New Chairman commits to “more pro-active” stance
The Guild of Business Travel Agents is to take a lead in shaping the future of travel with a determined effort to influence policies and regulations, both at home and abroad, which affect business travel and the business traveller.
New Guild chairman Richard Lovell, speaking at the GBTA's annual general meeting lunch on Tuesday, said the travel management body “intends to be more proactive in highlighting actions, moves, or areas of legislation which directly impact both the traveller and the business travel marketplace.”
Lovell, who is executive vice-president, EMEA, of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, added: “Every week, new ideas, measures and legislation emerge which can have a significant impact on the world of business travel and, often, on the wider business environment.”
All too often, he said, measures were put forward without sufficient consultation, which meant that they were unnecessarily difficult to implement effectively.
He cited issues such as the introduction of advanced passenger information systems (APIS), proposals for “biometric” passports, the US demand for sky marshals, and the question of the controversial air passenger duty tax, as areas in which the GBTA would make its voice heard more forcefully.
As part of the new initiative, the Guild is pledged to closer working relationships with the Institute of Travel Management (ITM), the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, and other business organisations.
The Guild, whose members account for more than 80 per cent of all ex-UK business travel, is committed to “inform, involve and influence”.
In addition to educating travel agency staff – the GBTA runs a range of educational programmes in conjunction with airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and flybe.com and computer reservations giant Galileo – the Guild also determined to reach a wider audience.
“While I would hope that most people in the industry now understand how our business has changed fundamentally in the past few years, I am not sure that this knowledge has permeated into the wider business marketplace,” said Lovell.
“This must be an ongoing GBTA priority”.
Ends
For further media information: Vanessa Aves/Steve Dunne/Alex Kindell, Brighter Group, tel: 0207 603 2168 email: Vanessa.aves@brighterpr.co.uk , or alexkindell@brightergroup.com .