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Vineet Sethi is Tamarind Global’s new chief business officer in Gurgaon

Indian destination and event management firm Tamarind Global formally welcomes Vineet Sethi as its new chief business officer in Gurgaon. An industry veteran of three decades’ standing, Sethi brings a wealth of knowledge regarding the travel and tourism industry into his new role where his strategic insight, transformational leadership, and passion for innovation are bound to shine. In his new role, he will lead growth strategies across North India, driving expansion across Tamarind Global’s Corporate Travel, MICE, and Luxury Leisure verticals. He will also focus on strengthening strategic alliances to help increase the brand’s market penetration. According to Tamarind Global managing partner Louis D’Souza: "We are thrilled to have Vineet onboard as his exceptional industry background and energetic approach align perfectly with our vision of innovation and expansion. We’re confident his leadership will open exciting new business avenues while enhancing operational efficiency across the region." With this key appointment, Tamarind Global reinforces its commitment to building a future-ready leadership team that delivers seamless, memorable experiences across corporate and personal travel, destination weddings, events, and beyond. Meet Vineet Sethi Sethi himself said of the appointment: "I am delighted to join Tamarind Global, a brand synonymous with excellence and customer delight. I look forward to contributing to its ongoing success by nurturing partnerships, exploring new market opportunities, and deepening our footprint in this dynamic region." An alumnus of both the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the Indian School of Business, Sethi has held key leadership roles across several premier travel organizations, where he has driven significant growth and business innovation. His deep-rooted industry knowledge and expertise in scaling businesses position him as a vital asset to the Tamarind Global leadership team.

Business travel volume will decrease significantly in 2025 amidst US Govt actions: GBTA

Representative Image As a result of recent US government actions including tariffs, cross-border policies and entry restrictions, global business travel professionals are newly navigating a complex and uncertain landscape regarding the potential impact on business travel volume, spending and revenue for 2025. According to a new poll conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), a significant portion of over 900 global industry respondents are anticipating declines ahead and overall optimism has taken a hit in the last few weeks, reflecting the uncertainty gripping the sector and other industries. Recent US government actions were defined in the GBTA poll as tariffs on imported products, US entry restrictions for travellers from specific countries, advisories against travel to the US, cross-border policies resulting in detainment risks, and decreased business travel for US federal employees. As a result of these multiple initiatives, the poll reveals that: Less than half of global buyers (44%) anticipate their organization’s business travel spending and volume in 2025 will not be impacted, compared to 25% of travel suppliers who say the same for their business travel revenue. Almost a third (29%) of global travel buyers expect a decline in business travel volume at their companies in 2025, averaging a 21% decrease. Additionally, a fairly large portion of travel buyers (19%) are uncertain about what the impact will be. Related, 27% of buyers now predict a 20% decrease on average in their business travel spending this year. (Notably, with global business travel spending forecast to reach $1.63 trillion USD in 2025, that could represent a potential decline in spending of up to $88 billion.) 37% of travel suppliers and travel management company (TMC) professionals anticipate a decline of 18% on average in related revenue. Because of overall concerns, only 31% of global industry professionals remain optimistic about the overall industry outlook for this year, while 40% are neutral. This marks a significant decline from GBTA’s November 2024 poll where 67% of global industry professionals reported an optimistic outlook for 2025 and 26% were neutral. “While the outlook for global business travel was incredibly strong coming into 2025, our research now shows increasing concerns and uncertainty within our industry, considering recent actions taken by the US government. Traveling for work plays a vital role in supporting business growth, resilient economies, strong diplomatic ties and valuable connections,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA. “Productive and essential business travel is threatened in times of economic uncertainty or in an environment of additional barriers and restrictions. This undermines economic prosperity and damages the many sectors that rely on global business travel to survive and thrive.” Neufang added there are two key factors to watch that would influence longer-term impact for business travel: if there’s sustained economic pressure or uncertainty weighing on company budgets and if cross-border travel and global workforce mobility to and from the US are restricted. The GBTA poll reflects responses from travel managers (buyers), suppliers, travel management companies and other travel intermediaries from across four regions and 45 countries. Additional key findings include: 7% of buyer organizations have revised their corporate travel policies for travel to or from the US since January 2025, and another one-quarter (25%) say they are planning to or will consider doing so in the future. 64% are staying the course. Additionally, up to 20% have or are considering cancelling, moving or pulling attendance from meetings and events located in the US. 10% are planning or considering cancelling employee attendance at US events. When it comes to relocating meetings or events from the US, a total of 14% say their organization has already done so (8%) or is considering it (6%). Companies located outside of the US are three times more likely to relocate meetings to somewhere other than the US. Respondents’ top concerns for long-term impact of US government actions are related to economics ─ namely business travel costs (54%) and potential budget cuts (40%) ─ along with additional travel processing and administration needs such as visas or documentation (46%). This was followed closely by traveler-focused concerns such as employee willingness to travel to the US and increased safety and duty of care (both at 37%). Additionally, when asked if they personally know someone whose trip has been affected by US border or travel policy changes, 23% of global industry professionals say they do. A total of 905 responses were received by GBTA from global travel buyers, suppliers and other industry professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa and Middle East for the poll fielded 31 March to 8 April , 2025.

