Business Travel On The Fly

Rachel Lunderborg, Head of Global Process and Technology at CWT Meetings & Events is joined by Kit Aspen, Founder and Director of award-winning carbon intelligence platform Thrust Carbon, and Rachel Munns, Head of Sustainability at World Wise Foods. CWT Meetings & Events this year co-developed a meetings and events carbon calculator with Thrust Carbon, known for powering sustainability behind over $50 billion of travel spend.As CWT Meetings & Events sees its projects more than double since last year now organizing over 30,000 meetings and events globally in 2023, the calculator’s reporting signposts specific event elements where greener solutions could and should be sought - be that event destination, transportation, accommodation and venues, food and beverage, material, and/or waste management.From tiny team meetings to enormous expos, events is one of the hardest areas to understand, analyze and materially reduce environmental impact. Covering all aspects from the measurable to the data unknowns and the critical role of supply chains, this trio of sustainability experts unpacks the future of sustainability in meetings and events.  Find out: How the right mix of data and due diligence can set the trajectory for sustainable events with unexpected benefits to engagement and productivity. What information to glean from your suppliers, and their suppliers from both an environmental and social standpoint.  What incremental change really means in the context of ambitious corporate sustainability goals.Visit cwt-meetings-events.comVisit mycwt.com

If there’s one job harder than being a clairvoyant at a sceptic’s convention it’s being a futurist in these mightily uncertain times. It’s hard to read an article these days that doesn’t warn us that bots will wipe out entire industries or that the global economy is about to implode. But is there nuance and cause for optimism? CWT's Julian Walker talks to Shawn DuBravac, NY Times bestselling author, futurist, economist and analyst for the  GBTA CWT Global Business Travel Forecast  about the near-term cost of airfares and hotel rates, and how companies and organizations of all sizes can prepare their budgets, and people, for the societal and technological shifts ahead. Find out: Whether travel and event pricing predictions for 2023 are proving accurate halfway through the year. The challenges that hotels and airlines face today. The big issue on everyone’s lips and how it will change the way we work and travel: Artificial Intelligence.Visit mycwt.com

 Over the next ten years, we are likely to see change on a scale not witnessed since the Industrial Revolution.From NFT loyalty programs to self-driving cabs, from adaptive travel policies to flying taxi hubs,  the era ahead will be both exhilarating and challenging to navigate.We’re on the cusp of massive economic and social disruption that has wide-reaching implications for us all.So how do you discern between what's 'pie in the sky' and what's really going to happen? And with AI-powered automation surging ahead, how do you innovate in the right direction for people, purpose, and planet? Joel Hanson, Director of Global Innovation Business Development, CWT helps us spot the subtle signs of change that, however nascent today, contain the seeds of tomorrow’s business travel landscape.Find out Will it be ethical to travel for business in 15 years' time? Will traveling internationally become more or less economically and geographically accessible? If the only certainty is uncertainty how do companies and organizations lay the right foundations for their traveling employees?Visit mycwt.com

It’s a rare moment when headlines aren’t awash with news of inflation, geopolitical hair-raisers, and the race to combat climate change. If only there was a crystal ball to help companies plan their business travel and events around uncertainty.Internationally-recognized thought leader, NY Times bestselling author, futurist, and top-rated keynote speaker Dr. Shawn DuBravac delivers pragmatic and provocative insights on the trends, technologies, and paradigms transforming the globe. Hot on the heels of his predictions in the GBTA CWT Global Business Travel Forecast 2023 that reveals global and regional price projections and analysis for airfares, hotel rooms, and cost-per-attendee (meetings & events), DuBravac speaks to CWT Communications Chief Julian Walker about the critical issues that could influence pricing and how we travel & meet in 2023. Find out: Is a global recession inevitable and what would one mean for the price of hotels, airfare, care hire, and meetings & events? How the macroeconomic outlook could materialize differently around the world. How corporates and organizations can reconcile uncertainty with budget planning.Visit mycwt.com

