Stuart McNeill

We need to talk about trains! Rail reform is coming but is it happening fast enough and is there enough focus on the needs of the business travel market? The BTA are working hard with the rail industry to have the voice of business travel heard and the BTA is also pushing the message to the new government that business travel is a huge opportunity for the rail sector. Business travel on the railways is not yet back to the pre pandemic levels and there is an obsession to just focus on getting revenues back to those 2019 levels but we say NO! The focus must be on doubling the pre pandemic levels from our sector and that's just a conservative possibility. Business travel represents a huge opportunity to grow revenue and yields from modal shift and organic growth. The BTA has created the infographic below to help everyone understand the opportunity, the reform needed and the sectors importance to rail in the UK. #businesstravel #yourbta #travelmanagement #corporatetravel #railreform #railways

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A key part of what The BTA does on behalf of our Travel Management Company members and the wider business travel supply chain is lobbying and talking to government to ensure the voice of business travel is heard when policies and actions are being planned. Government interaction is not simply about meeting ministers and MP's, there is a lot of work done in submitting evidence to various committees and inquiries on behalf of the sector and our customers. The investment of both membership fees and data from our members is crucial to this work, as without this our voice would not be heard. Since 2019 the recognition of the BTA as the voice of business travel has risen significantly and we must maintain this profile by constantly, consistently and constructively taking every opportunity to have our say on behalf of the sector. The latest example of this behind the scenes work can be seen below as our evidence to the Select Committee's inquiry to scrutinise draft Rail Reform Bill has been published on the governments website. We will continue to take every opportunity to engage so that business travel and the business traveller issues and concerns are not overlooked. #businesstravel #yourbta #corporatetravel #travelmanagement

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A Saturday morning reminder on the crucial role The BTA members play in economic growth. It’s also a Saturday morning reminder of the diverse range of services that TMCs provide to corporates as they manage their most valuable assets, their employees, safely, efficiently, sustainably and cost effectively around the globe. It’s a Saturday morning reminder that TMCs are the glue that stick the deliberately fragmented content back together again to serve the corporate buyer and traveller. It’s a Saturday morning reminder that in the corporate space, booking in direct via a TMC is absolutely the best. #businesstravel #corporatetravel #yourbta #travelmanagement #indirectisbest

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Learn how FCM's technology can significantly reduce the leakage on your travel program.

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myPlane shakes up €100bn commercial charter market as demand for digital booking soars #myPlane #commercialaircharter #charterbooking #digitalisation #travelbuyers #airlines #aviation #transparency #efficiency #globaloperations #modernisation #bookingplatform #aviationindustry #centraliseddistribution #finnishstartup #innovation #globalleader #traveltech #demand #growth #timeandcostsavings

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Airline loyalty that actually delivers? Not a myth. CT Chronicles S2 brings you a candid chat between Rategang Moroke (Corporate Traveller) and Byron Lottering (Airlink) about the airline’s new Skybucks loyalty programme. They break down how Skybucks is redefining perks for the modern business traveller – they don’t just sound good on paper; they’re practical benefits that actually make your life easier. From clever point-hacking to unlocking premium experiences, discover how business travellers are turning miles into meaningful rewards. Ready to make your loyalty work harder for you? Tune in for some insider tips and tricks: https://okt.to/NWQgpw #LoyaltyProgrammes #AfricanBusiness #Airlink #CTChronicles #CorporateTraveller

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IN THE NEWS 🗞️ Cost of living pressures aren’t impacting the desire for comfortable travel among corporate travellers, with bookings in the business cabin taking off ✈️Corporate international business class bookings have grown by 14 per cent, and it goes to show that despite many businesses feeling the pinch of the cost of doing business, travel continues to be a necessity for business success and survival. Find out which industries are most likely to take up a spot at the front of the plane here: https://okt.to/DkxmsV

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Buyers, are you finding it difficult to justify the value of using a TMC to your travellers/C-suite? Read this report, also in the June/July issue of The Business Travel Magazine https://lnkd.in/e3ZAYHjz

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As a DMC, local operator or accommodation looking to be promoted by your B2B clients your main focus must be to make it easy for your Tour Operator and Travel Agents to sell you. One of the simplest errors I see suppliers make time after time is providing information in PDFs and other forms of documentation that cannot be easily cut and pasted and without easy access to copyright-free images. When working on my agency "Curious Travel" I often stop putting a supplier's product on my website or social media if it is too much like hard work. For B2B sales and marketing, I highly recommend low-tech solutions like an itinerary copy in a word document and sharing those documents and related images on a system like http://ed.gr/cnik7 - followed up with great training and support of course :) :) #DigitalMarketing #DAMSoftware #TravelTechnology

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Check out the latest GBTA podcast: Refining the Landscape of Accommodation Payment and Billing in Business Travel. Discover how cutting-edge technologies and innovations are transforming hospitality payments. Don't miss this insightful discussion! #BusinessTravel #Payments #GBTA #Podcast

