BTA Newsletter May edition

BTA NEWS

The Voice of Business Travel

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the latest edition of the BTA newsletter which I hope you find an informative and interesting read

Since our last edition the return to travel has continued at a pace which is of course excellent news However we have also seen significant disruption mainly as a result of issues with recruitment Our industry has taken a hell of a beating in recent weeks which is so frustrating and unhelpful

I know how hard our TMC members have been working dealing with the disruptions on behalf of the airlines and their mutual customers and I would just like to say thank you to everyone for your commitment to service under such trying circumstances

In my role as CEO of the BTA it is my job to promote our industry and defend it when needed, I have been doing a fair bit of both with government and the media and will continue to do so

In the coming weeks the associations focus will be across a number of issues including The rail review and the impact to TMC’s, talent recruitment and retention across our industry, sustainability and how business travel supports the governments levelling up agenda

My team have put on and plan to run a number of excellent sessions and I am delighted that attendance to recent events has been excellent We are clearly getting what you want to hear about to discuss and to debate absolutely on point but please keep talking to us on subjects you want us to cover Please do get involved in the events we have planned over the next few weeks frankly you be mad not to as I know we have some real hot topics on the agenda

So as we head to summer things are getting better but there are still issues for us to overcome So please keep the faith keep talking to us and keep delivering the very best service to our business travel customers

I hope to see you all soon

Cheers

Clive

A few minutes with Helen Turner (Member & Partnerships Manager)

Tell us more about your role at the BTA

I joined the BTA on 1st April 2022 Having worked previously in the travel industry with experience in TMCs, GDS and airline software solutions, I am delighted to now join the BTA as Member & Partnerships Manager My role is to manage the relationship with our TMC Members and selected Partners (specifically Technology, Payments, Ground Transport & People & Talent partners) Through regular meetings I will ensure that Members & Partners are fully aware of all the opportunities available to them in the BTA and that they are given every opportunity to actively participate in, or host, interesting, informative and relevant events

Away from the BTA what hobbies do you have?

I have recently re joined my gym and love lifting weights three times a week I ve also started to walk more and listen to podcasts I enjoy pottering in my garden and growing fruit and vegetables in the summer months I’m a keen rugby union fan and support my local Premiership teams Gloucester Rugby and Gloucester Hartpury Women I also manage a girl’s rugby section for girls aged 11 18, for a local grass roots rugby club, where we have more than 90 girls playing rugby every Sunday during the season

What is your most memorable travel memory?

There have been so many wonderful trips over the years it s really difficulty to choose just one!

One of the most memorable was flying to New York on Concorde and getting to explore the sights of New York first hand

Another was taking my children (then aged 7 and 5) to New Zealand to meet their NZ relatives for New Year We got to enjoy a road trip with them up the North Island taking in sights like Bay of Islands, Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga Lighthouse and the Kauri Forest

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Keep a journal Your memory is shocking!

Be spontaneous take risks now and again have fun and explore more There s a big world out there

Always use SPF50 on your face You ll appreciate it later!

What is your favourite cuisine?

Probably Japanese inspired Asian cuisine I love noodles or rice combined with fresh crunchy vegetables, spices, sauces and meat or fish

What chore do you hate doing?

Constantly clearing up after two teenagers Enough said!

The BTA is

The

New BTA Partners

following new Partners to the Association

We are delighted to announce that

Group has

joined the BTA as a Prime Partner

Welcome back, Lufthansa! We’re looking forward to working together again

The

business travel recruitment experts Sirius Talent Solutions

What has the BTA been up to?

What do TMCs need to change?

A webinar in the Time for Change series of BTA Debates session This session was open to all levels of employees within the TMC membership and will help you gauge the views of both buyers and suppliers on what they would like to see from TMCs moving forward

What do Suppliers need to change?

A webinar in the Time for Change series of BTA Debates session This session was open to all BTA partners buyers and staff of all levels within TMCs You have heard from travel buyers and key TMC personnel on what they would like to see from suppliers moving forward

What do Buyers need to change?

