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BCD Travel Launches Tripsource Platform to Enhance Traveler Experience with Guided Engagement

BCD Travel has launched Tripsource, a platform designed to improve the end-to-end business traveler experience by delivering real-time, contextual guidance and support. The platform combines travel content from aggregators and GDS, enabling booking, trip management, policy application, and risk insights. BCD Travel reports a 90% satisfaction rate with Tripsource. Emphasizing an open ecosystem, the platform can integrate with other booking tools and partners, helping travel managers improve program compliance and performance.

Hotel RFP alone no longer defines corporate hotel program success

Alicia Olson, Director of Hotel Program Strategy at Advito (BCD Travel), argues that corporate hotel program success is shifting from the volume of negotiated rates secured to whether travelers can access the right hotel content through approved channels. Citing discussion in Business Travel Executive, the piece notes persistent challenges including lengthy RFP cycles, the static-rate versus dynamic-discount debate, rate loading issues and traveler compliance, while the industry pushes toward shorter, technology-enabled sourcing models. A larger negotiated portfolio does not necessarily produce a stronger program; sourcing should focus on properties supported by traveler demand and visible…

BCD issues practical hotel safety guide for business travelers

BCD Travel published a hotel safety guide for business travelers, drawing on insights from its Global Crisis Management team and BCD Marketplace partner Maiden Voyage. BCD research found travelers often feel confident in their hotel choices, yet safety risks still exist. The guide offers eight practical measures: setting safety-related preferences before arrival (such as a non-adjoining room, a room above the ground floor, or a location close to elevators or away from isolated areas); protecting the room number at check-in; assessing room location and securing doors, windows and adjoining-room entrances; using secondary locks while inside; verifying unexpected visitors before opening the do…

Impact and considerations

Hotel safety is a practical element of travel duty of care; the guide gives travel managers concrete content to embed in pre-trip communications and supplier evaluation, and notes that traveler feedback can influence future supplier decisions.

BCD's Tripsource embeds sustainability into the booking experience

BCD Travel announced on Sept. 17, 2026 that Tripsource, its open, intelligent travel platform, embeds sustainability across the travel program. Travelers, arrangers and agents can see relevant CO2 information and guidance during planning and booking, and organizations can display and collect a carbon fee at the point of sale. The platform offers insights and AI analyses to benchmark performance and optimize sustainability strategies. BCD's survey of travel buyers found 56% cited improved technology, including online booking tool capabilities, as a top influence on sustainable business travel; meanwhile 31% of travelers said they normally lack flight emissions information when booking.

BCD Research: Sustainability Goals Fail to Shift Traveler Behavior

BCD Travel's 2026 research highlights a gap between corporate sustainability ambition and travel-program action: 86% of surveyed travel buyers said their company has published sustainability goals, but only 47% reported travel-related goals; 61% of travelers knew of company sustainability goals, but only 33% knew of travel-related ones. 59% said sustainable-travel communications happen never or rarely. The report argues that carbon reporting alone does not change booking behavior and that sustainability should be embedded into travel policy, approval, booking, communications and supplier management, focused on a few measurable priority behaviors.

BCD Travel and Advito outline five shifts shaping managed travel in 2027

After attending 2026 industry events including SAP Concur Fusion, ProcureCon and the GBTA Convention, executives from BCD Travel and Advito identified five shifts likely to shape managed travel in 2027 and beyond: AI discussions moving from experimentation to adoption and governance; competitive advantage increasingly coming from people and change management; insufficient industry focus on the human side of front-line service; hyper-personalized traveler engagement; and resilience replacing prediction as a planning strategy. Both leaders said travel managers should prioritize adaptability, governance, stakeholder alignment and traveler engagement in 2027 planning.

BCD Travel Publishes Business Travel Preparation Checklist and Packing Guide

BCD Travel published an updated business travel preparation guide in September 2026, covering the full trip cycle from first booking to post-trip expense reporting. It advises travellers to confirm trip purpose and approvals, review company travel policy (covering booking channels, preferred airlines and hotels, cabin class, ground transportation, payment methods and approval rules), check passport, visa and entry requirements, and organise itinerary and payment details. On packing, it stresses preparing around actual meetings, keeping hard-to-replace items such as laptops, chargers and presentation materials in carry-on, and building a repeatable packing and tech-kit system for frequent tr…

JetBlue Expands Premium Offerings: BlueHouse, BlueFirst and Mint

JetBlue is expanding its premium travel offerings. BlueHouse lounges are now open at Boston Logan and New York-JFK, with complimentary access for eligible domestic and international Mint customers. JetBlue now operates 150 daily flights with lie-flat beds across transcontinental, transatlantic and select Caribbean markets. BlueFirst launches in Q4 2026 as a new domestic first-class option alongside Mint. BlueSky, the JetBlue-United collaboration launched in 2025, offers reciprocal points earning and redemption plus reciprocal status recognition. Fort Lauderdale now has more than 100 daily departures, expected to reach about 150 by year-end. JetBlue also introduced streamlined fares and has…

Cathay Pacific Intermodal Links Greater Bay Area Business and MICE Travel

BCD Travel highlights Cathay Pacific's Direct Air+Sea and Direct Air+Land intermodal solutions, which allow travelers to move seamlessly between Hong Kong International Airport and key Greater Bay Area cities including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macao through a single connected journey. The Canton Fair venue, the China Import and Export Fair Complex, is easily accessible via Cathay Pacific's Direct Air+Sea service, which includes a codeshare ferry connection to Pazhou Ferry Port directly opposite the venue. Hong Kong, as an international MICE hub, provides a base for linking business events with trade opportunities such as the Canton Fair.

