An hour just wasn't enough time for our subject-matter experts to cover all of our participants' questions during last week's live webinar, NDC- The Truth Through a TMC Lens. We recognize the heavy impact that NDC is having on the industry and the varying complexities that can make NDC difficult to comprehend. We feel that it is our obligation to answer all questions and guide our customers through ongoing education and support. We are in this together.
1 min read
WORLD TRAVEL, INC. APPOINTS ERIKA MOORE AS PRESIDENT
World Travel, Inc., an employee-owned and leading mid-market TMC (Travel Management Company), announced this week the appointment of Erika Moore as President. She previously served on World Travel, Inc.’s Board of Directors from 2022 – 2023.
2 min read
5 Reasons Why to Use a Travel Agent Post-Pandemic
Traveling post-pandemic is new for everyone. But understanding the ever-changing rules and regulations while dealing with the unknowns of traveling for the first time can make any business – or vacation – traveler a little weary. Booking travel through your TMC or travel agent has never been more important, and here are just five reasons why.
3 min read
Post-covid meetings & Events tips
Meetings are back! Las Vegas is set to host its first large-scale meeting and tradeshow in June 2021. But as many planners already know, events in 2021 will look much different than they did two years ago. So how do you plan an event for the “new normal”? What key considerations should you take into account when you begin the process? We asked the team here at World Meetings & Events to provide some insider tips to help you ensure a successful - and healthy - event!
3 min read
Managing Rogue Travel
As we emerge from the pandemic and travel resumes, many companies are realizing it may be time to revisit those strict travel restrictions put in place last March. Rogue travel has been a problem for as long as travel policies have existed, but now, those who are going “around” the restrictions aren’t only impacting your bottom line, they are risking their health and well-being and the duty of care for your company. The very policies you put in place in 2020 during the pandemic are now sometimes being viewed as obstacles to success for the individual contributors to your organization. And so… they’re going rogue.
Topics: Business Travel travel policy "COVID-19"
3 min read
Disney Vacations Post-COVID Tips
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to parents and children alike to begin and end their day staring at screens with little to no contact with others outside of the immediate family. The fatigue of Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings can take a toll on anyone’s mental health and while there is a glimmer of hope with more and more Americans becoming vaccinated, the urge to retire the daily meetings is needed now more than ever. Rejuvenate the family and get the kids interacting again in the Happiest Place on Earth – Disney World! Learn tips and advice for making the most out of your Disney Park vacation below.
3 min read
Getting (Back) Together: What 2021 Holds for the Meeting and Events Industry
An inside view of the meetings and events industry covering technology, services, best practices, trends, challenges, and more. World Meetings and Events is a subsidiary of World Travel, Inc.
Topics: Meetings & Events "COVID-19"
3 min read
Vacationing During a Pandemic - Destination Cancun, Mexico
Sun. Sand. Cocktails. Relaxation. BLISS! For most of us, it’s been over a year since we’ve had the luxury of vacationing. But as vaccines become more accessible and confidence in travel continues to increase, those glorious days relaxing by the sea are more attainable than ever.
Topics: "COVID-19" leisure travel
5 min read
Countries open to covid-19 vaccinated travelers
Updated April 26, 2021
Dreaming of your next vacation doesn’t have to be a dream anymore. Thanks to COVID-19 vaccinations and a steady decline in global cases, many destinations are reopening their doors to travelers. Here are a list of countries reopening to American tourists, and do not require any quarantine to travelers who have received their full course of COVID vaccine.
Topics: "COVID-19"
3 min read
Traveling Safely During A Pandemic
World Travel, Inc.’s EVP and Corporate Counsel, Maribeth Minella recently completed a trip to Hawaii. It was a last-minute trip and according to Maribeth, traveling to Hawaii was “a lesson in preparedness.” Executive Director of World Travel, Inc. Leisure Tanya Browne guided Maribeth through the details of travel during the pandemic, from local testing requirements to airport guidelines before the trip. Learn more about Maribeth’s experience and what to expect on your next trip below.
Topics: "COVID-19"
3 min read
Elevate Your Meetings & Events
Hosting an informative and fun gathering for your clients and colleagues is a massive task, from creating a schedule and ensuring that its executed properly, to the even more stressful task of staying on budget. Planning a meeting or event becomes almost unmanageable, especially for a single person.
2 min read
The Saving Power of Rebooking Platforms
The coronavirus pandemic has forced millions of companies around the world to dig into the uncomfortable task of cutting costs wherever possible. It’s never been more important to ensure that your company is saving money and operating as efficiently as possible.
Topics: Corporate Travel "COVID-19" Hotel Shopping Bot Rebooking
4 min read
10 Benefits of Booking with a Corporate Travel Company
Managing your own company’s corporate travel program can be a huge task that calls for intense organization, financial analysis and attention to duty of care. Adding these and other tasks to already packed schedules lowers productivity and steals attention from your team’s mission. Partnering with a corporate travel management company (TMC) puts these concerns in the hands of experienced industry experts and teams who understand the industry better than anyone else.
Topics: Corporate Travel "COVID-19"
7 min read
Fall Symposium 2020 Recap: Safely Returning to Travel
World Travel, Inc. hosted our annual Fall Symposium, which focused on safely resuming travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtually on October 21, 2020.
