an overall market decline-- by a short-term price spike.



For more information on GBTA and the 2011 Strategic Travel Symposium, please visit gbta.org.