A webinar in the Time for Change series of BTA Debates session This session was open to all BTA members partners and buyers You have heard from TMC’s and industry suppliers on what they would like to see evolve in their dealings with travel buyers that will enhance our industry for all concerned

Border Force Britain’s Borders

We have heard directly from UK Border Force on what’s happening at the UK borders how they will cope with the increase in passenger numbers and how can the process and partnership improve for the business travel industry This BTA debates session allowed BTA members, partners and buyers to listen and question everything to do with UK Border Force

Sustainability Update on the BTA’s ESG programme

An update from CEO Clive Wratten on the BTAs ESG initiative and the UNs Sustainability Goals

Brexit An update on travelling to Europe

As we are hopefully seeing a more robust return to travel what does travelling to Europe really look like post Brexit This BTA educates session was designed to give you a quick but informative insight into what the issues are for you and your travellers

Click here to view the webinar

BTA Educates Serviced Apartments

We were joined by Jo Layton of CAP Worldwide and Phil Stapleton of SITU who gave us a very informative update on the serviced apartment industry

Click here to view the webinar

Government relations & the BTA

We heard the latest from the world of Government Affairs and the Business Travel Association’s continued campaigns A highly informative session for all members on the current trends, messages and issues for the business travel industry We had speakers from BTA GA partners Cavendish along with the BTAs CEO and Stephen Hammond MP Chair of the APPG Business Travel on what’s happening in Westminster that impacts our industry

PR & Working with the Media

We heard the latest from the world of PR and the Business Travel Associations continued campaigns A highly informative session for all members on the current trends messages and issues for the business travel industry We were joined by the BTA PR partners Pembroke & Rye along with the BTAs CEO and business travel journalist on all things media and whats making the news

Click here to view the webinar

Great British Railways What does it mean for the business traveller

UK Domestic rail is undergoing it biggest evolution since privatisation but what does the creation of GBR really mean? This BTA educates session will help our members buyers and partners understand the transformation and what it will mean for TMCs and the business traveller

Click here to view the webinar

London City Airport

Andrew Clarke was joined by Anne Doyere, Head of Aviation at London City Airport

They discussed how the airport is currently operating, the benefits of using London City plus their recently published sustainability roadmap

Click here to listen to the podcast

Aviation Conference

London

May we hosted our Air Sector Conference

Cyber Security Do you understand the impact? 7th June at 1pm for one hour

What role do employee’s play in this important topic? Do you know your PII from your PHI? With a huge 98% of businesses now online in one form or another and 43% of those having experience some form of cyber attack, this BTA Educates session aims to share some top tips for cyber safety Register Here

OBTs and Content 9th June at 12pm for one hour

The pre pandemic recovery saw a huge shift back to offline reservations With ESG on everyone ’ s radar how are the OBT’s managing the shift change what have they learnt during the pandemic to improve the experience for the user and how has their content changed? Register Here

MICE Unravelled Post Pandemic 13th June 1pm for one hour

What does the future look like for the MICE industry? Join us for this BTA Educates session to understand more about how the MICE industry is rebuilding post pandemic the challenges the industry is facing and how as MICE bookers you can work with your preferred partner to overcome this Register Here

Specific details of the other meetings will be released over the coming days, but below are the dates and times so you and your colleagues can block the dates off in your diaries

Company Culture & Wellbeing 21st June at 12pm for one hour

Recruitment Do We Have a Problem? 27th June at 12pm for one hour

Money & Ancillaries Are you getting the best return? 7th July at 1pm for one hour

NDC Buyer's Perspective 12th July at 12pm for one hour

BTA Half Year Review 19th July at 1pm for 45 minutes

As well as the above online sessions we are also pleased to confirm the following in person events are taking place in June & July:

BTA Members Parliamentary Dinner at the House of Commons 15th June

BTA Stand at the Business Travel Show 29th & 30th June Business Travel APPG at the House of Commons 5th July

BTA Roadshow at Melia White House 5th July

BTA Breakfast at the Corinthia London 11th July

BTA Ground Transport in London 18th July

If you have any questions or require further information on any of the above please do not hesitate to contact davec@thebta org uk

Have you checked out our job vacancies page?

Who's Hiring

Our Who s Hiring? page is home to the current opportunities our partners and members have available

If you re looking to start an exciting new role in the business travel industry head to our dedicated page here: https://lnkd in/eA9NGxpP

If you have vacancies that you’d like to add to our website, then reach out to our team for more information: helent@thebta org uk or ivanam@thebta org uk

Social Media

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Podcasts & Webinars

The BTA has recorded

https://www thebta org uk/podcasts https://www thebta org uk/videos