Topics: Meetings & Events "COVID-19"
2 min read
Maintaining Meeting Magic With Virtual Events
Establishing meaningful connections with colleagues, old friends and new acquaintances makes corporate meetings and events a valuable and rewarding piece of professional life. Meetings and events professionals, including our experienced World Meetings & Events team, are working hard to make these connections possible even when face-to-face interaction isn't available.
Topics: Meetings & Events "COVID-19"
2 min read
Staying Together While Working Apart
When the coronavirus pandemic grounded our industry in early March, we realized that we were in for an unpredictable, anxious, and slow stretch of professional life. The World Travel, Inc., team transitioned to remote work on March 18, but we've retained our entire staff and completely avoided furloughs during this period.
Topics: "COVID-19"
2 min read
Reflecting On Challenges: What We've Learned From The COVID-19 Pandemic
When the global COVID-19 pandemic slowed our industry to a crawl, World Travel, Inc.'s day-to-day priorities and schedule shifted. To continue providing the best possible service and solutions to our clients, we had to carefully consider the threat of the pandemic and how we could enhance traveler safety. We simultaneously worked to ensure the health of our company, our employees and retain our entire staff.
Topics: "COVID-19"
2 min read
Managing Unused Tickets During The Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent shutdown of non-essential travel left hotels, airlines, and business travelers sorting through an avalanche of cancellation and refund negotiations. When lockdowns began and flights were cancelled en masse, conflicting airline policies and refund refusals caused confusion. Airlines are currently dealing with an estimated global refund liability of $35 billion, according to Business Travel News.
Topics: "COVID-19"
3 min read
Airports And Airlines Implement Sweeping New Sanitation And Social Distancing Policies
Travelers will notice extensive safety-focused changes as COVID-19-related restrictions lift and airports begin to bustle once again. As the travel industry works to pair comfort with traveler safety and wellness, masks, social distancing markers, and flight capacity notifications have become an integral part of today's airports and aircraft.
Passengers prepare to board a United Airlines flight to San Francisco in Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal C
2 min read
World Travel Clients Share Their Coronavirus Outlook
Governmental restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are lifting or loosening across the world, and most localities have outlined a clear path to full reopening as pandemic projections change. These official guidelines and plans make some business projections and predictions clear.
Topics: Tips "COVID-19"
3 min read
Travel in a Post-COVID World: Pricing Concerns and Generating Savings
Travel analysts across the world are attempting to understand the massive changes the industry will undergo in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of flights have been cancelled across the world's now-empty airports, group meetings and corporate events have moved online, and hotels are struggling to fill their rooms.
Topics: Tips "COVID-19"
1 min read
How The Travel Industry is Responding to the Strain of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic's continuous disruption of normal travel schedules has been a difficult problem for industry members from all sectors to face.
4 min read
World Travel Virtual Spring Symposium 2020 Question and Answer
World Travel, Inc.'s first-ever virtual symposium featured engaging discussions presented by representatives from American Airlines, International SOS, and Johns Hopkins' University.
3 min read
Spring Symposium 2020 Recap: Understanding A Changed Travel Landscape
World Travel, Inc. hosted our first-ever virtual symposium, which focused on the travel industry's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
2 min read
Travel in a post-covid world: Traveler Safety and Monitoring
As the world takes its first steps on the path to a complete reopening following the global shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for business travel industry members to be prepared for a heavily altered global travel landscape.
3 min read
Travel in a Post-COVID World: Future of Meetings & Events
In a matter of a few weeks we have seen global travel grind to a halt. The meetings & events industry has suffered from the coronavirus pandemic alongside every other travel-based market. We’ve gone from hosting events with thousands of people to scrambling to move to a virtual platform and keep our programs full of their usual content and collaboration.
Topics: Meetings & Events Tips "COVID-19"
1 min read
Travel in a Post-COVID World: 2021 Hotel RFP Season
With the recent GBTA endorsement regarding 2021 Hotel RFP season many travel buyers are left to question how they should manage their processes. Although we respect those involved in that decision, we do not necessarily agree with GBTA’s stance and are fully prepared to manage our clients 2021 hotel programs.
Topics: Hotel RFP "COVID-19"
2 min read
Travel in a Post-COVID World: Implementing Travel Policy Changes
As we all slowly begin the process of phasing back into society, cities and states are opening up, people are getting back to work, and while travel may seem like something to come later, now is the time to think about what travel is going to look like for your company. Inevitably, you will have to adjust your travel policy, for some those changes may be minor, but for others now will be the time to really mandate that travelers follow your policy to ensure their safety – and your company’s.
Topics: travel policy "COVID-19"
2 min read
Travel in a Post-COVID World: Your Account Manager Will Be Your Ally
The quickly evolving coronavirus crisis has changed the travel landscape in a matter of weeks leaving many companies scrambling to figure out what business travel will look like once we all return to work. One thing that is absolutely clear, as much as they have been in the past, a proactive and informed account manager will be key to a successful travel program moving forward. They will be your trusted advisor helping you manage all the changes to your program. But if you are asking yourself, how do I know that my account manager is set up to help navigate our company through these uncharted waters? We have outlined a few crucial points your account manager should be reaching out to assist you with.
