Business Travel Executive, Dec 2020/Jan 2021

6 Business Travel Executive askBTE com December 2020 January 2021 IN INDUSTRY NEWS The Global Business Travel Association has completed its acquisition of key assets of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives As part of the integration two former ACTE board members will join the GBTA global board of directors Alison Taylor chief customer officer of American Airlines will serve the remainder of the vacant Allied Leadership Council vice presidency Steve Sitto senior manager global travel and events for Tesla Inc will serve the remainder of the vacant direct member at large term Both terms will be completed at the time of the GBTA Convention in July 2021 In addition a committee led by GBTA chairman Christle Johnson and former ACTE executive director and current DigitTravel Consulting senior vice president Greeley Koch will work together with GBTA staff and industry volunteers to identify the best value a combined GBTA and ACTE can deliver to its members Dave Hilfman interim executive director of GBTA said the addition of an amazing brand like ACTE will give GBTA members the absolute best opportunities for education networking research and advocacy HARVARD STUDY FINDS COVID 19 EXPOSURE IN FLIGHT A LOW RISK SPONSORS When business travel resumes it will do so in full force according to a report from CBRE the worlds largest commercial real estate services firm The study entitled The Future for the Lodging Industry When Will Convention and Group Demand Come Back found that although many professions are able to maintain productivity using remote working models with a heavy reliance on telecommunication the economic evidence for in person interaction will drive post COVID group hotel demand Additionally Oxford Economics research cited in the report found that elimination of business travel reduces profits by 17 percent in the first year According to the research travel which fulfills the desire for face to face communication and enables other social factors to interact with people will drive a strong recovery for business travel during the post COVID 19 period The scientific evidence shows a low risk of SARS COV 2 transmission on aircraft according to research by the Aviation Public Health Initiative a project of the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health The study found that because of the frequent exchange of air and HEPA filters on planes over 99 percent of the particles containing the virus are removed from cabin air This effectively counters the presence of other passengers during flights reducing the possibility of exposure to COVID 19 lower than other common settings such as a grocery store or indoor restaurant the study says However proper use of face masks and frequent disinfection are still critical steps to reduce the public health risks of flying during the COVID 19 pandemic GBTA Acquires ACTE Assets Business Travels Return Will Be In Full Force Study Finds