Amex GBT Makes Strategic Move in Middle East

Another week, another major deal for a top travel management company. American Express Global Business Travel will expand its operations in the Middle East, continuing aggressive growth in markets across the world.

Despite all the consolidation in recent years, the competitive balance in corporate travel isn’t really shifting. The deals represent a realization that business travel is truly a global industry and serving clients in their region has become a necessity.

The Middle East, with Dubai as a hub for the regional economies looking to expand beyond oil, makes sense for Western travel management companies.

Check out the story below.

We’ve also got the latest on TripAdvisor’s potential loyalty play for business travelers and an examination of what the Hong Kong protests will really mean for travel.

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

— Andrew Sheivachman, Senior Enterprise Editor

Featured Stories

Amex GBT Signs Deal With Kanoo Travel in Middle East Push: American Express Global Business Travel continues to add support in competitive regions around the world. Is another major acquisition on the way?

What If Hong Kong Falls? The Worst-Case Scenario for Travel: As weeks of protests escalate in Hong Kong and Beijing weighs its options, it’s not hard to imagine Hong Kong’s successful tourism industry becoming a shell of its former self. Though the conventional wisdom from region insiders is that Hong Kong will prevail, the form that it will take is anyone’s guess.

Cathay Pacific Falls in Line With China as Hong Kong Airport Protests Turn Violent: Cathay Pacific has followed Chinese regulator demands through the saga. Why? It’s a business decision.

Skift Global Forum Preview: Avis Tackles Digital Innovation Through Partnerships: Doing just traditional car rental isn’t going to cut it anymore, and Avis is rapidly expanding its alternative services.

TripAdvisor Plots Loyalty Program in Campaign Against Google: A loyalty program from TripAdvisor could be a strong incentive for unaffiliated travelers to drive business to the online booker. But TripAdvisor will need to offer a unique program to change established user habits.

The Future Of Travel

Why Europe’s Short-Haul Aviation Market Is in Flux: Too many airlines fighting over what is essentially a single market has been a familiar complaint within the European airline industry over the last few years. The legacy airlines, in particular, are still working out how best to compete.

Look Who’s Issuing Travel Advisories Now for the U.S. Since Dayton and El Paso: In the wake of the mass shootings that claimed 31 lives in early August, several authorities have issued travel alerts for travelers headed to the U.S. Whether it’s a statement or a matter of safety — or both — it’s significant.

Lufthansa to Add Flights Catering to U.S. Low-Cost, Long-Haul Market: Despite a somewhat precarious business model, the appetite for low-cost, long-haul transatlantic flights has not yet slowed, so it’s not surprising that Lufthansa is ramping up its offering.

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

Subscribe to Skift’s Free Corporate Travel Innovation Report