Topics: account management Travel Management "COVID-19"
3 min read
Travel in a Post-COVID World: Stepping Up During Times of Crisis
Amidst the Coronavirus outbreak, the travel industry as a whole has faced many complications and hardships. With some travel management companies, hotels and airlines, letting go of thousands of employees leaving many travelers confused and at times – helpless.
Topics: Travel Management "COVID-19"
1 min read
Real ID Deadline Delayed Until October 2021
President Donald Trump and officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have announced that the deadline for compliance with REAL ID Act requirements, originally set to take effect on October 1, would be postponed until October 1, 2021.
Topics: U.S. Government
2 min read
Understanding ETIAS: Europe's New Travel Authorization System
The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, will officially launch the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in 2021. The Commission will implement the new system to "strengthen its border security as well as digitally screen and track travelers entering and leaving EU countries."
1 min read
Capitalizing On Changing Hotel Trends In 2020
As 2019 draws to a close and the travel industry prepares for the new year, little is certain in an era of rapid change and technological growth.
2 min read
Biometric Check In: Scanning Technology Will Expedite Airport Security Process
Remove your shoes, have your identification and boarding pass ready, make sure your pockets are completely empty, and…scan your face?
2 min read
3 min read
Sourcing Strategies for Travel Program Optimization
In our last article, “7 Hot Topics in Corporate Travel Management,” we offered a full recap of the Hot Topics Roundtable, an interactive breakout session at World Travel, Inc.’s Spring Symposium 2019. However, the Hot Topics Roundtable wasn’t the only session that provided actionable strategies to Travel Managers across the globe.
Topics: airlines airfare Ancillary Fees consulting Consulting Services How-To negotiate program compliance Travel Management Technology
3 min read
7 Hot Topics in Corporate Travel Management
At World Travel, Inc.’s Spring Symposium 2019, we had several breakout sessions that enabled travel managers and procurement officers to learn more about topics that were important to them. These sessions included a Hot Topics Roundtable, Sourcing Strategies with Data Insights, Strategic Meetings Management with Cvent, and Going Global.
Topics: program compliance Risk Management Tips Travel Travel Management travel policy Uncategorized
3 min read
10 Key Performance Indicators for Your Corporate Travel Program
The second quarter of 2019 is well underway, and for many, this is a time to look back at our goals and main initiatives for the year to determine whether we’re on track. It’s also a time to look forward, as many any companies may be starting to prepare reports for mid-year management meetings.
Topics: How-To Tips Travel Management travel policy
4 min read
How to Achieve Your Travel Program Goals in 2019
While many of us are working towards our own personal goals for 2019, the new year also brings new opportunities to adjust our business goals and determine how each department can better contribute to the overall plans for the company.
Topics: online adoption How-To International Travel Online Booking program compliance Risk Management Travel Management travel policy Uncategorized
4 min read
The Ultimate Guide to Globalizing Your Corporate Travel Program
Managing a global travel program comes with its own set of concerns and needs specific to the company, its locations, and its travelers. Last time you looked at your travel footprint, was it expanding? Are you managing travelers with increasingly multi-lingual and multi-cultural travel plans?
2 min read
Marriott Data Breach Brings Risks to Light - 3 Reasons to Book Hotel Stays Through Your TMC
Marriott International announced on Friday, November 30th that it had suffered a massive breach of customer data in the Starwood guest reservation database. An investigation determined that there was unauthorized access to the database, which contained information for up to 500 million guests, who made reservations at Starwood properties on or before September 10, 2018.
3 min read
Top 10 Questions on the REAL ID Act (Webinar with DHS)
The official enforcement deadline for the REAL ID Act is less than two years away! By October 1, 2020, passengers from all states will be required to show compliant documents, such as a REAL ID compliant driver’s license, to board any commercial aircraft.
Topics: real id
4 min read
Sneak Peek of Symposium Session: How to Balance Your Travel Program with Innovation
With World Travel, Inc.’s Fall Symposium 2018 only days away, we’d like to give you a behind-the-curtain look at one of the main sessions, featuring our very own Chief Innovation Officer, Rock Blanco.
Topics: Travel WTI Technology
3 min read
5 Data Points to Fuel Your Hotel Negotiations (Webinar with IHG)
We recently published an article, “How to Reduce Travel and Expense Costs for Your Company,” which offered seven time-tested strategies to reduce travel costs. One of the most important strategies we recommended was to negotiate rates. Negotiating supplier contracts like car, hotel, and even airline can be a huge savings opportunity.
Topics: Travel Travel Management WTI
4 min read
How to Reduce Travel & Expense Costs for Your Company
In case you missed it, World Travel, Inc. held a live poll at GBTA 2018, where we asked everyone who stopped by our booth one very direct question: “What is Important to You?”
Topics: online adoption Corporate Travel costs General How-To negotiate program compliance rates
5 min read
The Top 7 Concerns for Corporate Travel Management (GBTA VOTING RESULTS)
World Travel, Inc. team members were fortunate enough to attend GBTA 2018 in San Diego recently, where we met so many talented travel professionals from all over the globe. Thank you to all who visited our booth, met with our team, or partied with us at our beach bash!
