Berlin: GBTA Europe returns to the capital

The GBTA Europe annual conference was held this week in Berlin, to take stock of current issues in the business travel sector, and to identify avenues of reflection for the years ahead.
GBTA Europe
At the opening of the GBTA Europe conference, Dirk Gerdom, Chairman of the VDR, announced that he would not be standing for re-election at the head of the German business travel association.

After focusing for a time on Frankfurtthe annual conference of the GBTA Europe (Global Business Travel Association) has migrated this year to Berlinwithin the Estrel Congress Centerfour years after the association's last event in Berlin. It was a successful comeback, judging by the large crowds that turned out for the three days of conferences and discussions under the theme of 'Momentum'. From 27 to 29 NovemberSome 900 participants converged on the south of the German capital in response to the association's call. Among them, in addition to the logical representation of the domestic market, were a number of Travel Managers from the Nordic countries. But there was also a large delegation of French business travel professionals: Travel Managers, exhibitors and speakers, who all contributed to the success of this 2018 edition.

In terms of the programme and the themes covered, the particular attention paid to the NDC ("New Distribution Capability"). In the land of Lufthansa, apostle of the direct distributionIt would indeed have been strange to ignore the arrival of this new standard, which is set to reshape the business travel landscape. Artificial Intelligence, the role of women in business travel, the security and the well-being of travellers or respect for travel policy were also among the key themes discussed at the GBTA Europe conferences. This is healthy 'food for thought', providing Travel Managers and all those involved in business travel with a salutary - not to say necessary - 'update' in a constantly changing sector.