BTN Expert Q&A

Carlson Wagonlit Travel claims to have recorded 40 percent growth in sales volume this year for its Meetings & Events division, including a doubling of business in France, Germany, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United States. Hervé Joseph-Antoine, CWT vice president for meetings and events in Europe, the Middle East and... Keep Reading

Conducive Technology's FlightStats last week released its first iPad app. The BTN Group editorial director Jay Campbell recently spoke with Conducive CEO Jeff Kennedy about the development and monetization of the popular day-of-travel information provider's mobile offerings.... Keep Reading

Doha, Qatar - Marriott International this week celebrated the opening of its City Center project here, a two-tower hotel complex that includes a Renaissance, a Courtyard and a Marriott Executive Apartments property. Mark Satterfield, Marriott's COO for the Middle East and Africa, at the event spoke with Business Travel News... Keep Reading

TRX sold its ResX self-booking tool to nuTravel Technology Solutions for $3.5 million, the companies announced this week. As part of the deal, nuTravel acquired "software, websites, certain customer agreements and intellectual property," according to a TRX Securities and Exchange Commission filing. TRX expects to complete... Keep Reading

London-based Guoman & Thistle Hotels in recent years has boosted its international sales presence, particularly in targeting buyers based in North America. Most of the company's hotels are in the United Kingdom, which is its most critical market, but it regards North American as the second-most critical market for its... Keep Reading

Maritz Travel parent Maritz Inc. last month announced a corporate restructuring that will allow more autonomy for its subsidiaries—Maritz Research and Maritz Loyalty, along with Maritz Travel—but included about 100 layoffs. BTN's Chris Davis last week spoke with Maritz Travel CEO David Peckinpaugh, an industry veteran who... Keep Reading

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives' board of directors named GetThere general manager Suzanne Neufang as the group's next president for a two-year term to start in January. Neufang will succeed BCD Travel senior vice president Chris Crowley. BTN executive editor Mary Ann McNulty this week talked to Neufang during... Keep Reading

Other than 1,200 economy-tier Motel 6 properties, Accor has a small North American presence for its economy Ibis, upscale Novotel and luxury Sofitel brands. However, as the largest operator of hotels globally, the company considers North American business travelers one of its more crucial customer bases. Accor vice president... Keep Reading

The BTN Group editorial director Jay Campbell last month spoke with American Express Global Business Travel executive vice president Julie Bottner about global servicing configurations and emerging markets. An excerpt of their discussion follows.... Keep Reading

Corporate housing supplier Furnished Quarters recently hired Craig Partin as its director of sales. Partin has 20 years experience working for corporate housing firms, relocation management companies, property management companies and a boutique real estate firm. He spoke recently to BTN lodging editor Michael B. Baker about... Keep Reading