Sustainable Travel: A New Era in Business Travel

In today’s world, the push towards sustainability reshapes how we live, work, and travel. Business travel, a sector historically associated with significant environmental impact, is now at the forefront of this change. With growing awareness of the ecological footprint caused by excessive travel, companies like BCD Travel are exploring ways to make business travel more sustainable. BCD Travel's 2024 Survey on Reimagining Corporate Travel Policies, which surveyed 211 travel buyers, highlighted that sustainable travel is now a significant theme, with 64% of travel buyers incorporating it into their policies. Flexibility is also gaining traction, as companies adapt to hybrid work environments and evolving traveller needs. However, issues like managing local regulatory differences and balancing global consistency remain hurdles. This article explores the impact of traditional travel practices, highlights the importance of mindful travel, and outlines some sustainable options for business travellers. The Environmental Impact of Business Travel Business travel contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions. Air travel is a significant source of global emissions and is predicted to account for 12 to 27 per cent of 2050 global emissions. Air travel emissions are increasing 70 per cent faster than initially expected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is estimated that business travel represents about 15 to 20 per cent of that global travel. Not only does excessive travel affect the environment but also increases carbon emissions. Furthermore, hotel stays, rental vehicles, and meals on the go all add to resource consumption, while single-use plastics and disposable items at airports, hotels, and meeting spaces exacerbate waste issues. The 2024 BCD survey also highlights several specific strategies that organisations are implementing to promote sustainable travel. Around 59% of companies reporting reduced travel budgets, cost control is critical. Popular measures include encouraging virtual meetings, optimizing trip lengths, and limiting luxury travel perks. Despite these constraints, there is recognition that well-structured travel policies can enhance talent retention and satisfaction. Among the many measures is public transportation, wherein rather than relying on taxis or ride-hailing services, companies are encouraging the use of public transportation, which not only reduces carbon emissions but also cuts down on travel costs. Business travellers can consider travelling light and reducing luggage weight. Travelling without checked-in luggage or reducing its weight minimizes the fuel burden on flights, making air travel slightly more eco-friendly. Or even, opting for hybrid or electric vehicles is gaining traction. Many companies now prioritise electric or hybrid vehicles for ground transportation, marking a shift towards renewable energy use in business travel. Other practices include carpooling to reduce individual vehicle use, encouraging economy class over business class, and choosing direct flights over connecting routes to cut down on unnecessary emissions. Being Mindful With sustainability now a critical consideration, business travellers and companies need to adopt mindful travel practices. Implementing more strategic travel planning and opting for greener options can reduce the negative impact of travel on the environment. Companies committed to sustainability enhance their brand image, appealing to eco-conscious clients and partners with specific eco-conscious campaigns. Increasingly, organizations are choosing to participate in carbon offset programs that fund projects like reforestation, renewable energy, or conservation to offset the carbon footprint of their travel. Beyond individual