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Making self-service reservations through a corporate online booking tool (OBT) is by far the most common way for business travellers to arrange their trips in Europe and North America. Self-booking is less common in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, where executives are much more likely to have a personal assistant to handle their travel needs.   But times are changing: the region is embracing a digital transformation, and younger employees now often prefer to arrange thei

Managing travel for an executive flying between two well-connected cities like Dubai and Paris is complicated enough. But if you’re a business which moves personnel to ships or oil and gas platforms, the challenges multiply quickly. Welcome to the specialised world of crew travel, also known as rotational, marine or offshore travel.   Almost everything about crew travel is more complex. Multi-sector journeys, often to remote locations, are the norm. Time spent away is measure

Explore the future of corporate mobility with  Sabah Kahoul , 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐁𝐓𝐅, in conversation with  Maria E.  𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐔𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.  Discover how Uber for Business is transforming business travel through tailored solutions, seamless integration, and a focus on sustainability and efficiency. Watch the interview to gain insights.

Committed to rewarding loyalty at every stage of the travel journey, today Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced exciting changes to its award-winning Hilton Honors loyalty program. Debuting this January, Hilton will introduce its most elite tier yet - Diamond Reserve – with new elevated benefits, including a Confirmable Upgrade Reward that can be instantly redeemed at the time of booking, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, and exclusive customer service support. What’s more, Hilton Hon

UTRECHT, The Netherlands, November 20, 2025  – BCD Travel has released its next Travel Market Report dedicated to a 2026 Outlook on key risks and solutions, updates on the state of air travel pricing, hotel room rates and car rentals, and a summary of important sustainability trends. Key highlights from the report for corporate travel programs to consider include: Risks and mitigation strategies In 2026, as the global effects of tariffs continue to unfold, Oxford Economics b

Marriott International has reached a new development benchmark in Saudi Arabia, announcing a combined total of 100 open and pipeline hotels across the kingdom following the just-announced signing of a 1,100-room Courtyard by Marriott in Makkah. The agreement was signed with a fund managed by SEDCO Capital. Set within Masar, a major urban development led by Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction, the new Courtyard by Marriott hotel is expected to open in 2030. The hotel

On-time flight arrivals by region, September 2025 (percentage arriving at the gate within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival time) Source: Cirium ( www.cirium.com ), October 2025, October 2024 Challenges for 2026 anticipated by 601 global meetings professionals across eight countries (per cent) Source: American Express Global Business Travel 2026 Global Meetings and Events Forecast, 7 October 2025

Q: When did you join ITL World and what is your role there? A: I joined in September 2022 as the Corporate Sales Manager, with responsibility for new business acquisitions, development and relationship management, strategic account management, product knowledge, solution selling, collaboration and internal coordination. Q: Tell us about one special facility, product or service ITL World has for corporate clients A: Miceminds by ITL World is a strategic business unit focused e

Why it’s important to boost your hotel attachment rate Travel industry professionals use the phrase “hotel attachment rate” to describe the percentage of air reservations where the traveller books their accommodation at the same time. Attachment rates are often below 50 per cent, with travellers booking their hotel at a later date or separately through consumer websites. This causes two problems: Price Travellers often end up paying more and also you miss out on spend data t

Emirates' retrofit programme enters its next phase, with 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s lined up to receive the airline’s latest cabin innovations. Starting from August 2026, the airline will introduce a host of new onboard products, alongside a next-generation, fully immersive in-flight entertainment system and upgraded Wi-Fi connectivity with Starlink on these aircraft as part of its extensive fleet modernisation efforts. Emirates Engineering, working with partners Airbus, Saf

There is contrasting news for travellers crossing borders on international business trips.

Business at Flight Centre Travel Group's corporate brands was "strong" in the first quarter of its fiscal year, which ran through to 30 September. In its annual general meeting on Wednesday, Flight Centre Travel Group CEO Graham Turner said total transaction value for the group's corporate business was up 7 per cent year over year, as FCM is "securing a pipeline of account wins totalling almost A$400 million [€226 million]" and "Asia [is] returning to modest profitability." S

You’ve landed in a country you’ve never been to before. Your manager sent you to handle a few business meetings — a great opportunity, right? But somewhere between the airport and the hotel, the questions start creeping in: shouldn’t my company have a protocol, some guidance, or at least know where I am? What if something goes wrong? Would anyone at the office even know? Does my company truly value my safety — or just my results? If you’re asking yourself these questions, the

Q: How long have you worked at the hotel? A:  I joined Sofitel Dubai Downtown in 2021. It’s been a rewarding journey leading a flagship luxury hotel in the heart of Dubai and welcoming guests from around the world. Q: What percentage of your guests are business travellers? A: About 60 per cent of our guests are business travellers, drawn by our prime location next to DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) and Downtown, plus the convenience of our private skywalk to Dubai

Starting from November 2025, all Economy Class fares on UAE-based carrier flydubai will now include complimentary meals and inflight entertainment. The change marks a significant step in the airline’s ongoing investment in enhancing the customer experience. The update represents a major evolution in flydubai’s business model, which is aimed at offering passengers greater comfort and convenience across every flight. The airline’s recent investments have extended beyond onboard

American Express Global Business Travel is investing more in its ambitions in the small and midsize client segment. The company last week launched Toolbox, a digital platform that puts a "freemium"-model consulting service in the hands of SME travel buyers.  It’s targeted to companies in which the person who manages travel may have a broad remit and is not fully focused on the category. “A lot of times, travel is a small component of what they do,” said Amex GBT VP of consult

Hong Kong - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched the Integrated Sustainability Program (ISP)  at the IATA World Sustainability Symposium (WSS) in Hong Kong. ISP is a certification program offering airlines a comprehensive sustainability management and assessment framework. It is designed specifically for airlines and built upon the successful IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) . Along with certification, the program includes training, consulting, ass

Step 1 – Collect your spend data The more you can show a hotel how much you already spend with it, and also with its competitors, the bigger the discount it is likely to offer. Potential sources for spend data include your travel management company, payment card provider and expense management system. You can also ask the hotel if it has any data. Step 2 – Focus on your major destinations Go for the big wins. Identify the top 10-20 destinations where you spend most money and

What happened One of the biggest acquisitions in the history of corporate travel finally concluded on 2 September when the travel management company American Express Global Business Travel bought its rival CWT for US$540 million. The deal was originally announced in March 2024, but was delayed by investigations by competition authorities in the USA and UK. Amex GBT was already the largest TMC in the world before buying CWT. In March 2024, its annual total transaction value wa