NBTA Announces Speakers for Inaugural Business Travel Financial Forum

CNBC's Larry Kudlow, Sabre's Sam Gilliland and Carlson Wagonlit Travel's Hubert Joly to be Featured.

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is pleased to announce speakers for the inaugural NBTA Business Travel Financial Forum: A Wall Street Look at the Business of Business Travel, hosted March 26 in New York City. The event will bring together executives for in-depth discussions on the business travel industry, including the economic outlook for the air and hotel sectors, and the future of travel services.

Larry Kudlow, host of CNBC's Kudlow & Company and CEO of Kudlow & Co., LLC, an economic and investment firm, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event.

NBTA is also pleased to welcome Sabre Holdings CEO Sam Gilliland and Carlson Wagonlit Travel CEO Hubert Joly as presenters on a panel titled 'The View from the Executive Suite - The Future of Global Travel Services.'

For additional information and event registration please visit www.nbta.org/financialforum. Early-bird rates for the event expire February 2.

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MPI's FutureWatch Shows Continued Meetings Growth in 2007

Both corporate and association planners anticipate holding more meetings with more attendees and having bigger budgets in 2007, according to the 5th annual FutureWatch survey conducted by Meeting Professionals International in partnership with American Express. FutureWatch assesses key trends impacting meeting planning by surveying both meeting planners and meeting suppliers.

Over half of corporate planners, 55 percent report that total meeting spend is calculated at their organizations. According to the survey, more planners anticipate doing so - with half of those not currently calculating total spend reporting that their organization is expected to move in this direction.

Another major trend identified in the report is increased globalization. "Globalization is on the rise in all areas of the meetings industry," the report states. "Client-side planners, meeting management and services companies and especially hotel and resort companies expect to increase their global presence in 2007."

With more than 60 percent of planners reporting that procurement departments are playing at least some part in their purchasing decisions, the survey asked meeting planners about the impact of this involvement. This involvement has increasingly led to increased use of preferred vendor programs and 60% of corporate planners believe that these programs have been successful or beneficial.

Download the full FutureWatch 2007 report.

The future of cruising

Are you looking for the special venue for the special client?

Totaly hip in 2007 are cruises on extraordinary boats. And here is my suggestion:

What: Windjammer Barefoot Cruises

Where: Caribbean

Perfect for: Young social types who aren't into bus tours.

Youth Factor: The sailboat-styled ships are geared toward extroverts, with boisterous mealtimes (everyone eats at communal tables), casual dress codes (shoes and shirts not required), and a playful atmosphere. Flash back to freshman year by donning an eye patch and hat on the "Pirates, Pimps, and Prostitutes" costume night.

Cruise Mates: Young couples and singles looking to make new friends (there are also singles-only trips).

High Seas: Larger ships may love their rules, but Windjammer is relaxed. Visit the captain in the control room (usually a no-no), sleep under the stars, dive off the deck. And since the ships are smaller than most, they can access islands that the megaships can't.

Rough Sailing: Cabins are "simple"—code word for not-so-luxurious. Chances are you'll be peering out of a porthole from your bunk bed. Plus no spa or gym.

The Deal: Six-night cruises start at $1,000 per person.

Group Travel Market To Hit $175 Billion By 08

According to a recent PhoCusWright study, 2007 will be the first time transactions on the Internet will account for more than half (54 percent) of all U.S. travel bookings.

According to a separate PhoCusWright study, one of the key competitive areas for the online travel industry is in the groups and meetings market, which they say will represent $175 billion by 2008.

When using the Internet to plan a group trip or gathering, respondents to the PhoCusWright survey said the most important things they look for in a Website are quick response times to requests, ability to speak to a live person, ability to receive group discounts and planning tools such as calendars, maps and directions and trip idea recommendations.

Sir Richard Branson Announces the Opening of First Virgin Limited Edition Office in United States

Sir Richard Branson is today heralding the United States as a key expansion market for his award winning collection of unique retreats, Virgin Limited Edition.

