Going Global Can Be a Make or Break Affair in Corporate Travel

Travel is obviously a global affair. Yet the complexity of individual markets, combined with the complex needs of business travelers, have posed a challenge to corporate travel.

A few weeks ago I spoke to Jamie Pherous, who has overseen the rise of Australia’s Corporate Travel Management into a global power among travel management companies. His candid views on the complexity of the Chinese market, and why corporate travel giants have had trouble creating innovative technology, are worth a look.

You can check out my chat with him, and everything else you need to know from across the travel industry, below.

If you have any feedback about the newsletter or tips, feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or tweet me at @sheivach.

— Andrew Sheivachman, Business Travel Editor

Airlines, Tech, and distribution

Interview: Corporate Travel Management Wants to Crack the U.S. Market: Now that Hogg Robinson Group is out of the picture because of a merger, Australia’s Corporate Travel Management is one of the largest public corporate travel management companies in the world. It’s setting its sights on expansion in the U.S., but entering the market has its challenges.

Airbnb Struggles to Balance Its Past and Future: In which we try to make some sense out of what we know Airbnb is doing now — and what it hopes to be doing over the next 10 years.

IAG Takes On Low-Cost Rivals With Transatlantic Capacity Binge: If there is going to be a capacity war over European skies, IAG is probably in a stronger position than its rival carrier groups. And with oil prices rising again, we could see more airline business casualties in 2018.

American Airlines and Qantas Try For a Joint Venture Again: In 2016, U.S. regulators found that a proposal to coordinate routes and airfares between Qantas and American would hurt competition. But the two airlines have resubmitted their bid in the understandable hope that President Donald Trump’s administration will be more amenable to the partnership than the previous administration was.

Mexico’s Volaris Plots Central American Growth at Expense of Copa Airlines: Copa Airlines CEO Pedro Heilbron has been in the job for 30 years, and has been adept at managing the carrier through sometimes-turbulent times. For that reason alone, Copa should be OK. But you never know.

Business Traveler Experience

Airbnb Is Finally Taking Business Travelers Seriously: A new loyalty program coming from Airbnb may be the final straw that gets business travelers to switch to the service.

Thought Leadership Conferences Target High-End Travelers: Nowadays, luxury travel is all about discovering new frontiers. It’s not just about expanding physical and geographic boundaries. The travel cognoscenti are “brain dating” around the world in order to stretch their minds.

The Future of Boutique Hotels Is to Go Big: Can such a thing as a boutique or lifestyle casino resort with nearly 3,000 rooms actually work? We’ll find out soon.

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Skift Business Travel Editor Andrew Sheivachman [[email protected]] curates the Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Thursday.

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