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Travel, Tourism & Events

Convergence is shaping business travel

THE corporate travel market is witnessing a convergence of forces driving significant change in the industry as new technologies and digital disruption change the face of travel management.

That was the overall conclusion from the recent Global Business Travel Association annual convention in Boston, USA, according to FCM Travel Solutions general manager James Kavanagh, part of the Flight Centre group headquartered in Brisbane.

Corporate travel management companies that are best able to adapt and implement these technologies for the benefit of their clients and in particular enhance the traveller experience will emerge the strongest.  

“Travel management for organisations is no longer just about getting the best deals and ensuring compliance,” Mr Kavanagh said. “The experience of the traveller has been elevated and along with that the provision of relevant and timely information for them to make better decisions.

“Mobile platforms and mobility will continue to grow and redefine the experience and user engagement.”

At the GBTA convention, FCM Travel Solutions unveiled an updated version of its travel-intelligent chatbot Sam. Sam – short for Smart Assistant for Mobile – now has updated functionality that provides city guides, departure gate and baggage claim information, and improved geo-location directions to help guide travellers on the move.  Sam is being rolled out progressively in FCM markets.

Mr Kavanagh said the impact of Blockchain technology may have far reaching benefits for the travel industry beyond its value on a payments and operational level. Potential benefits include security features which may be vital for customer satisfaction and retention, he said.

“The rise of internet gatekeepers in the travel industry was seen as a game changer as they amass data which translates into marketplace power,” Mr Kavanagh said.

“Sites such as Expedia, Booking.com and Trivago are determining what information travellers are seeing and how they are seeing it. This aggregation can lead to fragmentation in booking processes for corporates with a resulting effect on adhering to travel policies. Industry players will need to consider how to collaborate with them due to their rising power.”

The impact of distribution disruption was analysed in the form of IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) which is designed to modernise the way air products are retailed to travel agents, corporations and travellers.

The expected impacts were varied, with opinions divided between it just creating a new group of consolidations through to it being a new breed of Global Distribution System (GDS) potentially lowering costs of distribution.

FCM reported seven of the top technology trends for 2017 included enhancing the traveller experience; power of big data and business intelligence; virtual reality advances; rise of artificial intelligence (AI); the future of payments; corporate booking tools; incentive alignment/behavioural economics and gamification.

The onset of AI and enhancing the traveller experience rank most highly in importance amongst current technology trends.

“Voice recognition technologies are changing the way that people interact with various channels and will change how they book and manage travel,” Mr Kavanagh said.

“Data analytics and machine learning will become more commonplace and be used widely in the industry to improve experiences and the quality of travel programs.

“We’re seeing the impact that Generation X and Z are having with a continued shift to more user-friendly and open programs. Companies like FCM are responding to that.”

Some of the biggest shifts are occurring through AI and the use of chatbots to anticipate travellers’ needs and provide real-time updates — such as traffic and departure information — and assistance on their mobile device.

www.fcm.travel

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Global conference on tourism, jobs and inclusive growth opens in Jamaica

A GLOBAL conference on tourism, jobs and inclusive growth is taking place from November 27-29, gathering 1500 participants and over 150 speakers in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The conference is organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Government of Jamaica, the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank aims to set a new collaborative framework for tourism moving towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is an official event of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017.

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International investors and experts land in Brisbane and North Queensland for bioproduct and bioenergy symposium

FIFTEEN international bioproduct and bioenergy investors and experts, along with many Australian industry leaders, will present at The Australasian Bioproducts and Bioenergy Symposium (TABBS) in Brisbane on October 20.

The line-up includes high profile speakers from Africa, Canada, Japan and the US, who will be in Queensland for one week – visiting Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville.

Hosted by Life Sciences Queensland Ltd (LSQ), the Symposium and week-long regional tour will bring together key local and international industry stakeholders including fuel and energy companies, agricultural companies, investors and funding agencies, transport and airline industry representatives, bioenergy researchers, program directors, and policy advisors. 

“Having this many high caliber international industry stakeholders here at one time – and visiting a number of regional centres, shows that Queensland is now on the global investment opportunities map," LSQ CEO Mario Pennisi said.

TABBS will provide an opportunity for global industry stakeholders to come together, share their experiences and cooperate to uncover this potential, grow their businesses and help create a dynamic, internationally competitive and sustainable life sciences industry.”

Centred on the theme The Bioeconomy - It’s Getting Hotter in the Tropics, the event will seek to engage leaders from the national and international bioenergy and bioproducts industry and research community to explore the various opportunities this area provides for future economic development and jobs in Queensland.

Visitors include representatives from the US Navy, Agrisoma, Aurora Equity, Genomatica, CO2 Institute, BIC and Mercurius Biorefining Inc.

“The challenges faced by economies in tropical regions, require innovative and practical solutions. Working to address them, nations have certainly made progress across a range of areas - including economic, environmental and social - but there is still significant untouched potential to be realised in the tropics,” Mr Pennisi said.

In the lead up to the Brisbane symposium a delegation of the experts will present at Regional Satellite Events in Gladstone (October 17), Rockhampton and Mackay (October 18) and Townsville (October 19), and will be looking to meet with mayors and other community stakeholders.

The TABBS Satellite Events aim to provide regional communities with opportunities to hear international perspectives on the bioeconomy and give those regions the platform to present their local opportunities to the international experts for their consideration.

www.lsq.com.au

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Suits into wetsuits – Byron transitions for business events

BYRON BAY can easily argue its case for being Australia’s favourite leisure destination, but now the region is enticing the business events market.

vast array of activities on offer in Byron ensures that conferencing is not only unforgettable, but delegates return motivated and energised.

