Johnny Thorsen’s Post

The 3 Phases of Convention life - Perspectives on nearly 20 Years of experiencing convention... Which phase were you in? I first attended GBTA Convention in 2005 (as a partner to NBTA, as it was know before its GBTA days, as ITM | Institute of Travel Management CEO). The fact that there was a heightened number of first timers this year (and last) reminds me of those days. You had to learn fast not to be overwhelmed, to balance jet-lag with all of the goings-on and to maximise the opportunity to network with our US & global colleagues (as well as using the "expats-together" time to deepen UK/European ties). This was the first stage of my GBTA Convention experience, let's call it the "Ramp-Up" years. There was a couple of thousand people going through this by all accounts - well done, you survived! The second stage I'll refer to as the "Max-It-Out" period. This is where I cracked the formula... I knew my capabilities, was relaxed enough to enjoy the event, had harnessed my excitement and had built a US & global network so was flexing social capital built, plus meeting those new to me...and somehow I managed to do it all... early morning team meets, networking breakfasts, education, lunches, Expo, dinners and parties...followed by at least a day to recover before flying home (albeit slightly broken, but I could manage it). If you were in this stage of your convention experience, I hope you're ok! I also recognise though, that there's a greater understanding now that different people thrive with different behaviours, so you don't have to go full speed if it doesn't bring out the best in you. Sometimes one or two really in-depth conversations only or a great ed-session only can bring you all the value you need. It's just not how I've worked in the past, I wanted it all...which brings me to Stage 3. This year marked the entry of the 3rd phase of my GBTA Convention experience - let's call this the "You-Need-To-Slow-Down-Mate" period. This is the first year I've realised that jet-lag impacts me more, my head says yes but my 56-year old body says no and I can't do 20 hour days or see all the people I want to during the 2.5 days because all those years building networks and clients has paid off and I just don't have time to do it all - so I need to get better at prioritising - prioritising me and prioritising you. (This is the first year I've actually said I wish it was a day longer like it used to be btw.) I guess this is my long way of saying, if I missed saying hi to you or just said hi as I ran past when it should have been "Hi, how are you, what are you up to, what do you think about X...?" then I'm sorry. Next year I commit to thinking more about my "You-Need-To-Slow-Down-Mate" period and use my time more wisely. Great event, wouldn't change attending for the world. Loved connecting with new peeps and re-connecting with those I have shared history. See you in Denver 25. #SocialCapital #IntellectualCapital

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We’re looking forward to GBTA + VDR Conference 2024 in Partnership with the Nordic Business Travel Associations in Copenhagen (GBTA | Europe)! Join us at Booth 54 to discover how we can transform your travel program.   - Are changes in supplier content impacting your travelers? - Are air and hotel contract negotiations becoming tougher? - Are your stakeholders questioning the value of your travel program? - Struggling to keep up with evolving travel technologies?   You’re not alone in facing these challenges—AREKA has been helping buyers address travel program complexities since 2011. Whether you need support with supplier negotiations, optimizing your travel strategy, or understanding evolving technologies, our team is ready to help you navigate these challenges.   Let’s connect! Stop by Booth 54 to network, exchange ideas, and discover how Areka’s insights can drive success for your corporate travel initiatives. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet us in person!   We can’t wait to see you in Copenhagen!   #GBTAEurope #BusinessTravel #ArekaInsights #CorporateTravel #TravelManagement

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🌍 Understanding MICE in Travel Companies 🛫 Ever wondered what MICE stands for in the travel industry? It refers to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions. These segments are crucial for businesses looking to organize events or reward their employees with travel experiences that go beyond the ordinary. Key Requirements and Advantages: ✨Customization: Tailoring travel experiences to meet specific corporate needs. ✨Logistics Management: Handling everything from venue selection to transportation and accommodations. ✨Networking Opportunities: Facilitating connections between professionals at conferences and exhibitions. ✨Economic Impact: Boosting local economies through increased tourism and spending. Incorporating MICE services into a travel company's offerings can enhance client satisfaction and open doors to new business opportunities. How does your company approach MICE travel? #TravelIndustry #MICE #BusinessTravel #CorporateEvents #EventManagement