Virgin Limited Edition's current portfolio of properties includes Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, Ulusaba in South Africa, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco and, coming soon, The Lodge in Verbier and Natirar in New Jersey. Since its inception in 2000, the group has achieved phenomenal success globally, leading to unprecedented demand for future expansion worldwide.

Virgin Limited Edition are proud to announce that they will be opening their first dedicated Sales and Marketing office in the United States in 2007. An opening that will no doubt be seen as a statement of just how seriously Sir Richard Branson is viewing the US market.

This establishment will open imminently and be housed within the Virgin Management offices in Manhattan, NY.

Condé Nast Traveller Gold List 2007

The Condé Nast Traveller Gold List 2007 is out and top of the pile is the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. It scores a perfect 100 in 5 of the 6 categories (rooms, service, food, location and design), “failing” only on ‘activities’ where it scored 97.3, to give an overall score of 99.6 out of 100. Not bad at all!!

Trial Visa Service Launched For Chinese Travel Groups To U.S.

Travel agencies in Beijing say that the visa application for tourist groups to the United Stated has been launched on a trial basis and seven travel agencies have been approved to offer this service.

The seven travel agencies are China International Travel Service, China Travel Service, China Youth Travel Service, China Comfort Travel Service, Citic Travel Service and China Ocean International Travel Service in Beijing, and Classical Holidays International Travel Service in Tianjin.

A representative from the U.S. Embassy in China disclosed that if the visa for travel groups is formally launched, it will consider expanding this service to their consulates in other cities in China. Right now the service is only available to travel groups consisting of six people or more and it requires that these tourists must have a visa record to Europe, Australia or Japan in the last year.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to Debut New Attractions and Entertainment in 2007

After a momentous 2006, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is poised to unveil a full slate of exciting new attractions and entertainment in the coming year, highlighted by the continued rollout around the world of its groundbreaking Where Dreams Come True initiative.

Following is a list of the exciting new attractions, entertainment and experiences being offered by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in 2007, during the Where Dreams Come True and Year of a Million Dreams initiatives:

• Cinderella Castle Suite (Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort) - On most days, a randomly chosen guest will be invited to spend the night, with his or her family, in the new royal bedroom suite inside Cinderella Castle. (Opens January 2007)

• The Seas with Nemo & Friends (Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort) - Guests will join Nemo's friends to search for the playful clownfish in one of the world's largest saltwater aquariums. (January 2007)

• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort) - Inspired by the Disney•Pixar film, this all-new attraction will take guests on a real (and unbelievable) underwater excursion. (June 2007)

• Mickey's WaterWorks (Hong Kong Disneyland) - In this day parade designed uniquely for Hong Kong Disneyland, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy show how they keep the landscape looking so lush. (Summer 2007)

• Cars Quatre Roues Rallye (Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Resort Paris) - Guests take a spin through the desert landscape on a wild, figure-8 racecourse inspired by the Disney•Pixar film 'Cars.' (Summer 2007)

• Crush's Coaster (Walt Disney Studios, Disneyland Resort Paris) - Guests surf the East Australian Current onboard a spinning turtle shell in this new attraction inspired by the film 'Finding Nemo.' (Summer 2007)

• Disney Cruise Line - For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line will set sail for Europe with itineraries from the port of Barcelona, Spain, to eight Mediterranean ports of call, including stops near Rome, Florence, Pisa, Marseilles and Cannes. (Summer 2007)

Climate change pushes green issues up MICE agenda

I found this interesting feedback on a poll conducted by IMEX (IMEX Frankfurt) with regards to the impact on climate changes for the MICE industry.

Survey participants were asked to rank in order those green practices that they have applied to their events, and replied as follows:

1st Recycled conference material
2nd Selected an hotel known for its environmental programme
3rd Viewed wilderness or animal conservation areas
4th Encouraged delegates to travel by public transport at the host destination
5th Involved an inspirational speaker on the environment
6th Undertaken fund-raising or other support for green causes
7th Chosen an airline/cruise company/car rental firm for its green credentials
8th Paid for carbon emission offsets to neutralise the greenhouse gaseffect of delegate travel

What have you done or planning to do? Write a comment please.

Cheers,
Christian W. Frei