How has COVID-19 reshaped the future of your corporate travel program? From travel restrictions and vaccine passports to market demand and supplier negotiations, the world of business travel is evolving at record pace.
In order to keep up with this changing landscape, you need the strategic insights and guiding leadership of industry experts. With this goal in mind, we are launching our new quarterly webinar series exclusively for Direct Travel buyers tasked with mapping out strategies for the future: DirectLive.
What is DirectLive?
Throughout this past year, the Direct Travel team has developed a variety of resources and programming to inspire business leaders, inform travel managers, and help keep travelers safe as we navigated the challenges of the pandemic together. Important developments like our Travel Manager Resource Hub and Traveler Information page continue to be updated with new content and the latest intelligence.
Now, as corporate travel swings into a full-fledged rebound, we are excited to begin our DirectLive series tackling the challenges and opportunities ahead as businesses rebuild their travel programs. Held on a quarterly basis, each session in the series will feature a discussion with Direct Travel leaders and our industry partners. We’ll take a look at the current trends impacting travel, forecasts for the future, and practical solutions you can implement for your travel program.
These DirectLive discussions are free to attend, but advance registration is required. The series will launch this month with subsequent sessions planned throughout the year.
First Up: TRIPBAM
Our first DirectLive event will take place Wednesday, April 28th at 1:00 p.m. CT, when we will be joined by TRIPBAM for a state of the hotel industry update.
Guiding the discussion, Direct Travel’s EVP of Global Supplier Management & Consulting Donna Brokowski will talk hotel data, KPIs, and strategies with TRIPBAM’s Director of Business Development Ed Tobin and Susan Barnes, Managing Director of hotel consulting for DirectView Consulting. The session will take a high-level look at the state of the hotel industry and dive into the trends buyers need to watch as business travel returns.
This topic of discussion comes at particularly timely moment, as hotel rates have fallen 43 percent since COVID-19 hit (down from $189 to an average of $118). Many buyers are now left to consider if negotiated rates are still the route to go, and if so, when the best time is to renegotiate.
To get answers to these questions and other concerns you may have about your travel program, we encourage you to sign up for our inaugural DirectLive session. You can RSVP by clicking the button below.
