The first of CTW China’s conference days commenced with a stellar line-up of expert Corporate Travel practitioners helming poignant topics ranging from 2017’s business travel market outlook, payment and expense management, to corporate travel and the sharing economy, and trends reshaping the travel world.
The specially curated programme targeting corporate travel managers across a variety of procurement, decision-making, policy planning and execution roles, also provided avenues to delve deeper into the fields of Corporate Travel Management and Corporate Meetings & Events. Sessions that explored belt tightening measures and changing dynamics of the buyer and supplier partnership in the former, and technology and RFPs as well as business travel and Bleisure in the latter.
For the first time, the CTW China education line-up was developed in consultation with the newly minted CTW Advisory Panel whose objective was to ensure that sessions and speaker profiles were reflective of current must-know issues and trends.
«Being part of the CTW Advisory Panel produces opportunities both ways. For one, incorporating perspectives and advice from industry practitioners like ourselves keeps the event close to the ground and builds an effective conference programme. For us panellists, we get to play an integral role in adding value to the success of the show, build our professional network, and be at the forefront of Corporate Travel Intelligence», explained CTW advisory panellist Jie Li, Travel Commodity Manager, Siemens Ltd., China.
Speakers from AB Inbev (China), Adidas Group, AirPlus International, Air China, Apple, Bravolinks Integrated Marketing, Co-organiser Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) and its CWT Meetings & Events arm, Delta Airlines, DIDI Chuxing, GE China, Lenovo, MasterCard Asia Pacific, Michelin (China) Investment, Qatar Airways, Schneider Electric, Siemens China, Unilever Industries, Wyndham Hotel Group, and Youli Consulting, are among the diverse mix of international and Chinese corporate brands headlining this year’s conference.
Shared opening session speaker Kelly Kuhn, Executive Vice President & Chief Customer Officer, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, on Business Travel in China, «Given the size and potential of China’s business travel industry, it is certainly a very important market for CWT. Over the last three years, CTW China has become an excellent platform for us to meet with leading buyers and suppliers».
CTW China’s conference programme 2017 and its exhibition is further boosted by the event’s entire co-location with the 11th IT&CM China – The Leading International MICE Event In China – within an expanded hall space that adds 288 MICE destinations, products and services to CTW’s corporate travel showcase and offerings.
A clear example why CTW’s relevant topics continue to hit home, International Corporate Travel Manager, Kishore Rames, Travel Manager, Asia Pacific, National Oilwell Varco, explained, «Through today’s forums, I discovered a number of trends and practices within the China market. The discussion on Belt Tightening Measures in Corporate
Travel was insightful since 2017 has and will be a challenging year for the oil and gas industry. The session identified how to leverage on new business areas through restructuring our spending and processes, which will be critical in maintaining the relationships between our vendors».
Attending CTW China 2017 for the first time was Cheng Lu, IDP Buyer, Purchasing Department, Volvo Cars Asia Pacific, «Attending the education sessions at CTW China was an eye-opener with the co-location within the hall. I gained valuable experience from meeting with other Corporate Travel professionals in various industries and different markets. Today’s topics helped me better ascertain latest technology and trends within the marketing since Corporate Travel is within my responsibilities».