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 GloucesterHartpury 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!

New BTA Partners The BTA is delighted to welcome the following new Partners to the Association

We are delighted to announce that Lufthansa Group has re-joined the BTA as a Prime Partner.

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

The BTA are excited to announce our new industry partnership with business travel recruitment experts, Sirius Talent Solutions.

Joining us as Prime Partners, Sirius Talent Solutions will play a key role in the events the BTA is set to host this year. They will also have access to the BTA’s renowned consultancy services, including podcast interviews and exclusive industry insights.

The BTA are delighted to announce that NH Hotels Group has joined BTA as Prime Partner.

With over 358 hotels in 31 countries, NH Hotel Group offers a wide variety of hotels catering for a perfect stay no matter where your destination.

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 TMC’s 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 TMC’s. 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 BTA’s 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 Association’s 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 BTA’s CEO and business travel journalist on all things media and what’s 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 TMC’s 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 In May we hosted our Air Sector Conference in London.

Our members heard from IATA, our industry’s three GDS’, Eurostar and many of our airline partners as we debate some of our industry’s many challenges and opportunities whilst looking for solutions.

Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue gave us an update on business travel to North America. Next, Lufthansa and Eurostar gave an update on business travel to and within Europe. ANA and Japan Airlines gave an update on business to and within Asia.

Finally, we hosted a TMC panel, where members shared their thoughts on key areas that they need from the airlines to ensure everyone benefits from more traffic.

New Events Calendar 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

Who's Hiring Have you checked out our job vacancies page?

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 Please remember to follow, like, comment and share the BTA’s social activity. Here’s a reminder of our main social media accounts: Twitter – @TheBTAorg LinkedIn – The BTA Twitter - @clivewratten LinkedIn – Clive Wratten

Podcasts & Webinars

The BTA has recorded several webinars and podcasts over recent weeks. To view or listen to them use the links below. https://www.thebta.org.uk/podcasts https://www.thebta.org.uk/videos

To contact the BTA please email us at info@thebta.org.uk