travel choices, travel managers are also rethinking how they organise meetings. Sustainable group activities, focusing on low-impact or eco-friendly experiences, are increasingly part of the meeting agenda. The Shift toward Sustainable Travel Programs: Insights and Innovations In an industry first, BCD has developed a comprehensive sustainability solution for corporate travel programs. This innovation, developed with climate-tech partner SQUAKE and experts at global corporate travel consultancy Advito, helps businesses set sustainability goals, manage carbon emissions, and encourage greener travel choices. Key features include automated carbon tax applications, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) procurement, and compliance tools for regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Piloted with Siemens, the solution will be available in early 2025, offering consistent sustainability guidance and reporting across booking platforms. It aims to simplify integrating sustainability into corporate travel processes and reduce travel-related emissions. The future of corporate travel is increasingly dependent on innovative initiatives that prioritise sustainability while ensuring operational efficiency. A notable example is Microsoft’s collaboration with Advito, which centred around limiting the growth of their Scope 3 emissions and aligning their travel team with this objective. Advito's Sustainable Collaboration team analysed Microsoft’s travel footprint to identify opportunities to transition from air to rail travel, along with quantifying the potential savings in carbon emissions. The analysis uncovered numerous opportunities for Microsoft to make significant changes; specifically, by shifting 50% of travel from air to rail on viable routes, the company could achieve a reduction of approximately 4,438 tons of CO2 emissions annually. Another pioneer in building a sustainable travel program was global fintech firm Finastra, who sought reduce internal travel, enhance employee productivity, and optimise their program savings. In early 2019, Finastra announced an ambitious sustainability initiative to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. With the guidance of experts from Advito, the Finastra Travel Team worked to reduce internal travel from 43% at the beginning of the campaign to just 9.8% in just four months, reducing travel spend by 50% in the process. What Lies Ahead for Sustainable Business Travel? BCD Travel and other industry leaders are expected to innovate further, encouraging the use of low-emission flights, promoting sustainable suppliers, integrating dynamic meeting location choices and encouraging the use of train travel over air where applicable. The rise of eco-certifications, regulations on sustainability, such as the EU’s CSRD, and ongoing research into sustainable travel technologies will likely make sustainable travel the norm in the corporate world. While business travel is essential, it doesn’t have to come at the cost of our planet. Companies and travellers have a role to play in making more sustainable choices. By being mindful of travel impacts and embracing green practices, we can pave the way for a more sustainable, responsible future in business travel. Furthermore, sustainable travel is no longer a niche concern, but a growing priority for organisations worldwide. As more companies adopt these practices, the travel industry will likely witness a shift towards more sustainable and responsible travel solutions. For organisations still on the fence, adopting even a few of these initiatives could lead to substantial benefits for both the environment and the bottom line. As businesses worldwide adapt to a new travel paradigm, the message is clear: sustainable travel is not just a responsibility—it’s an opportunity to lead.

