CALLING ALL TRAVEL START-UPS - GET IN FRONT OF EUROPE'S TOP BUYERS FOR FREE.

David Chapple, left, and Gili Lichtman 

As registrations open for Business Travel Show, the show’s organisers are calling on business travel start-ups to apply for a free stand in its Launchpad. Launchpad will showcase up to 15 of the most innovative and exciting start-ups to the show’s 7,500+ attendees. 

Launchpad premiered in 2016 with eight exhibitors receiving a free stand, extensive marketing support, exposure to the show’s attendees and an entry into the inaugural Business Travel Disrupt Award, the winner of which receives a full-sized stand worth £8,000 at the following year’s event. Last year, the Business Travel Show increased its investment in innovation by doubling the size of its Launchpad. This means that up to 15 business travel start-ups can now exhibit for free each year. 

Last year’s Business Travel Disrupt Award was won by Fairfly, an innovative solution for automatically tracking company flights for savings opportunities, including after ticket purchase. Fairfly has enabled corporates to save money and time when booking business travel.

Following its win, Fairfly is already confirmed to return to the Business Travel Show in 2018 to exhibit, alongside more than 270 leading travel suppliers.

"Being able to showcase our solution to the audience at the Business Travel Show was an amazing experience for us which gave us exposure to a high-calibre audience," said Gili Lichtman, Co-Founder and VP Sales at Fairfly. "Winning the Disrupt Award on top of this was fantastic as it increased our exposure even further. I would encourage all business travel start-ups to apply for this one of a kind opportunity." 

David Chapple, Event Director, Business Travel Show, added: “Since its launch in 2016, Launchpad has become one of the most exciting elements of the Business Travel Show. It’s an amazing opportunity for start-ups to gain exposure among the travel industry’s top names. Buyers attending the show value the opportunity to be the first to hear about game-changing new technologies.”

To apply for a free stand in the Business Travel Show Launchpad, businesses must be three years old or younger. Please download and complete the form at  http://www.businesstravelshow.com/launchpad-2018 and return it to Sundeep Manku at sundeep.manku@centaurmedia.com by 1 December 2017. Successful applicants will be notified by 12 January 2018.

Online visitor registration is now open for the Business Travel Show at http://www.businesstravelshow.com/register

ONE FIFTH OF BUYERS BOOK MORE SERVICED APARTMENT NIGHTS

The Business Travel Show's annual buyer survey is hot off the press and the first stats to be revealed tie into the serviced apartment sector, which has been growing consistently for a number of years now. 

Skyline Worldwide. A Business Travel Show exhibitor.

The survey revealed that nearly one fifth (19 per cent) of travel managers booked more serviced apartment accommodation this year, an increase of 4 per cent on 2014. The number of buyers whose programmes consist of more than 50% of serviced apartment rooms doubled from 1 to 2 per cent, though for 89 per cent of buyers they account for 10 per cent or less (84 per cent in 2014).

We revealed these stats to tie in with The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers’ (ASAP) annual convention, which took place in London on 3 December. The Business Travel Show exhibited for the first time.

182 European buyers took part in the survey, 72 per cent from the UK:

• 19 per cent booked more, or significantly more, serviced apartment rooms this year compared with 2014
• 73 per cent booked the same
• 8 per cent booked fewer
• Serviced apartments account for more than 50 per cent of room nights for 2 per cent of buyers (1 per cent in 2014)
• 89 per cent of buyers’ accommodation programmes include up to 10 per cent of serviced apartments (84 per cent in 2014)

Nearly half (48 per cent) of buyers insist travellers stay in serviced apartments when their trip exceeds a certain duration:

• Three nights or more – 16 per cent of buyers (11 per cent in 2014)
• One to two weeks - 12 per cent (22 per cent in 2014)
• Two to four weeks – 11 per cent (8 per cent in 2014)
• Over one month – 9 per cent (6 per cent in 2014)

Thirty-eight per cent of respondents had more money to spend on accommodation this year, compared to 30 per cent in 2014. One third will have more budget again in 2016. Over half (51 per cent) of buyers will book in excess of 5,000 room nights during 2015, an increase of 12 per cent on last year.  

Serviced apartments have been a familiar sight at the Business Travel Show since 2010 and we have some great exhibitors again this year, including: 

• Apple Apartments
• Berkshire Rooms
• BRG Hospitality – new exhibitor
• Bridge Street Accommodation
• Brussels Business Flats
• Cheval Group of Serviced Apartments
• Cotels Serviced Apartments
• City Apartments
• City Marque
• Dreamhouse Apartments
• Frasers Hospitality UK
• Go Native
• Knightly Apartments
• Marlin Apartments
• Oakwood Worldwide
• Premier Apartments
• Roomspace – new exhibitor
• stayCity Apartments
• The Apartment Service
• The Serviced Apartment Company.

This post was written by Sam Cande, group commercial director, Business Travel Show. 

The Business Travel Show takes place at Olympia Grand from 24-25 February in London. Register for free at http://goo.gl/F55mKX If you're a serviced apartment company and you'd like to exhibit, please contact Sam at sam.cande@centaurmedia.com. 

VISITOR NUMBERS UP 5%!

 The 20^th Business Travel Show, which took place at Earls Court last week, achieved a five per cent increase in visitors despite being hit by a Tube strike and torrential rain.

6,475 corporate travel professionals attended the Business Travel Show (compared to 6,148 in 2013) for a busy two days of networking, learning and sourcing. Exhibitor numbers were up ten per cent on 2013 – from 205 to 226, floor space increased by 32 per cent, and 65 per cent of the floor plan was rebooked onsite. 

Exhibitors included Amadeus, Star Alliance, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Egencia, Travelodge, Virgin Atlantic, Eurostar, Qatar Airways, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Premier Inn, thetrainline, Concur, easyjet, BCD Travel and American Express Global Business Travel. 

The Business Travel Show conference, renowned for its high quality content and extensive programme, was opened by Dara Khosrowshahi – CEO and president of Expedia Inc – who predicted The Future of Travel and discussed the importance of understanding Millennials as well as the increasingly blurred lines between business and leisure travel.

Many hundreds of senior European buyers attended the show, including 953 hosted buyer level attendees – a 37 per cent increase on 2013. Over 300 of these buyers were fully hosted by the Business Travel Show. Now in its third year, the hosted buyer programme featured an exclusive half day pre-show conference and gala dinner on Monday 3 February.

  

I am truly delighted with the success of this year’s show – it was at its biggest and best for years. The floor was packed with many high profile exhibitors returning after time away and a long list of brand new companies sitting alongside our long-term supporters. 

Conference sessions were packed out and visitor numbers were at their highest for seven years. It doesn’t surprise me for one second that our visitors, who are, after all, seasoned and resourceful business travellers, refused to let the small matter of a Tube strike stand in their way of attending. All in all, it was a fantastic way to celebrate our 20^th anniversary event and we’re already looking forward to our 21^st in our new home at Olympia Exhibition Centre.

This blog post was written by event director David Chapple. The Business Travel Show, Europe’s leading corporate travel event, will take place 25-26 February 2015 at Olympia in London. For more information please visit www.businesstravelshow.com.