Topics: Corporate Travel costs Risk Management Technology
2 min read
The GDPR Deadline is Approaching - Here's What You Need to Know
The European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) goes into effect May 25, 2018, and newsflash: it’s a big deal. This regulation is expected change the data privacy landscape, not only in the EU, but across the globe.
Topics: General How-To Industry Update
2 min read
Business Travel Trends: What to Expect for Air, Car, & Hotel Rates
The travel industry is an ever-changing landscape, constantly adapting to new trends and demand. Fortunately for us at World Travel, demand for business travel increased steadily in 2017, and there are no signs of it slowing down.
Topics: Interview rental car airfare Business Travel car consulting costs General Hotel Industry Update negotiate rates
2 min read
You Don't Need to Choose Between Booking Corporate Travel Online and Receiving Quality Service. Here's Why
When it comes to managing your corporate travel program, you want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. Of course, you also want your travelers to have an excellent experience and be well taken care of.
Topics: account management online adoption service consulting Consulting Services cost emergency support General mobile OBT online Online Booking program compliance travel agent Travel Management WTI
3 min read
5 Ways to Speed Through the Airport (with Trusted Traveler Status)
Winter isn’t coming; it has arrived, and that means the busy holiday travel season is upon us.
Topics: Airport passport airport security Business Travel Corporate Travel General Global Entry How-To security Travel trusted traveler programs TSA TSA PreCheck
3 min read
Making Sense of the REAL ID Act as Enforcement Deadlines Approach
This month marks five years since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a phased enforcement plan for the REAL ID Act, which was passed by congress almost eight years earlier.
Topics: airlines Airport real id compliance Corporate Travel General How-To Industry Update Travel
2 min read
Adoption of the NDC Program: What's New with Airlines & Travel Aggregators
In a recent blog article, “Overview of the NDC Program: What You Need to Know,” we introduced IATA’s NDC (New Distribution Capability) Program, which is quickly becoming the industry standard for the transmission of data between airlines and the travel community.
Topics: Air France airline airlines American Airlines airfare Amadeus Business Travel Corporate Travel data distribution General IAG IATA Industry Update NDC Sabre surcharge Travel Travel Management Travelport Uncategorized WTI
4 min read
World Travel, Inc. Emergency Response - Debrief After Hurricanes and Earthquakes
September was a tragic month for many people, whose lives were impacted by the quick succession of devastating hurricanes and earthquakes mainly affecting the Caribbean, Mexico, and the South and Southeast United States. Our thoughts are with those who are still suffering in the aftermath of these natural disasters.
Topics: alerts earthquake emergency response hurricane notification Uncategorized WTI
2 min read
Travel Managers: 5 Ways the New WorldReports™ Will Simplify Your Life
It’s no secret that advanced technology can serve as a powerful and useful tool in our everyday lives, whether personally, professionally, or both.
Topics: General WTI
2 min read
Overview of the NDC Program: What You Need to Know
Over the last few years in the airline industry, more attention has been given to improving the user experience, as well as the consistency of that experience across distribution channels. More specifically, IATA (International Air Transport Association) launched what it calls the NDC program, and as of late, this program has been gaining traction.
Topics: General Industry Update Uncategorized WTI
3 min read
An Insider's View on Hotel Trends: Key Data Points to Fuel Your Negotiations
In the heat of summer, the last thing you probably want to think about is setting your hotel program goals for 2018, but hotel RFP season is right around the corner, usually running from August to October. This is when most hotels request a bid package from companies to evaluate their hotel spend and make a pricing decision for their negotiated rate.
Topics: Uncategorized
2 min read
Bridging the Gap Between Registration & Meeting Air Travel
Meetings are a wonderful thing - we go, we network, we share ideas, and we learn! But what about everything that goes on in the background? How do you get everyone to the meeting with as little stress as possible? Booking all those airline tickets can be time consuming and downright tedious, so there must be a way to make the process easier, right?!
Topics: Uncategorized
5 min read
The Future is Virtual
Implementing Virtual Pay for Hotels
We’ve talked about the benefits of Virtual Payment technologies before. But it bears repeating.
Topics: content data expense management General Industry Update payment solutions WTI
4 min read
5 Tips for Implementing a New Travel Program
We sat down with Mary Barbagallo, Director of Project Management at World Travel, Inc. who oversees our Implementations team.
Topics: airlines Advice Consulting Services corporate culture General Hotel How-To implmentations travel policy Traveler Conversations WTI
3 min read
Self-Assessing Your Analytics Needs
Analytics are great.
Topics: Advice corporate culture data General How-To travel policy WTI
6 min read
A Flier's Rights
Voluntary vs. Involuntary Bumping
It's time to lay a little truth on you:
Topics: airlines Airport Advice etiquette How-To Industry Update Opinion Traveler Conversations U.S. Government Uncategorized
2 min read
You Don't Have to Be a Helicopter.
Keeping Travelers Informed
Where are your travelers?
Right now, in this very moment, who is on the road? Who’s in the air?