CWT Meetings & Events (M&E) is an award-winning global events agency delivering  live, virtual and hybrid events for thousands of customers every year ranging from end-to-end productions of some of the world’s largest global conferences to intimate teambuilding events. Kari Wendel, VP strategic and enterprise customers, and global operations is at the helm of the agency’s ‘total meetings management’ approach working with larger customers with centralized meeting strategies, large events & corporate incentives.  An alchemist of process, spend, volume, standards, supplier negotiations, and data to achieve measurable business objectives that align with an organization's strategic goals, Kari knows the state of the industry more than most.  Find out:  How record-breaking demand combined with leaner teams, higher costs, fewer options and longer lead times have created a perfect storm and how your organization can weather it with aplomb.  Why a centralised meetings strategy is critical in the current climate of unpredictability.  New ways to look at managing risk and how to plan for unknowns.  Visit mycwt.com

Richard Johnson, Global Head of Solutions Group, the consulting arm of global travel management platform CWT is joined by Heinrich Lange, Senior Director Sales Northern Europe, and Head of Global Account Management, EMEA, Lufthansa. Together they unpick the practicalities of accelerating the development and integration of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the collective efforts of the entire aviation industry to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Find out:  Why making SAF the crux of fruitful business relationships is integral to its success. From electrification to adhesive covers modelled on sharkskin, what are the broader opportunities for carbon reduction, how feasible are they and how can we foster innovation at a critical time for our planet?  Is there a one-size-fits-all answer to whether not flying is the most sustainable solution? Visit mycwt.com

Volatility, complexity and change brought on by the pandemic has been a huge social and economic disrupter for most.  It has - and continues to - transform the way in which we interact, consume, work and travel. What influence does this change have on business travelers’ behaviours, needs and expectations?  In this episode Christina Scorsis, CWT’s VP Traveler Experience Evolution, opines about her own shifting attitudes, and how companies and organizations can keep pace with the aspirations and expectations of the conscious business traveler to retain talent and support a healthy company culture. Find out: About changing patterns of business travel.How travel managers should engage their conscious travelers.Empowering business travelers to make the most sustainable decisions when booking a trip.  Visit mycwt.com

Belinda Hindmarsh, Chief Growth Officer of global travel management platform CWT is joined by Kit Brennan, Co-founder and Director of award-winning carbon intelligence platform Thrust Carbon.  Together they have decades of experience in the travel tech space. CWT recently became the first major global TMC to activate point-of-sale emissions data with Thrust Carbon, answering the industry’s call-to-action to reduce our impact on the planet by enabling  travelers to make the most eco-friendly decision when booking a trip. In this episode Belinda and Kit turn their sights on the hotel industry which is infinitely more complex than air travel when it comes to measuring sustainability. Find out: Whether there are sufficient measures that accurately determine a hotel’s  green credentials like-for-like, as accurately as air. What  the industry needs to do to provide greater  transparency. Should the onus fall on governments, hoteliers or travelers? Is it gross to not have your bath towels laundered?Visit mycwt.com

Belinda Hindmarsh, Chief Operating Officer of RoomIt by CWT and China, and John Pelant, Chief Technology Officer, CWT are leaders of CWT’s women’s employee resource group. Drawing on decades of combined experience in travel and tech, along with leading a global multinational operating in over 140 countries, they talk about breaking the bias at a critical turning point including:The role of business travel management in progressing equal opportunities.How to build an inclusive culture and inspire more women at an individual, organization and industry level.The power of intentional listening and being an ally.The pitfalls of proximity bias in remote and hybrid working environments.Why we’re at a fork in the road for progressing equality. Visit mycwt.com

Michelle McKinney Frymire is no stranger to challenge. The CEO of travel management platform CWT, she was at the helm of making the company financially resolute at one of the toughest times in the history of travel. With $350 million of new equity,  including a $100 million investment in technology and innovative products, the platform is entering a pivotal new period. CWT  is physically present in over 140 countries and staffed by 12,000 employees ranging in age from 18 to 90.  As the company celebrates a whopping 150 years in travel Michelle talks about: How travel can drive opportunities for your business.How attitudes to work and life are changing and what that means for leaders. Climate anxiety, inclusivity, vaccine equity and the biggest issues to solve for. Visit mycwt.com

