- Details
- Category: Industry News
Global business travel is expected to see an uptick in 2023 versus 2022, according to the latest data from the Q1 2023 Business Travel Outlook Poll from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). Companies are expected to send more employees on trips and travel suppliers anticipate an increase in corporate travel spending. Sectors such as finance, insurance, professional services, and consulting are showing stronger signs of growth in business travel spending.
The association surveyed over 600 business travel buyers, suppliers, and industry professionals around the world, marking the 30th poll in its series tracking the ongoing evolution of business travel.
“GBTA continues to draw on the collective, diverse perspectives and insights across our industry to closely track the evolving state of global business travel. The return of business travel will vary across regions, sectors, and companies. And despite ongoing global concerns of a recession, a majority of corporate travel managers indicate their companies are anticipating more business travel than last year,” said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang.
Additional key takeaways include:
Back on the road and in the air—more business trips are expected in 2023.
- Business leaders may anticipate a recession this year, but travel managers are anticipating more business travel. Three in four travel managers (78 percent) expect their company will take a lot more (22 percent) or more (55 percent) business trips in 2023 versus 2022.
- An overwhelming 90 percent of respondents believe their employees are willing to travel for business, while 88 percent report feeling more optimistic about the path to recovery compared to last month.
Business travel bookings and spending continue making their way back to 2019 levels.
- On average, travel buyers estimate their companies’ current domestic business travel bookings have returned to 67 percent of pre-pandemic 2019 levels (up from 63 percent in GBTA’s October poll).
- International business travel continues to gain ground. In this poll, on average, travel buyers estimate international business travel bookings have recovered to 54 percent, up slightly from 50 percent in October. Current spending for international trips is back to approximately 58 percent.
Staffing for travel suppliers is still suppressed but help may be on the way in 2023.
- Travel suppliers and travel management companies were forced to reduce staff during the pandemic—even now, many of these companies are not yet fully re-staffed. Almost half of travel suppliers (47 percent) report their company’s staffing level is somewhat or much smaller than it was pre-pandemic, while 28 percent say it is about the same.
- However, two in three travel suppliers (65 percent) expect staffing will increase a lot or somewhat in 2023 compared to 2022, while 26 percent expect no change.
Company travel programs hold their (pre-pandemic) ground when it comes to staffing.
- While many travel suppliers emerged from the pandemic with fewer staff, the same has rarely happened with travel programs. The majority of buyers (78 percent) say their company’s travel program staff size in 2023 is expected to be about the same (56 percent) as it was pre-pandemic or will be much or somewhat larger (22 percent).
- Many buyers also expect to increase spending for their travel program operations (such as staff salaries, technology, and consultants) in 2023 versus last year. Almost half of buyers (45 percent) expect their travel program budgets will be higher, while 41 percent expect them to be about the same as in 2022.
Click here to view the complete poll.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[02.07.23]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Last month, the US Department of Commerce announced the appointments of 32 leaders from businesses and organizations in the domestic travel and tourism industry to the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB). TTAB members advise the Secretary of Commerce on how government policies and programs affect the travel and tourism industry and offer counsel on current and emerging issues to support sustainable growth of the travel and tourism industry as our nation’s economic engine.
"Travel and tourism returned with force in 2022 as we opened up our country once again to visitors from around the globe,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Since day one of the Biden Administration, the Commerce Department has taken decisive actions to support this industry’s recovery. The US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board plays a vital role in providing expert recommendations and industry insight to optimize the American travel experience. I look forward to working with new and returning members.”
TTAB was first chartered in 2003 and has been re-chartered nine times. Past boards have provided advice on a wide range of policies and issues, including travel facilitation, visa policy, infrastructure, aviation security, tourism research, climate, and economic sustainability.
The membership for the 2023-2024 term of TTAB listed below includes representatives of state and regional economic development teams, businesses, and organizations:
- Reggie Aggarwal, CEO of Cvent
- Balram Bheodari, Aviation General Manager for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Adam Burke, President & CEO of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
- Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb
- Julie Coker, President & CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority
- Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico
- Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line
- Fred Felleman, Commissioner of the Port of Seattle
- Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director of the Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism and Film
- Matt Goldberg, President & CEO of Tripadvisor
- Mufi Hannemann, President & CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association
- Russ Hedge, President & CEO of Hostelling International USA
- Bill Hornbuckle, President & CEO of MGM Resorts International
- Peter Ingram, President & CEO of Hawaiian Airlines
- Stephanie Jones, CEO of the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance
- Andrew Leary, Director of Sustainable Tourism and Partnerships for Leave No Trace
- Eric Lipp, Executive Director of Open Doors Organization
- Casandra Matej, President & CEO of Visit Orlando
- Peter Millones, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Booking Holdings
- Will Morey, President & CEO of The Morey Organization
- Tricia Primrose, Executive Vice President of Marriott International
- Lana Ramos, Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations for Locally Grown Restaurants
- Carroll Rheem, CEO of iolite group
- Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies
- Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics
- John Sage, President of Accessible Travel Solutions
- Stephen Scherr, CEO of the Hertz Corporation
- Greg Schulze, Senior Vice President of Expedia
- Monica Smith, President & CEO of Southeast Tourism Society
- Jerry Tan, President & CEO of Tan Holdings
- Donald “D” Taylor, President of UNITE HERE
- Peter van Berkel, President of Travalco USA
More information about the TTAB can be found here.
[02.06.23]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
The Business Council of Westchester in New York has announced the winners of its Business Hall of Fame for 2023. Included among the seven honorees was Leros Point to Point/Leros Transportation Group, which won the award in the Family Business Success category.
According to an announcement from the Council, “this illustrious group of winners joins more than 100 past winners which include some of the most prestigious business leaders and organizations in the proud business legacy of Westchester.”
Leros was founded in 1983 by John Nyikos and is now run by his adult sons, President & CEO Jeff and CFO Chris, as well as their extended “family” that includes COO Mike Basso. Often considered an organization on the cutting edge of technology with a dynamic team behind the scenes, the company will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year.
In addition to its longstanding and well-oiled machine of a team and proximal location in one of the country’s most desirable counties, the company has had success with acquiring competitors over its four-decade history. Most notably, it acquired N.J.-based Royal Coachman, owned by Jon Epstein, in 2018.
The companies will be officially honored on April 25 at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle. More information is available here.
Visit leroslimo.com for more information.
[01.31.23]