Topics: corporate culture Duty of Care General International Travel Risk Management Traveler Conversations WTI
3 min read
Stop the Madness!
Improve Travel Management with Trip Approvals
All those trips being booked, emails flying back and forth between travelers, arrangers and systems. How do you know your travelers are booking what they should be booking? How can you be positive your data is correct?
Topics: Approval Processes economy General travel policy Traveler Conversations Uncategorized
2 min read
The Wonderful World of Hotel Rate Auditing
They say there’s no place like home. But if you’ve ever rolled into a spotless hotel room after a day of exhausting travel and endless meetings, you might disagree. 400-thread-count sheets? Hello Emerald City!
Topics: Advice Consulting Services content GDS Hotel How-To open booking WTI
3 min read
What Travelers Need to Know About: REAL ID
The signs are up and the deadlines are real, but do you know where your state stands in relation to the REAL ID Act?
Topics: Uncategorized
3 min read
Unused Tickets: Your Hidden Treasure
Unused Tickets. Depending on your travel-arrangements turnover, they may be an untapped treasure trove for your program.
Topics: Advice content How-To Online Booking travel policy Traveler Conversations WTI
5 min read
Mergers, Markets, and So Much More
In the midst of technological development and navigating globalization, the travel industry is still largely about experience. Traveler productivity can be affected by the quality of their travel arrangements.
Topics: Interview Rewards Hotel International Travel
5 min read
What Travelers Need to Know about TSA Pre✓®
Are you scratching your head and wondering what you can do to make traveling a little less painful for your travelers? For many people, one of the biggest pain points is getting through security screening. The lines are always long, and by the time you reach the front you have to take off your shoes, pull out your laptop and wait around (barefoot) to be called through the screener.
Topics: airlines Airport General Global Entry Homeland Security Industry Update International Travel Traveler Conversations TSA WTI
5 min read
The Flip Side of the Coin: Hotel Dynamic Pricing
Hotel dynamic pricing sounds super shiny. It’s as bright and flashy as a coin toss in the sunshine. But careful, what may seem like a big savings opportunity could be a trick of the light.
Topics: Rewards Advice Consulting Services General Hotel travel policy
3 min read
How to Achieve Executive Buy-In
At the World Travel, Inc. Client Advisory Board meeting in January, our Board Members discussed strategies for how to get C-Suite buy-in and Executive-level sponsorship. Guest speaker Frank Hoffman from Hoffman & Associates, LLC gave a presentation reviewing the popular article by Robert B. Cialdini published in 2001, “Harnessing the Science of Persuasion.”
Topics: Advice corporate culture Executive Buy-In General How-To WTI
5 min read
The Real Deal with the REAL ID Act
The REAL ID Act isn’t hard to understand. But it is complicated.
Topics: Airport passports Cyber Security DHS Global Entry Industry Update Politics Traveler Conversations TSA U.S. Government
3 min read
The Basics on Basic Economy: 1, 2, 3
They say that Basic Economy fares are a reaction to low-cost carriers. (Low-cost carriers - and their baggage policies - respectfully disagree.) But no matter the reason they were created, Basic Economy Fares are here.
Topics: airlines Rewards Ancillary Fees content corporate culture General Industry Update travel policy Traveler Conversations
4 min read
10 Ways to Encourage Program Compliance
Vinegar vs. Honey
You’ve run the numbers, you’ve cut the deals, you’ve created the perfect travel program for your company. Now how do you get all your employees to obey the rules?
Topics: Advice corporate culture How-To Online Booking travel policy Traveler Conversations WTI
3 min read
8 Steps for Creating a Pre-Travel Emergency Plan
* Content from this blog was derived from webinar hosted on January 11, 2017 with On Call International. To view the webinar recording in its entirety please click here.
Keeping track of the components of a well-managed travel risk management program isn't easy…sometimes our days can get so hectic, we barely have time to react, let alone be proactive.
Topics: Uncategorized
5 min read
Managing Millennials: It’s Strategy, Not Coddling
Whether you see your Millennial travelers as requiring kid gloves and a trophy case, or if you say “they’re the same as all my other employees,” understanding Millennials is about more than translating rampant abbreviations.
Topics: Advice corporate culture etiquette Millennials Opinion Uncategorized
4 min read
Business Travel Etiquette: We Are Not Animals
Hello, dear reader.
Topics: Advice etiquette General travel policy Traveler Conversations
2 min read
Safety First. Innovation Second.
Safety First. Innovation Second.
Changing the way you wait in security lines.
Back in June, Delta funded a little experiment in the ATL to the tune of $1 million.
Topics: Airport passports General Homeland Security Industry Update Risk Management Traveler Conversations TSA U.S. Government WTI
3 min read
6 min read
Going Global: Major Considerations
As the largest mid-market global travel management company, World Travel, Inc. helps many of our clients go global, manage global, and achieve global goals.
Topics: Uncategorized
3 min read
Top 5 Considerations to Save on Hotel Costs
The people have spoken. Your number one topic in our survey was: how to save money on hotel costs.