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Group travel is experiencing a resurgence, prompting tour operators to block book seats on aircraft. Say goodbye to complicated bookings and hello to seamless travel arrangements with Skytrail’s series seats booking solution. Following the pandemic there’s been an increased demand for family reunions, destination weddings, corporate events, and group trips. The social phenomenon ‘togethering’ shows travellers are more interested in travelling with family or with a group. If tour operators and cruise lines incorporate this trend into their marketing strategy, there is huge opportunity to secure higher value forward bookings.‌ #Skytrail #Aviation #SeriesSeats #WholePlaneCharter

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📣 Want to hear about the latest global travel trends? 🌍 📣 Join our Quarterly Travel Trend Webinar next week (Thurs 6 June) where we'll be delving into the Flight Centre Travel Group corporate booking data from this year. If you’re a Corporate Traveller UK customer or have been thinking about transitioning to managed travel, we’d love to see you there 👋 Registration is open now 👉 https://okt.to/GkMtNe #BusinessTravel #TravelTrends #TravelInsights

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Calling all Hotels, Lodges, DMCs and Local Tour Operators. Did you know you can use your Squirrel Fish account to create a FREE "Agent Login" or "Partner Area" on your website? It literally takes however long it takes you to create a button on your website and costs NOTHING. Sound too good to be true? Why not check out our video below to see how it works and get in touch for a demo and a free trial. (We use the wonderful Roundabout Experiences DMC in Slovenia and Croatia as an example in this video) #DAMsoftware #Travelsoftware #TravelTechnology #Digitalmarketing #BusinessDevelopment

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Follow the link below to read "Redefining business travel: UK railways steer towards future success" with The BTA alongside the #2024BusinessTravelCampaign launching today on BusinessandIndustry.co.uk https://lnkd.in/e-cXKC7v

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Business travel activity is set to increase in 2025, with rises in both travel volumes and spending, according to a new study by the Flight Centre Travel Group. Their ‘State of the Market’ survey – fielded between June and July to more than 560 clients of its travel management brands Corporate Traveller and FCM Travel – revealed business travel in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) is expected to see the biggest gains in the 2025 fiscal year. According to the survey, 46% of EMEA based businesses plan to increase their travel in 2025, with 15% of respondents planning to increase the number of their business trips by more than 20%. More than half of corporates in EMEA also plan to increase travel spend, with 9% looking to extend budgets by more than 20%. Overall, 40% of businesses plan to increase their travel in FY25, while 42% of intend to increase their travel spend. #travel

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We've recently researched the impact some of Gimmonix's revenue management solutions had on accommodation sales performance of other OTAs. As you can see, effective revenue management and supply strategies significantly impact the following key performance indicators (KPIs) leading to a significant boost in business outcomes: 👉 Gross Booking Volumes (GBV): +15% 👉 Conversion Rates: +12% 👉 Gross Margin per Booking: +15-20% 👉 Average Booking Value (ABV): +15% 👉 Booking Failures: -25% We've recognized that a combination of correct Supply and Price management achieves 1+1=3! Have you tried combining Supply and Revenue management metrics to drive your Pricing strategy? #RevenueManagement #PerformanceMetrics #OTA #Accommodation

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Unlimited Free Flights with Wizz Air: Looking deeper Wizz Air's newly launched All You Can Fly pass may initially seem like a golden ticket to unlimited free flights, but a closer inspection reveals some key limitations. While the idea of purchasing a membership and booking flights without additional costs is enticing, it's important to understand the nuances of this offering. Let´s have a look: 1) Booking Fees and Flight Frequency Though flights may seem free, each one carries a small booking fee of approximately 10 euros ($11). Given Wizz Air’s ultra-low-cost model, where flights are often priced just above this amount, the savings might not be as significant as anticipated. To truly maximize the membership's value, you'd need to fly over 60 times within a year — a challenging target for most travelers. 2) Baggage Allowance The pass includes unlimited flights but restricts you to a basic baggage allowance of just a single personal item. For those spontaneous trips between cities, this may suffice. However, for longer vacations or those requiring more luggage, additional fees for carry-ons or checked bags could quickly add up. 3) Booking Constraints and Availability While the pass boasts no blackout dates, it comes with last-minute booking restrictions — only allowing reservations up to three days before departure. This could be a hurdle for those who prefer planning their travels well in advance. Moreover, returning home might also be complicated if seats aren't available within the required booking window, potentially forcing you to pay full fare for your return flight. 4) Limited Availability With only 10,000 passes available at launch, securing one might seem urgent. However, due to the aforementioned constraints, the pass may appeal to a specific group of travelers, possibly leaving some passes unclaimed. Final Thoughts Wizz Air's All You Can Fly pass offers a unique opportunity as the first of its kind from a European airline. Yet, despite its appealing concept, the various restrictions may make it difficult for many to extract full value from the subscription. All that glitters is not gold!! My 2cents 😉 Alberta La Grup | lifestyle experiences #travelconcierge #airlines #conciergeservices Press info via PhocusWire

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