Download our handy Events Guide to see what large-scale events are happening in some key cities around the world that might impact travel costs. https://okt.to/arRquM #FCMConsulting #BusinessTravel #TMC #Events

- Are the changes in supplier content distribution negatively impacting your travelers and travel program? - Are air and hotel contract negotiations becoming more difficult than ever? - Are stakeholders and senior management beginning to question the value of your corporate travel program? - Are you finding it difficult to sort through new technologies and understand their potential impact on your travel program? You are not alone in dealing with these issues – AREKA can help. Since 2011, we have successfully helped buyers address travel program challenges. Let's talk – come see us at Booth 3409 during GBTA | Global Business Travel Association Convention 2024 in Atlanta. Learn more during GBTA: We’re also hosting a panel discussion titled "Setting Up the Right Governance Model to Ensure Travel Program Success" on Wednesday, July 24, from 8 to 8:45 a.m. in Room B312.   See you at GBTA Atlanta!  #ArekaInsights #GBTA2024 #BusinessTravel #EducationSession

Heading to the #PAShow2024? Looking at ways to streamline your business travel? Let me know and I can put you in touch with my colleagues who can let you know what exciting developments #Travelcounsellorsforbusiness have planned, and how we can enhance the way you book and travel for business! scott.page@mytc.com +44 207 125 0300 #businesstravel #PAShow2024

This week will see a number of leaders and innovators from the global corporate travel industry gather in London for the annual BTN Group Business Travel Show Europe - and while I sadly am unable to attend in person this year I wish a fantastic show for everyone attending with lots of business and networking value being generated Interesting - today marks the 3 year anniversary since I joined the Spotnana rocket ship on 18th June 2021 - and this milestone made me reflect a little on what has happened since Spotnana came out of stealth mode at the BTS conference in September 2021 - back then in the "coming out of Covid world" we were immediately asked what we meant with our #cloudnative #travelasaservice platform given that this was a new term for the industry - and it was hard to explain in an "easy to understand way" Fast forward to today, and there is a long list of hard evidence projects demonstrating the #travelasaservice potential - driven by customers across all segments of the industry and with more to come during the remainder of 2024 - so in many ways we are now able to give examples of what we meant back then 😀 While Spotnana will be absent from the 2024 BTS event, we will actually be represented in the form of a number of TMC's, Expense Solutions, Travel Tech Solutions, Travel Suppliers and Buyers who all use our platform in different ways - and this is the perfect illustration of how the vision has become reality by letting others build smart solutions on top of the Spotnana platform Back in 2021 I also talked about saying "goodbye to the PNR" for the first time - and while we certainly still use the PNR when booking in the GDS, we have indeed stopped using the PNR as the default order management system and replaced this legacy system with a modern open order management system designed to handle complex multi-source trips with instant data validation and easy integration to other relevant systems Finally, we have launched several features aimed at solving the sustainable travel challenge, but as stated by Elizabeth West yesterday in her excellent article about the state of sustainable travel we are still waiting for customers to start making tough decisions in their travel policy about how to enforce greener travel and reduce the carbon footprint whenever possible A final observation before BTS 2024 kicks off has to be how much focus there will be on International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s latest initiative - "Offers and Orders" - in the breakout sessions. If you think NDC was a challenge then get ready for more disruption at a faster pace - a number of airlines have committed to moving away from the PNR and replace the legacy order system with a new modern airline retailing infrastructure and this will no doubt create significant challenges once again for the TMC's who are operating in the old tech world Have a fantastic BTS show - enjoy London - and you can always meet a Thorsen at the FCM booth Glenn Thorsen

Download our handy Events Guide to see what large-scale events are happening in some key cities around the world that might impact travel costs. https://okt.to/FbHMiN #FCMConsulting #BusinessTravel #TMC #Events