So we caught up with Laura Farrell, one of our expert Hotel Consultants in our Consulting Services department. Laura just came back from speaking with clients and prospects at the World Travel, Inc. 2016 Fall Symposium and Travel Trade Show, and she was bursting with advice for travel managers looking to cut costs on the Hotel front.
Topics: Interview General How-To WTI
2 min read
Happy Travelers = Increased Program Compliance
Know your audience. It’s one of the basic rules of marketing and product development, and it also applies to managing a successful travel program.
Topics: open booking Traveler Conversations WTI
2 min read
Survey Results Are In!
We asked. You spoke. Now we are going to take action!
The results from our survey are in!
Topics: Uncategorized
4 min read
Marriott & Starwood Head for the Honeymoon Suite
It’s the high-profile wedding of the year. Marriott International, Inc. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts tied the knot in late September. And whether you prefer one, the other, or neither, this is a merger with major repercussions in the industry. Let’s take a quick look at how this new hotel dynasty is going to affect you and your travelers.
Topics: Rewards Consulting Services economy Hotel Industry Update Marriott RFP Starwood Traveler Conversations
1 min read
We’re Listening!
Engage readers. Identify interests. Research your preferred topics. Share what you want to learn. These are the simple new goals of World Travel, Inc.’s Communications Team.
Topics: WTI
5 min read
Travel Risk Management: You or the Gorilla?
There’s an oft-quoted (and re-worded) aphorism about perseverance originally coined by Robert Strauss, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and the Soviet Union, and a considerable figurehead in mid-20th century American politics.
Topics: passports Advice Duty of Care EU Industry Update International Travel Opinion Risk Management travel policy Traveler Conversations WTI
1 min read
The Benefit of Travel Management In a Word: Savings.
The Benefit of Travel Management
In a Word: Savings.
The proof is in the pricing!
Topics: content corporate culture Duty of Care RFP WTI
1 min read
Conga Drumroll, Please:
Airlines Now Departing for Cuba
Written by Maribeth L. Minella
EVP & Corporate Counsel, World Travel, Inc.
On Wednesday, August 31, the DOT issued its Final Order for which carriers can and can’t fly to Cuba, and their routing.
Topics: airlines Cuba Industry Update International Travel U.S. Government
3 min read
Safety First: Quality Control at Work.
As I write this blog, there are just under 14,000 aircraft in flight in the world, at least according to Flightradar24.com, which is both fascinating and terrifying to look at. (Try it. You’ll see.)
Topics: airlines Duty of Care General Traveler Conversations U.S. Government WTI
1 min read
Safety First: World Travel, Inc. and the Privacy Shield Framework
Written by Maribeth Minella, Executive Vice President & Corporate Counsel, World Travel, Inc.
Topics: data Data Transfer EU Industry Update U.S. Government WTI
2 min read
What's In A Name?
5 Tips when Updating Your Travel Profile
Summer’s coming to a close, and the fall travel season will be ramping up sooner than you think. Before all those business trip requests start adding up, make sure your bookings go smoothly (and your rewards points start racking up) by updating your travel profile.
Topics: passports Advice General Tips Traveler Conversations
3 min read
Doublespeak or Straight Talk: Looking at Lufthansa (Again)
According to our travel-trend-tracking friends over at The Beat, Lufthansa’s spreading good news to its investors. The Beat says CEO Carsten Spohr has proclaimed the distribution strategy – charging a €16 surcharge on GDS-based bookings – “is a success.”
Topics: airlines GDS Industry Update International Travel Lufthansa Opinion
1 min read
EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Update
Written by Maribeth Minella, EVP & Corporate Counsel, World Travel, Inc.
Topics: Data Transfer General International Travel
2 min read
A Tale of Two Cities
The upcoming American Election may scare the dickens out of you, but after we celebrate the U. S. of A. this weekend, it’s time to prepare for some interesting political events.
Topics: General Meetings & Events Politics Traveler Conversations U.S. Government
1 min read
Have 2 Rails; Will Travel.
Amtrak and ARC have notified all the old-timers. The official announcement says, “Amtrak Announces Discontinuation of Legacy GDS Connections and Support of Paper ATB Tickets.” Allow us to translate.
Topics: Amtrak GDS Industry Update Online Booking Traveler Conversations WTI
2 min read
Members Only: Airline Rewards Programs and Policy Compliance
With Monday’s announcement regarding its switch to a revenue-based frequent flier program, American Airlines has joined Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. (Those three do sure do a lot together!) The great American airline triumvirate has spoken: we are valued for our wallets. But they’re not alone - all the other major players – Virgin, JetBlue, and even the everyman’s best friend, Southwest, have already made the plunge.
Topics: airlines corporate culture How-To Industry Update Opinion Traveler Conversations WorldReports
3 min read
Hurry Up and Wait.
Forget baseball. THIS is our National Pastime: Hurry up and wait. We’ve done everything we can, as a nation, to improve efficiency and limit wait times. Unsurprisingly, it’s coming back to bite us.
Topics: Airport Advice General Global Entry Industry Update Traveler Conversations TSA Uncategorized WTI
3 min read
We've All Been There.
We've all been there.
Topics: Airport etiquette How-To Opinion Traveler Conversations TSA WTI
3 min read
Life's Short. Don't Wait in Line.