Cathay Pacific at 80: Connecting Hong Kong to Over 100 Destinations

BCD Travel recounts Cathay Pacific's 80-year history. Founded in Hong Kong in 1946 by former wartime pilots Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow with a single Douglas DC-3 aircraft, "Betsy," the airline bought its first Convair 880 in 1962, with jet aircraft accelerating network expansion. Today Cathay connects customers to more than 100 destinations worldwide across the Chinese Mainland, Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East and the Southwest Pacific. Cathay also unveiled the Aria Suite business class cabin and partnered with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority on an 80th anniversary livery.

Advito Launches AI Gateway Service to Guide AI Adoption

BCD Travel's consulting division Advito has launched AI Gateway, a new service to help companies plan and adopt AI tools. The service includes AI readiness assessment, strategic planning, governance and implementation planning, and adoption and change management guidance. Advito says AI doesn't automatically create value; employees must understand how tools fit into their work. The service has been applied to large global organizations, including an investment firm targeting 70,000 employees.

What to Do When a Hotel Cannot Honor A Reservation

BCD Travel published a guide to help travelers and travel managers handle situations where a hotel cannot honor a confirmed reservation. The guide recommends booking through approved channels, using tools like Tripsource for itinerary information, and provides steps when a hotel 'walks' guests, including asking for alternative accommodation, requesting transportation, and confirming reimbursement.

Tripsource Now Supports 12 Languages for Travelers

BCD Travel's booking platform Tripsource has added Polish as its 12th language option. This move aims to enhance the user experience for global business travelers by providing localized support, reducing confusion, and building confidence, while helping organizations support employees across multiple countries.

WestJet Business Travel: Reliability, Reach and Rewards

WestJet highlights three key advantages for business travelers: operational reliability, an expanding network, and a loyalty program. Through investments in on-time performance and baggage handling, and codeshare partnerships with Virgin Atlantic, Icelandair, and others, WestJet offers seamless international connectivity. WestJet Rewards enables frequent travelers to earn points and enjoy tier benefits.

Make the Journey Your Most Memorable Event Yet

UK high-speed rail operator Avanti West Coast offers private carriage hire for meetings, team-building, and events, with bespoke packages for larger gatherings. Rail travel offers a sustainable alternative, and group bookings can be made up to a year in advance.

Two New Adriatic Escapes Set to Redefine Luxury in 2027

The Adriatic is becoming a top luxury destination. In 2027, Hotel Palace Portorož (Minor Reserve Collection) in Slovenia and Anantara Adriatic Istria Resort in Croatia will open, with 183 and 186 rooms respectively, the latter featuring a golf course.

Discover What's Changing Business Travel Forever

Minor Hotels' new luxury brand The Wolseley Hotels will debut in New York, occupying a landmark building in Midtown Manhattan with 76 rooms and introducing the renowned Wolseley restaurant concept. Expected to open in early 2027.

Colbert Collection Debuts in Florence, London Next

Colbert Collection has launched its first hotel, Porta Rossa Hotel Firenze, in Florence's historic center. The property features 69 rooms and suites, blending heritage with modern comforts. The brand emphasizes culture, gastronomy, and connection, with a second hotel in London scheduled for Q4 2026.

Minor Hotels Introduces Four New Brands

Minor Hotels has launched four new brands: The Wolseley Hotels, Minor Reserve Collection, Colbert Collection, and iStay Hotels, each catering to different traveler needs, from luxury to convenience, reflecting the growing diversity in travel.

iStay Hotels by NH Launches in Three European Cities

Minor Hotels has launched iStay Hotels by NH, with first properties in Valencia, Zaragoza, and Berlin. The brand focuses on comfortable rooms, reliable Wi-Fi, and efficient service, catering to modern urban travelers seeking convenience and value.

Luxair Enhances Business Travel Experience

Luxair introduces new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft with more personal space, quieter cabin, and USB charging. Network covers over 100 destinations, with flexible fares and loyalty programs including Miles & More and Luxair High Five, plus Luxair PRO for SMEs.

BCD Launches Tripsource Insights to Unify Travel, Payment, and Risk Data

BCD Travel launched Tripsource Insights this summer as a core capability within the Tripsource platform, integrating data from BCD systems and supplier sources into one interface. It provides corporate travel and finance leaders with a unified, real-time view of travel spend, payment activity, and traveler risk. Using AI and NLP, the platform supports daily program management, helping optimize spend, monitor performance, and ensure compliance.

BCD Travel Offers Guide to Build Disruption-Ready Travel Programs

BCD Travel has published a guide to help corporate travel programs handle disruptions such as hurricanes, geopolitical events, and labor actions. The guide proposes a five-step framework: stakeholder alignment, supplier flexibility, intelligence-driven decisions, traveler communication and support, and continuous assessment. It emphasizes building resilience before a crisis, not during one.

BCD Names FCM's Eklund Chief Commercial Officer

BCD Travel announced that Marcus Eklund, former global managing director at FCM, will join the company on September 14 as global chief commercial officer. Current global chief commercial officer Mike Janssen will remain until his retirement at the end of 2026. Additionally, Craig Bailey, president of the Americas, will retire on June 30, 2027, and will be succeeded by Dave Mitchell, who will assume the role on January 1, 2027. BCD stated these changes result from years of thoughtful succession planning to ensure continuity.

BCD Travel announces planned leadership transitions

BCD Travel announced a series of planned leadership transitions to support growth and innovation. Global CCO Mike Janssen will retire at end of 2026, and President Americas Craig Bailey on June 30, 2027. Marcus Eklund will join as global CCO on Sept 14, with Dave Mitchell and Tanya Green taking new roles.