Multinational

Wyndham Hotel Group is the world's largest hotel company in terms of number of hotels, but it did not always act like it, according to president and CEO Eric Danziger. Since becoming CEO at the end of 2008, one of Danziger's major efforts has been to spawn more cooperation on the sales side across Wyndham's 15 disparate brands, and he also has overseen some innovations on the technology side, including the integration of TripAdvisor reviews on the company's brand website and apps. Danziger this month spoke with BTN lodging editor Michael B. Baker at the company's headquarters here about the company's growth, the revival of some of its brands and its distribution strategy.

When Commercial Payments International brought its annual Commercial Cards & Payments Summit back to New York City last month, BTN Group editorial director Jay Campbell met with a handful of corporate card executives, including Citi global head of commercial cards Manish Kohli. Kohli, who first spoke with BTN last year after taking the job in late 2011, shared his views on trends in individual liability, chip-and-PIN technology, globalization and the influence of finance departments on card selection decisions.

Lebua Hotels and Resorts, a luxury five-property Asian chain that began as a single Bangkok restaurant, has set its sights on global expansion, a drive boosted earlier this year by a management contract it secured with three boutique hotels in India. The hotels in India upped Lebua's prominence in the corporate travel space, with which it already had been working to grow in Bangkok. Lebua CEO Deepak Ohri this month spoke with Business Travel News lodging editor Michael B. Baker about his company's expansion plans and its strategy in attracting corporate business.

Average daily hotel rates in February increased year over year in all global regions except Europe, according to STR Global.

The European Commission is striving to further improve air passenger rights. On Wednesday it announced a new set of proposed measures related to long delays, mishandled baggage and other areas. "There will be better complaint procedures and enforcement measures so passengers can actually obtain the rights to which they are entitled," according to an EC statement. To be enacted as law, the proposals must be approved by the European Parliament and the European Council, a process that could take 18 months, according to an EC spokesperson.

The BTN Group in December inducted into its Business Travel Hall Of Fame BCD Holdings founder John A. Fentener van Vlissingen, the first European to join the exclusive club. Marking the occasion, van Vlissingen spoke with Business Travel News editorial director Jay Campbell about his legacy and lessons of business.