“Byron is the perfect place to get conferencing delegates moving and motivated,” Byron Business Events Bureau executive officer Jen Murphy said. 

Ms Murphy said the region was able to help companies to realise the research that proved healthy changes in employees would deliver better business returns.

She said research by the Harvard Business Review shoed that some workplace wellness programs had delivered a return of $2.71 for every dollar spent.

“Conferencing with a wellness aspect supports and encourages employees to be healthy and perform better,” Ms Murphy said.

“Byron’s pristine natural beachside and forest environments provide plenty of activity options for delegates to get outdoors, have fun and participate in team building activities like surfing, hot air ballooning, kayaking, whale watching, circus arts and cooking.

“In Byron the outdoor activities are so good that you might have trouble enticing your delegates back into the conference room,” she joked.

Ms Murphy said Byron’s natural beauty, prolific wellness culture and host of exciting activities “gives companies the greatest potential to invigorate their people, foster teamwork and enhance creative thinking, which in turn boosts business returns”.

Staffed by a team of highly experienced conferencing professionals, the Byron Business Events Bureau was formed to support the growing interest in Byron as a conference and business events destination.

“Byron is Australia's best conference destination,” Ms Murphy said. “That’s because it’s easily accessible, with stunning world class venues and quality suppliers, that give delegates unforgettable experiences in team building and development.”

www.byronbusinesseventsbureau.com.au

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ICC Sydney named Australia’s best infrastructure project

INTERNATIONAL Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has already changed Australia’s events landscape and now it has also been named Australia’s best infrastructure project at the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s National Infrastructure Awards.

The judges recognised ICC Sydney for its design excellence, construction timeline and outstanding financial performance, and additionally for its role in “delivering the nation a new and emblematic piece of business events and tourism infrastructure”.  

ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy said the venue was already performing extremely well for Sydney, New South Wales and the nation, having delivered almost 200 events and welcomed more than 300,000 people through its doors since opening on December 20, 2016.

“ICC Sydney is a new $1.5 billion events precinct that has been specifically designed to welcome more events and patrons to Sydney while providing the best possible experience for them whilst here,” Mr Donaghy said.

“We’ve already received fantastic client feedback about both the venue and the service delivery of our team. A further endorsement of the venue, and our management, has been the repeat business confirmed by clients that have held successful events with us during our first months of operation.

“AEG Ogden is extremely privileged to be operating the venue and the entire team is very proud of the award bestowed on ICC Sydney’s design and delivery consortium,” he said.

NSW Minister for Infrastructure, Andrew Constance said the venue was already living up to the aspirations the NSW Government had envisioned for it.

“ICC Sydney was delivered on time and on budget and we are happy to see it is already a key performer in the New South Wales infrastructure pipeline,” Mr Constance said.

“It is the epicentre of a 20-hectare transformation of Darling Harbour by the NSW Government to highlight Sydney as the first choice in Australia and the Asia Pacific region for the major events industry.”

A NSW Government project, ICC Sydney was delivered in partnership with Darling Harbour Live, comprising Lendlease, Hostplus, First State Super, Capella Capital, AEG Ogden and Spotless FM.

www.iccsydney.com

 

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Hilton partners International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

THE World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has welcomed Hilton as an official partner of the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, just as the organisation launches its Travel.Enjoy.Respect campaign.

“Our founder Conrad Hilton often spoke of ‘world peace through international trade and travel’ – which remains just as important and core to our business today,” Hilton global head of corporate affairs and senior vice president Katie Fallon said.

“We are pleased to join with the UNWTO and its partners to communicate the benefits of sustainable travel for the communities where we work and live.” 

Ms Fallon said Hilton’s Travel with Purpose strategy identified innovative solutions that leverage its global footprint “to provide positive impact in three key focus areas; creating opportunities for people, strengthening communities, and preserving the environment”.

She said by mobilising its almost 5,000 hotels in 103 countries and territories, Hilton continued to operate in responsible and sustainable ways. 

“The involvement of the private sector is essential in amplifying the impact of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development,” UNWTO Secretary General. Taleb Rifai, said.

“Hilton is a global hospitality leader whose focus on sustainable travel supports our broad goals of tourism that spurs dialogue, fosters mutual understanding, and supports building a culture of peace.” 

Mr Rifai said the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development promoted tourism’s role in five key areas:  inclusive and sustainable economic growth; social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction; resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change; cultural values, diversity and heritage; and mutual understanding, peace and security. 

http://www.tourism4development2017.org/ 

http://www.tourism4development2017.org/partnerships/

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Web designed to catch business events

TOURISM AUSTRALIA has created a new website dedicated to business events.

“Australia is leading the way when it comes to delivering business events that exceed expectations, and our new website was created to ensure we also set a benchmark in providing planners and decision makers with an innovative, informative, visually-stunning and easy-to-use website,” Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan said.

“The feedback from planners and decision makers has told us that being able to access personalised assistance is crucial when planning business events. 

“That’s why we have fully recreated the site to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of planners and decision markers, by providing an exceptional user experience for those considering Australia as the destination for their next business event,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

The website also offers direct access to Tourism Australia business events representatives and Australian business events products and destinations, allowing users to easily make contact with sources of inspiration and information on holding a business event in Australia.

Tourism Australia undertook comprehensive research with international business events planners and decision makers, to ensure the new site delivers relevant up to the minute information on Australia in the most accessible and appealing ways, Mr O’Sullivan said.

www.australia.com/businessevents

 

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