A compilation of BTN's most-read stories of 2020 would be a dismal read: disease, layoffs, shutdowns, quarantines, scandal and so on. As an alternative, BTN asked several editors to highlight particular coverage during the past year that best illustrates other business travel industry trends and happenings, that perhaps reflects a broader view than the Covid-19 news of the day. Below, please find each editor's choice of their 2020 coverage.
Michael B. Baker: Companies Broadening Efforts to Address LGBTQ Traveler Needs
This August report noted that many companies are realizing that recognizing and addressing the need for LGBTQ employees—including within a travel program—is a year-round process, not one that can be restricted to Pride Month alone. Read more
Donna M. Airoldi: GBTA's Hotel Rate Freeze Advice Ignites Controversy
The Global Business Travel Association's May endorsement of rolling corporate negotiated 2020 rates into 2021 due to the pandemic sparked substantial disagreement throughout the industry. Read more
Adam Perrotta: Covid-19 Pauses Travel But Accelerates Innovation
This June report illustrated one silver lining of the pandemic: its potential to afford buyers and providers alike an unexpected opportunity to address pre-existing issues, while laying bare like never before the vital organizational role served by travel departments. Taken together, those dynamics could create an ideal environment for innovation. Read more
Dawit Habtemariam: What Virtual Meetings Must Learn from Video Games
Several technology providers revamped their platforms in 2020 as virtual meetings vaulted to the industry’s forefront, and this August report highlighted how the video game industry could influence their development plans. Read more
Elizabeth West: Shifting From Analyzing Trip Cost to Meeting Value
This September report suggests that, as the world emerges from the grip of the pandemic, the contours of how business travel may be viewed and how travel managers may need to adjust their own value proposition—and knowledge base—as companies return to travel may change dramatically. Read more