The conference kicks off Nov. 4 with GBTA’s Annual Sustainability Summit. This one-day event will spotlight bold actions, radical collaboration, regulatory preparedness, the impact of technology, and the need for industry-wide harmonization. BCD and Advito experts will present these topics:
- A case study on how technology can drive sustainability goals
- The debate between growth and sustainability in “Grow or Thrive? The Case for Donut Economics in Sustainable Travel”
For the complete list of BCD and Advito sessions, check out the schedule below.
SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT | Monday, Nov. 4
A Siemens Case Study: Leveraging Technology to Reach Sustainability Goals | 12:30-1:15 p.m.
With Lutz Nauert, Senior Vice President, Global Client Team, BCD and Olivier Benoit, Principal and Senior Vice President, Global at Advito
Empowering business travelers to make sustainable choices when booking isn’t simple. Non-standardized emissions data, fragmented reporting and inadequate information at point-of-sale present challenges for even the most seasoned travel manager. Hear from a team who’s taking an innovative approach towards sustainability. Further, learn how technology can help define the cost of CO2 emissions, set emissions budgets and steer towards a more sustainable travel program.
Grow or Thrive? The Case for Donut Economics in Sustainable Travel | 2:15-3 p.m.
With Julien Etchanchu, Senior Director, Sustainable Collaboration, Advito
In recent years we’ve been inundated with sustainability buzzwords and quick fixes to address travel’s role in global carbon emissions. But what if, to make a real impact, we need to challenge the status quo? This forward-thinking lecture demonstrates how one development model – Kate Raworth’s Donut Economics – might be the path forward. Join this session to explore how the industry can adopt Donut Economics to combat climate change and transform business travel’s sustainability approach to achieve real progress.
How to reduce business travel emissions without reducing outcomes | 2:15-3 p.m.
With Olivier Benoit, Principal and Senior Vice President, Global at Advito
This session for corporate travel managers and business leaders examines the question: “”How can businesses reduce emissions while accelerating outcomes?” The discussion will help insights on balancing emissions reduction with business needs. Attendees should leave feeling equipped to develop an action plan for emissions reduction initiatives, future-proof your organization, measure impact, communicate progress, and empower key people to drive organizational change.
Tuesday, Nov. 5
MAINSTAGE | The Big Idea
What is Today’s Work Culture & What Does it Mean for Business Travel? | 10-11 a.m.
With Christian Dahl, Executive Vice President, People & Culture, BCD Travel
The Big Idea returns with an interactive session where delegates work together in small groups to discuss the topic: How far should an organization go in supporting working from anywhere? And does it matter how the work gets done?
How and where employees work
Developments in technology and collaborative working practices have created opportunities for employers to adopt a more flexible approach to how and where their employees work. This potentially offers benefits in terms of increasing accessibility, opening up new talent pools, and facilitating productivity, while also enhancing employer attractiveness and employee wellbeing. However, it can also have a considerable impact in terms of taxation; worker’s regulation; corporate culture and duty of care.
Does when, where, and how the work gets done matter if deadlines and deliverables are met? The session will explore how, in the future, different organizations may adopt different models, with some favoring remote working while others place a greater emphasis on in-person working. It will look closely at the role of business travel and travel professionals in enabling these new work patterns.
Risk Committee Roundtable | 11:30-12:15 p.m.
With Jorge Mesa, Senior Director, Global Crisis Management, BCD Travel
Be a part of an exclusive “ask me anything” session with travel risk professionals. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your burning questions answers and understand where to start with Travel Risk Management.
Next Gen TRM: Not your Granny’s Program | 2-2:45 p.m.
With Jorge Mesa, Senior Director, Global Crisis Management, BCD Travel
Is your Duty of Care framework looking a bit dusty? This session will explore the latest trends in travel risk management, from pre-travel preparation, risk assessment, and risk mitigation, to emergency response planning, active support and response during a trip, and post-travel debriefing and review.
The insights will equip travel professionals, corporate travel managers, and travelers with actionable strategies and tools to enhance travel safety protocols, ensuring a more secure and efficient travel experience in today’s dynamic global landscape.
Wednesday, Nov. 6
Show Me the Money! Drive Value with Hotel Program Performance Metrics | 11:30-12:15 p.m.
With Courtney Moore, Director, Client Management, Advito; Simon Spiers, Sr. Director, Solutions Consulting, BCD Travel and Eric Wynton, Managing Consultant, Advito
Is Your Travel Policy Behind the Times? Get Ready for Next-Gen Travelers | 11:30-12:15 p.m.
With Shelley Fletcher Bryant, Vice President, Client Relationship Management, Advito and Gerard Stam, Senior Sales Director, EMEA, BCD Travel
Is your travel policy ready for what’s coming next? Does it reflect current trends and the evolving expectations of modern travelers? Backed by data from interviews with travel buyers and survey results, this session explores what travel policy should look like. Wellbeing, sustainability, work-from-anywhere policies, and other variables of influence make up a new, modern framework.
Destination Wellness: Measuring and Promoting Healthy Business Travel | 12:30-1:15 p.m.
With Julien Etchanchu, Senior Director, Sustainable Collaboration, Advito; moderated by Jorge Mesa, Senior Director, Global Crisis Management, BCD Travel
How many of your travelers are burnt out? Taking too many connecting flights? Or traveling to destinations with bad air pollution? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might have a gap in your traveler wellbeing strategy. This session will demonstrate ways to integrate wellbeing into the travel program, from analyzing data to crafting traveler-facing communications designed to improve wellbeing and achieve sustainability goals. Learn how you can help support travelers’ physical and mental health – because a healthy journey leads to a successful destination.
Embracing Inclusivity in Travel: Fostering Connections and Accessibility | 12:30-1:15
With Shelley Fletcher Bryant, Vice President, Client Relationship Management, Advito
Without due consideration for accessibility, the opportunities and benefits of travel may be daunting or even impossible for many. This session highlights the pivotal role that travel plays in cultivating an inclusive workplace. It explores why inclusivity matters and discusses practical strategies for making travel accessible to all.