London Chiswick Travelodge opens with 113 keys for business, ahead of Easter

Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand which operates over 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, announces it has opened the doors to a brand new 113-room hotel in Chiswick, West London. Superbly situated adjacent to Chiswick Roundabout, the new hotel has created 20 new jobs for the local community. London Chiswick Travelodge is ideally located for both business and leisure travellers. Situated just a short distance from Gunnersbury Park, Chiswick High Road, the Royal Botanic Kew Gardens, and Brentford FC’s Gtech Community Stadium, it is also just a seven minute walk away from Gunnersbury station which serves the London Underground District line and the London Overground. The hotel features Travelodge’s new, premium look and feel design which includes a newly designed reception area, next generation rooms and its new restaurant concept, 85 Bar Cafe - offering everything a business or leisure guest needs for a comfortable and relaxing stay. Sustainability has been an important factor when designing the hotel, which has a BREEAM Excellent rating and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A. London Chiswick Travelodge will use air source heat pumps to generate hot water. The hotel also uses low-energy lighting, motion-sensing controls and aerated showers and taps, reducing both energy and water consumption without compromising guest comfort. Other sustainable features include LED lighting throughout and a ‘living’ roof that is covered with vegetation to encourage biodiversity. The opening of this hotel is part of Travelodge’s wider growth plans, as the hotel chain continues to expand in London and more-widely across the UK and Spain. The Company currently has a further seven hotels under construction, located in Skegness, Harwich, Bromsgrove and Banbury and across London in Beckenham, Stratford and Upminster. Travelodge is continuing to develop its UK pipeline and is committed to expanding its hotel network to offer more choice to its customers and support local economies. The group has over 300 target locations for hotel sites across the UK, including over 100 sites in London - which will drive investment and create local jobs. Steve Bennett, Chief Property and Development Officer at Travelodge comments: “We’re delighted to open the doors to London Chiswick Travelodge, as we are very proud of this excellent addition to our London estate. Chiswick is a thriving area for visitors, tourists and business travellers with key attractions and transport links into the city on its doorstep. “This hotel has been built to high standards, with sustainability an important factor of its planning. It also features our new premium look and feel design with our redesigned reception area and next generation rooms, as well as our brand new restaurant concept, 85 Bar Cafe. We are looking forward to welcoming our guests to experience this new hotel. “We are continuing to focus on growing our hotel portfolio, with over 300 locations identified for new hotels across the UK - over 100 of which have been identified in London. This would create even more jobs and provide further choice and great value to business and leisure travellers visiting London and the UK.” Travelodge currently operates 85 hotels and has hotels in 31 of the 33 London Boroughs – it’s one of the capital’s largest hotel chains and employs around 4,000 people across the city.

Thomas Cook India’s forex business appoints actor Kartik Aaryan as Brand Ambassador

Young India’s millennials and GenZ are powerful drivers in India’s outbound travel growth story. Industry insights suggest that, Indian millennials place a high priority on travel in their spending habits. In a focused initiative to leverage this high-growth segment, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s foreign exchange services provider has appointed Bollywood’s youth icon Kartik Aaryan as its Brand Ambassador. Kartik Aaryan is known for his charismatic persona and strong connection with India’s youth. His significant fan-base, aspirational image yet relatability especially among millennials and GenZ makes him a key influencer. He embodies the spirit of India’s new-age traveller, making him an ideal choice to represent the innovative and agile India ka Forex Specialist – Thomas Cook. The partnership commences with a campaign for Thomas Cook’s recently launched Borderless Travel Card – a game-changing, multi-currency product designed to provide travellers with a seamless, secure and smooth experience at every stage of their journey – anywhere in the world. The film featuring Kartik, while indicating the numerous forex related challenges faced by India’s travellers, highlights Thomas Cook’s Borderless Travel Card as an ideal solution. This is presented in a fun and relatable conversation between two friends planning their upcoming holiday. While the friend struggles with managing multiple credit and debit cards, lounge access cards, international SIM cards and currency, Kartik proudly flaunts his Thomas Cook multi-currency Borderless Travel Card – as his one-stop-solution that addresses significant challenges while on an international trip. The campaign will be amplified across multiple platforms including digital, CTV (connected TV) and social media, ensuring high reach and engagement. Deepesh Varma, Executive Vice President – Foreign Exchange, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “We are truly bullish on our prepaid card business and building on the success of our portfolio that includes Study Buddy (for students) and EnterpriseFX (for business travellers), we have just launched our multicurrency Borderless Travel Card for India’s rapidly growing leisure segment. Our data/research reflects significant opportunity from Young India and we are already witnessing an encouraging uptick in demand from the segment. We have hence strategically tied up with Kartik Aaryan, Bollywood’s young icon, as we believe he is the perfect fit to inspire and address this powerful young segment. We are very excited to launch a fun and engaging campaign with Kartik as the protagonist, to showcase the multiple benefits of our Borderless Travel Card and inspire strong growth from Young India. Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, said, “I am excited to work with Thomas Cook India – a brand that is synonymous with not just pioneering travel but also innovative and youthful agility, and the Borderless Travel Card represents this and more. As an avid traveller, I have also gone through some of the struggles of buying and using forex while holidaying abroad. This card is a game-changer for India’s travel-hungry youth and I personally endorse this card as a smart, seamless, secure and highly convenient solution for Indian travellers. The card offers unique benefits of multi-currency support, worldwide acceptance and exclusive travel benefits. The bright youth of India are surely going to opt for this multifunctional card on their next international trip.”