Find the entry program that’s best for you.
There are four major entry programs for U.S. citizens (and some others).
Topics: passports Global Entry Homeland Security How-To International Travel TSA
4 min read
Did You Know?
Meetings and events is your next frontier. And combining your meetings program and your transient program just might save you money.
Topics: Consulting Services data General Meetings & Events WTI
2 min read
What’s Going On in Your Destination?
Convention Season Is Coming.
You know that sinking sensation you get when you arrive at your hotel and there are a lot of people around? Like, a lot a lot? And then, as you’re waiting in an ungodly long check-in line, you hear the group of people in front of you (who all seem to know each other, and will all miraculously have rooms ready, even though you’ll be told to come back at 3PM to get your room key) drop the name of an organization or event that sounds HUGE.
Topics: Uncategorized
3 min read
Copy Cat: Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Kick-Starting Your Meetings Program
Written by Kristen Koenig, Director of Sales, Global Meetings & Events
The time to start paying attention to Strategic Meetings Management is now.
A lot has changed in the Meetings industry over the last 10 years. The evolution, particularly when considering technology integration, has been rapid, and we’re really beginning to reap the benefits of a decade of advancement. Personally, I am someone who thrives on innovation – if there is anything new or exciting that allows my customers or me to become more efficient, I want to know about it!
Topics: Advice General Meetings & Events travel policy WTI
2 min read
Feeling the Agent Love?
New Cat10 Combo Fares Giving You Heartburn? Call Your Agent.
Written by: Kevin Martin
EVP Business Development, World Travel, Inc.
The trades are picking up on last week's airline misdirection trick. CBS MoneyWatch covered the basics of the issue, but forgot to lay out your best options. You're a busy travel manager - you can't ask all your travelers (or rely on all your travelers) to painstakingly purchase the correct series of one-ways, and then manage them if their plans change. Which brings me to my point:
Topics: airlines Rewards Advice content GDS Industry Update Online Booking open booking travel policy Traveler Conversations WTI
1 min read
Travel to Cuba - Part 2
When Will U.S. Carriers Commence Commercial Service to Cuba?
Written by Maribeth L. Minella
EVP & Corporate Counsel, World Travel, Inc.
Answer: Maybe as soon as August 2016.
Topics: airlines Cuba Duty of Care General International Travel U.S. Government WTI
1 min read
Travel to Cuba - Part 1
Can I Travel to Cuba?
Written by Maribeth L. Minella
EVP & Corporate Counsel, World Travel, Inc.
Yes!
Topics: Cuba Duty of Care General International Travel U.S. Government WTI
2 min read
Category 10 Fare Rule Change
It’s nice to have experts working for you.
Over the past week, World Travel, Inc. agents have been noticing strange and distinct pricing discrepancies when pricing multi-flight trips: pricing them as multiple one-ways on a split ticket garners a price that is significantly lower than pricing the trip as a multi-segment.
Topics: airlines GDS General Industry Update Online Booking open booking Traveler Conversations WTI
3 min read
Look the Gift Horse in the Mouth
Call it a perk or call it a gimmick; the latest innovation (or invention) of hotel chains is the Member Rate. Hilton and Marriott have a new siren song for travelers. “Book direct with us!” they say. “Avoid the shopping around! We have a beautiful Members-Only rate for you!”
Topics: Rewards Consulting Services General Hilton Hotel Marriott Online Booking Radius Travel travel policy Traveler Conversations WorldReports WTI
3 min read
Keep It Real
Self-Auditing.
It sounds like a cross between self-evaluations and a run-in with the IRS. And maybe it is kind of like that. No matter how sure you are about your data when you enter into the process, you can’t help but think, “Okay. Is there anything I missed?”
Topics: Uncategorized
2 min read
4 min read
Travel Like an Executive: Tips from Our Top Tier
In our very own version of Ask the Experts, World Travel, Inc. has tracked down our C-Suite to get a list of their dos and don’ts for travel success.
Topics: passports Advice General International Travel WTI
2 min read
The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield
UPDATE: New Details on EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Revealed
Written 3/1/2016 by Maribeth Minella, EVP & Corporate Counsel, World Travel, Inc.
Topics: Data Transfer General International Travel
2 min read
Winter Storm Jonas Debrief
Winter is here. Winter Storm Jonas made his mark last week and weekend, cancelling 10,000 flights.
Topics: Uncategorized
2 min read
How to Get Through Airport Security Fast
I bet we can guess one of the top things you dread most about traveling by air. Is it going through Airport Security? Here are some tips to help make that Airport Security process a little more stress-free and on your way to your destination.
Topics: General How-To WTI
4 min read
2016: Sit Up and Pay Attention
Still outlining your 2016 travel program goals and deciding where the time/energy/money/interest are going to be focused?
Topics: Advice content Cyber Security data Data Transfer Duty of Care GDS General Risk Management
2 min read
Our Partnerships: Your Benefit
Things are looking up.
As in: Hotel average daily rates, hotel occupancy, and the total cost for your hotel stays in 2016.
Topics: Rewards Consulting Services economy General Hotel
1 min read
Passport Crunch Looms for 2016-2018
Got a passport?