Human trafficking – the illegal movement of a person into or through a country by force, threat or deception to exploit them - can affect anyone of any age, gender or nationality. In trafficking in persons, criminals are adjusting their business models to a new reality created by the pandemic, especially through the abuse of communications platforms. At the same time, COVID-19 impacts the ability to provide essential services to trafficked persons. Since 1999 CWT and the Carlson Family Foundation have taken a holistic approach to fight trafficking through our core business activities, philanthropy, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. CWT’s Julian Walker, Head of External Market Communications & PR speaks to Yvonne Chen, Director, Private Sector Engagement, ECPAT USA about how we can individually and collectively turn the tide on trafficking. Why survivors and those with lived experience hold the key to crafting legislation and policy.Essential advice for business travelers & companies.From working on refugee rights in Cape Town and California to running safehouses in New York – How meeting survivors has inspired a global mission. Visit mycwt.com

The pandemic prompted companies to take a closer look at the environmental impact of business travel. Now, as travel gradually begins to restart, we can expect sustainability to remain a key priority for many organizations.CWT's Richard Johnson, Senior Director, CWT Solutions Group speaks to a panel of experts representing different viewpoints—including airlines, environmental non-profits, TMCs, and travel buyers—to discuss a major point of contention in making corporate travel programs greener: how companies should set targets and measure success.LearnMeaningful, actionable ideas on how to measure success of carbon reduction initiatives.Best practice examples from customers and suppliers on delivering successful change.How to balance creating more sustainable programs with the financial implications of doing so.Visit mycwt.com

The biggest global vaccination campaign in history is underway. As countries around the world look to gradually ease restrictions, it is imperative that organizations prepare themselves and equip their employees for a safe return to travel.Raphaël Pasdeloup  - Senior VP Global Customer Management, Technology, Media and Telecom at CWT speaks to Brandon Balcom - Senior Director, Innovation, CWT and William Hauptman, MD - Medical Director Assistance, Americas Region, International SOS about:The impact of COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs worldwideOpportunities and challenges with new tech solutions, such as digital health passportsReshaping your organization’s travel policy to the fast-changing landscapeSafety and security blind spots due to the current focus on COVID-19Visit mycwt.com

2021 is set to be a big year for hybrid meetings and events, with travel restrictions and safety measures expected to remain in place. When done right, combining the best of virtual and in-person events allows you to boost engagement and reach a wider audience.Get ahead of the curve by learning from CWT Meetings & Events'  Fredrik Hermelin, as he speaks to industry experts about how to organize impactful hybrid events that deliver results for your business.Visit mycwt.com

Where were you this time last year? Twelve months on from the start of a global event we can all remember vividly, it’s natural to wonder what business travel, meetings and events and the world of work will look like this time in 2022. We hand the crystal ball to Michelle McKinney-Frymire, CWT’s CFO and President Strategy & Transformation, and Niklas Andreen, President Traveller Experience and Customer.Visit mycwt.com

At the end of a year that completely altered business travel, meetings & events, and our working lives, who better to reflect on the past and anticipate the future than the editors and journalists at the coalface? Winners of the Business Travel Journalism Awards 2020 talk vaccine hope,  slow travel, and cutting commutes for good.Visit mycwt.com

The pandemic has forced businesses to take a closer look at their travel risk policy. What is in place now and what do you need to adapt to make it work for your business and employees?Dr. William Hauptman, M.D., Medical Director Assistance, and Andrew Miller, Director of Partnerships for the Americas Region, both from International SOS, share advice and guidance on why travel managers should reshape their policy to meet the evolving demands of a world challenged by COVID-19.Visit mycwt.com

Employee wellbeing is back on top of the corporate agenda, so it is vital your travel policy tackles the issues that matter most to your employees and addresses their concerns in this new world.In this episode, On The Fly spoke with Valdís Arnórsdóttir, Director of HR Operations, Marel to explore why travel managers should be working closely with their HR professionals to set new policies and procedures in the COVID-19 era.Visit mycwt.com

As businesses reconnect and travel restarts, questions remain over how to manage an air program fit for an uncertain and changing world. Join global airlines, Delta and Air France - KLM as they address key issues affecting travel managers, including unused tickets, boosting employee confidence and safety concerns. Visit mycwt.com

Restrictions may have eased but many companies still struggle with building confidence in their traveling employees. Hear from business and travel experts in Asia Pacific on how to get your people ready for the road.A diverse speaker panel talks critical learnings from essential service providers, how considerations have shifted, and how suppliers are adapting their operations to cope with a dynamic situation.Visit mycwt.com