Conference programme and speakers announced for the Business Travel Show Asia Pacific

It’s all systems go for the first-ever Business Travel Show Asia Pacific at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Scheduled for the 16th and 17th April, the Business Travel Show’s organisers released additional details regarding its dynamic conference programme today, 7th April. Along with key industrial insights, discussions will revolve around AI and the impact of automation on contemporary business travel; sustainability and managing carbon footprints; and risk management strategies. Confirmed speakers as of press time are as follows: Kenric Koh, Assoc, Director APJ Travel, Meetings, Card, Fleet Category Lead – Organon Stas Melnikov, Associate Partner – McKinsey & Company Bianca Garrad, Corporate Contacts, Senior Specialist – Perenti Group Adeline Kang, Director JCAP Operations, Travel Meetings Card & Fleeet – MSD International Priyanka Jahkmola, Global Travel Lead – Accenture Shaik Abid, International Travel Manager – Adobe Richard Hancock, Regional Director APAC – Crisis24 Bee Lian, Regional Travel Manager – Align Tech Cheryl Anne Neo, Regional Travel Manager – London Stock Exchange Group Elvin Lee, Regional Travel Manager APJ – Service Now Victor Lim, Travel Leader, Global Meetings & Travel – Ingka Group (IKEA) Kerri Homann, Travel Manager – Rheinmetall Adriana Nainggol, Travel Manager, APAC – Autodesk Kishore Rames, Travel Program Manager Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa – NOV Alex Giles, Travel Risk Assessment Officer - UNSW This comprehensive conference programme was curated to inspire, educate and support the development of the rapidly growing corporate travel sector both within Asia Pacific and worldwide, delivering an unprecedented and unparalleled agenda of insights for the region. Business Travel Show Asia Pacific events director Nelson Khoo remarked: “With the breadth of expertise we have in building and delivering business travel events worldwide we have been committed to building a conference programme that not only addresses the topics and challenges that travel buyers, managers and the supply chain currently face, but more importantly offers the right forum for expert advice and support to empower them to achieve their own ambitions for growth.” Khoo added that the conference agenda is comprehensive but still leaves plenty of time for meetings. He said: “We want to ensure that attendees make the most of their time there and leave with questions answered and advice on how to take the next step to really transform their travel programme.” Something for everyone Over 200 corporate travel buyers and 50 top-tier exhibitors from across the Asia Pacific region, the US, the UK and Europe are set to meet, collaborate and learn over the two-day event. Alongside the conference panel sessions, visitors will also be able to access the following featured sections: Business Travel Innovation Faceoff – showcase of the most exciting companies disrupting and transforming the corporate travel technology landscape. The shortlist of finalists is confirmed as: Acai, Travog, Trip.biz, Zenmer and WegoPro BTN Academy – sessions which offer advice on how to build a successful travel programme BTN Communities sessions – confidential, buyer only sessions that offer the opportunity to learn more about key topics as well as how to optimise small to mid-size travel programmes Networking opportunities to connect with senior decision makers, business leaders and solutions providers Part of the BTN Group which has more than 40 years’ industry expertise developing high-end, conference programmes, Business Travel Show APAC builds on the success of Business Travel Show Europe, the leading event for European corporate travel professionals held annually in London for over 30 years. Business Travel Show APAC will run alongside The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, which launched at Marina Bay Sands last year to great success. Corporate travel buyers, procurement managers responsible for corporate travel and meetings planners are invited to attend the event for free, subject to qualifications, while non-exhibiting suppliers may purchase tickets. 

90% of business travel managers are using AI, but opportunities in corporate travel abound

Serko, and Sabre announced the release of the 2025 State of AI in Corporate Travel: Unlocking Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges report. The study, based on a survey of more than 300 U.S.-based travel managers at companies with over $50 million in revenue, sheds light on how AI and generative AI (genAI) are reshaping the business travel landscape – and where organizations are still falling short. “The study’s results are clear: while AI adoption in corporate travel is high, success isn’t guaranteed,” said Darrin Grafton, CEO and co-founder of Serko. “Yes, 90% of travel managers say they’ve implemented AI or genAI, but too many are still hitting roadblocks. Whether it’s poor implementation, a lack of internal capabilities, or limited partner support, these challenges are preventing organizations from realizing the full value of their investment. That’s exactly where technology players like Serko or Sabre have an opportunity to step up.” Key Findings: AI Momentum, But Support Gaps Remain ▪ Widespread adoption: Over 90% of respondents report using AI or genAI, primarily for cost savings (71%), enhancing the traveler experience (68%), and improving data analysis (63%). ▪ Positive ROI: 52% say AI has exceeded expectations; 45% say it’s meeting them. Use cases include booking optimization (73%), pricing and cost savings (70%), and chatbot-based traveler support (64%). ▪ Transformational potential: Nearly half of travel managers believe AI will have a “significant” or “transformative” impact on their programs over the next five years. ▪ Support shortcomings: While some respondents feel supported, 49% say support from travel partners is only “moderate,” and 11% say they’ve received little or no help. Tech provider support shows similar results. ▪ Biggest roadblocks: Implementation hurdles (46%), lack of internal talent (19%), and budget constraints (14%) are slowing progress. Tech providers must accelerate AI integration, with the customer at the center As the study suggests, AI has moved from experimentation to expectation, but the survey indicates too many corporate travel programs are struggling to scale their efforts effectively. That’s where travel technology partners must take a more proactive role to bridge the gap between potential and performance. “The corporate travel industry is moving quickly from exploring AI and genAI to deeply embedding it into their operations,” said Sundar Narasimhan, SVP and President, Sabre Labs. “What was once a ‘nice-to-have’ is becoming an operational necessity. Companies that fail to integrate AI-driven decision-making risk falling behind – not just in efficiency and cost savings, but in their ability to deliver the seamless, personalized experiences that travelers now expect. Our focus is on helping our customers navigate this shift with confidence, helping to ensure they have the right tools, strategies, and support to turn AI investment into meaningful traveler and business outcomes.” Serko and Sabre agree: it’s not enough to innovate for innovation’s sake. The responsibility lies with technology providers to simplify implementation, provide smarter automation, and actively guide customers through their AI transformation journeys. That means aligning roadmaps to real-world needs, reducing integration complexity, and helping to ensure that AI delivers not only performance improvement, but traveler-centric value. “This is a defining moment for the industry,” added Andrew Revell, Serko’s head of AI. “Our customers are asking not just for tools, but for trust, expertise, and a clear path forward. We are focused on delivering on all three.”

TAP Air Portugal and Avianca open new Business Class lounge at Miami International Airport

On 21 March, TAP Air Portugal and Avianca hosted a grand opening of their shared Business Class lounge at Miami International Airport. The 6,559-square-foot lounge, located in the South Terminal near gate J4, will be open 24 hours a day to offer more comfort, convenience, and privacy for up to 337 passengers on flights from Miami. A wide selection of food and snacks will be offered, along with premium alcoholic beverages, and hot and cold refreshments. The facility features modern restrooms with showers, high-speed Wi-Fi, relaxation areas, dedicated workspaces, and a specially designed children’s play area. “Our first-ever lounge to open outside of Portugal brings a little bit of Portugal to life in Miami,” said Sofia Lufinha, TAP's Chief Customer Officer. “Here, with all the comforts of a new Business Class lounge, our guests may also enjoy favourite foods and refreshments, including cheeses and pastries such as pastéis de nata, Portuguese red wine, vinho verde and port wine. It’s all part of TAP’s focus to deliver the most comfortable travel experience for our passengers.” The lounge is available for TAP, Avianca and Star Alliance passengers travelling in First and Business Class, TAP Miles&Go Navigator and Gold members, as well as Star Alliance eligible Gold Members and LifeMiles eligible Gold and Diamond members. The lounge also accepts Priority Pass and one-day passes may be purchased, subject to availability and capacity.

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