How to stay ahead of the pack in business travel: tips from the GBTA

One particular focus in a panel session yesterday on the future of the industry was the need for corporate booking tools to reflect the user experience that travellers are used to in their leisure time.

“Employees want ease of use and a delightful experience. Technology is the enabler to allow that to happen,” said Bill Glenn, CEO, American Express Global Business Travel.

Innovation as a constant has also been stressed by speakers.Florian Tinnus, Head of Corporate IT at Amadeus, highlighted the importance of both thinking inside and outside of the box in order to deliver the best customer experience. Mr. Tinnus introduced Dietmar Dahmen, a “Brand Guru”, whose energetic keynote session threw accepted concepts on their head as he shared strategies on how to ensure that the corporate brand stays relevant in today’s fast-changing world.

The traditional challenges in the relationship between buyers and suppliers has been another topic of debate. One break out session – representing the range of different players in the travel supply chain – was fully aligned on a key question. When asked what they would recommend in order to improve the relationships between buyers and suppliers, the speakers agreed that improved communication and transparency were the way forward. “If both sides are open on their targets and objectives, it will benefit the company and also the traveller,” highlighted Bernd Schulz, General Manager of Amadeus Germany.

What were your highlights from the event? Florian Tinnus outlines his in the video below: