Business travel in 2023 could be wild ride. BTN will publish opinions throughout the week of Jan. 23 to 27, so check back often, and buckle up for an exciting read!
Maybe it’s inevitable that in a year with lingering uncertainty, BTN’s friends in field are predicting a spectrum of challenges but also opportunities. Business travel recovery is threatened somewhat by concerns over a looming recession; yet the demand for and organizational capital that rides along with internal meetings in a remote-work world has proved an unfinished source of business travel growth. Blended travel trends combine with rising expectations from business travelers themselves for seamless, tech supported booking, communications and journey data is as high as ever, and some say travel managers will turn a blind eye to this trend at their own program’s peril. Tech, tech, tech… the industry needs it. Labor shortages remain a challenge and artificial intelligence tools could finally bridge some of the gap in 2023. But these are just some of the topics BTN broaches as we start the year with the mind-blowing release of ChatGPT, a potential flood of China’s travel influence coming back on the map, renewed complexities around access to airline content and New Distribution Capability and so much more.