Take it out and check the expiration date. The Department of State is warning of a passport crunch coming very soon, that may extend the time it takes you to apply for or renew a passport. Here's why:
1) A number of travel regulations changed in 2006-2008, which increased the number of U.S. citizens with passports. The 10-year-expiration date is coming up on all those passports, so there is an expected higher demand for renewals.
2) The dollar is strong right now, so more people are looking to travel abroad.
3) The Real ID act has heightened awareness of forms of ID and may contribute slightly to higher passport demand.
Topics: passports Advice General International Travel
2 min read
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Opinion Piece by James Wells, Founder and Chairman of World Travel, Inc.
On November 30th, 2015, JetBlue Airlines chose not to renew the sale of their product through the Travelport global distribution system. Earlier in the year, on June 1, 2015, Lufthansa Airlines implemented a global distribution fee to cover their GDS costs when a reservation originates through any global distribution system.
Topics: airlines Ancillary Fees GDS JetBlue Lufthansa Opinion
2 min read
How to Survive Winter Travel
Tips to help you get where you are going hassle-free during those pesky winter travel months.
Topics: How-To
1 min read
3 min read
You Never Stop Learning with World Travel, Inc.
You never stop learning, especially if you’re a World Travel, Inc. Client.
Topics: airlines General Traveler Conversations WTI
7 min read
U.S.-EU Data Transfers after the Schrems Opinion
Have you been following the rulings on U.S.-EU Data Transfers? New developments may – or may not – affect your business. World Travel, Inc.’s Corporate Counsel, Maribeth Minella, addresses What Happened and What Now for our industry update this week. Keep in mind that Data Transfer is a finely regulated topic, particularly when crossing international borders. You'll find Maribeth's overview below.
Topics: Data Transfer EU General WTI
3 min read
Corporate Policy and Share Economy
Opinion Piece by Juan Moreira, Corporate Sourcing Manager at John Wiley and Sons
Topics: corporate culture Opinion Share Economy travel policy
3 min read
How to: Prove the Value of Your Travel Management Program
How to: Prove the value of your travel management program
Objective:
Topics: content data How-To travel policy Traveler Conversations WorldReports
4 min read
An Educated Client Is Our Favorite Kind of Client: The History of Symposiums
An Interview with Michael Farrell, SVP Events & Communications at World Travel, Inc.
Topics: Uncategorized
1 min read
Nobody Panic!
UPDATE on 11/20: All jurisdictions but the American Samoa and Minnesota now have extensions to comply with the REAL ID Act. For specific information, please reference the Department of Homeland Security's briefing page.
Topics: Homeland Security Traveler Conversations TSA WTI
2 min read
2 min read
How to: Limit Ancillary Fees
Objective:
How to Limit Ancillary Fees
Ancillary Fees. You know the term far too well. It seems extra unexpected costs are associated with every trip you take. From baggage fees to hotel cancellation fees to city surcharges, the airline, hotel, and ground transportation industries are all making billions of dollars off these sometimes cleverly hidden fees. But as your Travel Management Company, we’re here to help you limit those pesky fees as much as possible!
Topics: airlines Advice Ancillary Fees Consulting Services corporate culture General Hotel How-To travel policy WTI
8 min read
Gordon Wilson: Redefining the GDS through an Innovative, Holistic Approach
Since 2011, Gordon Wilson has been at the helm of Travelport, ushering it into an era of increased content, enhanced usability, IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, and even a redefined identity (Travelport is a Travel Commerce Platform; “GDS” is passé, haven’t you heard?). It comes as no surprise, then, that he possesses a remarkably holistic view of the travel industry and the integral role of the global distribution system. Travelport is more than a storefront for aggregated content; it’s an innovator of improved technology, an intermediary in industry partnerships, and a proponent of travel and tourism benefits.
Topics: airlines Interview Ancillary Fees content economy expense management GDS Lufthansa open booking WTI
2 min read
Hello Economy. Welcome Back.
The economy seems to be breathing a little easier, at least for the moment. That means business travel is back in a big way. If you want proof, look at the hotel occupancy rate (HOR) and average daily rate (ADR). According to STR Global, ADR is steadily rising in all four global regions. In the Americas, the July ADR almost hit $125, which was up 5.8% YOY. This is mirrored by Europe’s 8% increase to $133.24, EMEA’s 5.3% increase to $159.10, and APAC’s subtler 1.1% increase to $105.12. PricewaterhouseCooper’s 2015 Hospitality Directions Report, as summarized by Business Travel News, estimates that the year’s ADR will level out at about $120.79, which is up 5% from last year.
Topics: Advice Ancillary Fees Consulting Services General Hotel RFP WTI
3 min read
Defining Your Company: Culture or Profit?
Opinion Piece by Kevin Martin, EVP of Business Development for World Travel, Inc.
Topics: corporate culture Opinion travel policy
2 min read
How to: Drive Online Adoption
Objective:
Increase Online Adoption.
When travelers book online, they can save time and money.
Topics: Advice How-To Online Booking Traveler Conversations WTI
Welcome, World Travelers!
Welcome, World Travelers! We're delighted to see you here.
