Daily News Brief - February 22, 2021 - Global Business Travel Association

Dave Hilfman’s Monday Memo to GBTA Members

I can’t believe this is my final Monday Morning Memo. After serving as interim executive director of GBTA for the past eight months – undoubtedly some of the hardest days, weeks and months for our industry and Association – my parting is bittersweet. While I’ll enjoy more time with my family and on the golf course, I’ll miss working with the outstanding team of professionals at GBTA and seeing so many of you at our virtual meetings and events. Despite such challenging times, we’ve accomplished a lot together, and I’m excited about the future of our Association and the business travel industry going forward.

I have nothing but the utmost confidence that GBTA will prosper under the exceptional leadership of our new Executive Director – Suzanne Neufang. With her diverse executive experience in senior leadership roles at ACTE, GetThere, HRS, Intuit, Sabre and Travelocity, Suzanne is the right person for this moment. She has the vision and drive to ensure GBTA emerges from this pandemic as a healthier and more successful association than ever.

Suzanne’s first day is this Wednesday, February 24 and I know you’ll join me in giving her a warm and supportive welcome.

COVID-19 News

Australia Begins Rollout of Pfizer Vaccine (9NEWS)

COVID-19: Single Vaccine Jab Linked to 85% and 94% Drop in Risk of Coronavirus Hospital Admissions in Scotland, Study Shows (SKY NEWS)

Coronavirus Update: Pfizer Pledges to Double US Vaccine Output (SCRIP)

Industry Webinar

Evaluate Your Travel Program in Tomorrow’s Webinar:
Ford or Ferrari? What Are You Driving in the Race to the Return of Corporate Travel?

Tomorrow | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST

Spend, culture and industry that are all factors in determining the vehicle best suited for your organization. Especially during these uncertain times, how do you know if your program has what it takes to go the distance and take your travelers and your business to the winner’s circle?

Join us as we explore what travel managers can do to assess, benchmark and improve their travel and expense programs.

Thank you to the GLP Designation Cohort for presenting this webinar.

Regional Town Hall
Don’t Miss Wednesday’s GBTA Canada Town Hall

Wednesday, February 24 | 3:00 PM ET

2021 began with so much uncertainty and an abundance of changes that further impact the global travel industry. In Canada, rising Covid-19 levels, additional lockdowns and newly imposed government restrictions will continue to breed uncertainty around travel and meetings.

During our first town hall for the year, we will share how GBTA Canada is adapting to support our industry for 2021. We will also hear from Mike McNaney, President and CEO of the National Airline Council of Canada, a leading voice in the Canadian aviation sector, who will share the latest insights around the current airline situation, the status of government response, and the importance of restoring air travel.

Following that, GBTA will feature our latest research on the Canadian specific data for the GBTA Business Travel Index (BTI). Economist Jon Gray from GBTA’s research partner Rockport Analytics will highlight details of how Covid-19 impacted business travel in 2020 and what the Canadian industry has in store for 2021 and the forecast to recovery.

The GBTA BTI™ Outlook Was Made Possible By Enterprise

Industry Spotlight
WINiT Awards & Virtual Gala 2021

The only group of its kind, WINiT by GBTA is a network driving positive change for the career advancement of women in travel-related industries. On March 8, WINiT once again will honor the women, men, and organizations who have led the way in promoting this important mission. Register today for our second WINiT Awards and Virtual Gala – our first staged entirely online – and join us as we recognize true visionaries and leaders within our industry.

Learn More >>

Video Recap: Ready. Safe. Travel. Summit

Last week, GBTA hosted the Ready. Safe. Travel. Summit to educate and prepare the Association’s membership and the industry for the evolution of business travel as a result of the on-going pandemic.

“We are Ready!”

In this first segment of the Summit, three distinguished medical professionals – Dr. Tim Garrett, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Juno Metabolomics; Dr. Simon Worrell, global medical director at Collinson; and Dr. Mark Fischer, regional medical director at International SOS – discussed the current COVID vaccines, and what travelers should know before, during and after travel, including COVID testing types and requirements, mobility restrictions across borders, quarantine rules and what to do if you get sick. The segment also featured a recorded segment from U.S. Representative John Katko, Ranking Member on the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee.

Watch the Video >>

Job Board

Is Your Company Hiring?

Use the GBTA Career Center to post your business travel job openings and access thousands of qualified industry professionals looking to make their next career move.

Get Started >>

Trending Industry News

Aviation Industry News

FAA Orders United to Inspect Boeing 777s After Engine Failure; JAL, Korean Air Ground Plane (USA TODAY)

Emirates and Etihad Not Affected by B777 Suspension (BUSINESS TRAVELLER)

Hospitality Industry News

US Hotel Performance for January 2021 (4HOTELIERS)

Marriott on Marketing Initiatives and the Summer Rebound (PHOCUSWIRE)

Tripadvisor’s New Subscription Plan Geared to Address Major Flaw in Its Instant Booking Initiative (SKIFT)

More Industry News

Impacts of COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Already Felt on Travel (4HOTELIERS)

Breakthrough in War Against COVID-19: Sanitizing and Disinfecting Becomes Top Priority (4HOTELIERS)

GBTA Poll: Vaccine a Game-Changer for a Return to Travel (TRAVEL DAILY NEWS) – FEATURES GBTA

Hong Kong and Singapore Resume Travel Bubble Discussions (SIMPLE FLYING)

Time is Running Out – Submit a Proposal Today!

GBTA is accepting proposals for GBTA Conference 2021 – Wiesbaden in Partnership with VDR. Our new 45-minute sessions reflect the needs of our travel professionals Are you interested in leading an education session? Submit a proposal today!

Learn More >>

WorldAware Intelligence Brief

New Zealand – Authorities Ease COVID-19 Controls in Auckland to Level 1

Northern Cyprus – Authorities to Ease Certain COVID-19-Related Domestic Restrictions

South Africa – Trade Union Plans Nationwide Strike and Protests

United Kingdom – Government to Outline Timetable for Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions in England

United States – Disruptions Associated with Previous Winter Storms Ongoing Across Portions of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi

COVID-19 Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)