August 15-16, 2023 | Royal Randwick Racecourse
The 23rd Annual btTB Business Travel Conference & Awards.
Australasia’s largest and most established business travel conference returns for its 23rd year
Count every second until the event.
Hear from thought leaders in business travel.
In 2022, more than 200 buyers attended for the largest community of procurement travel category managers and representatives from the business travel supply chain in the region.
The trade show features leading providers in the business travel supply chain, providing buyer delegates with the opportunity to explore the latest products and service offerings. For suppliers this provides the opportunity to identify and engage with potential new customers across travel procurement and corporate travel.
Where
Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney
When
August 15-16, 2023
First 150 buyers attend free
A two-day deep dive into the travel category.
We’re excited to be finalising the programme for yet another jam-packed two days of leading content. Register for updates and announcements on the theme – “What now?”
Travel Buyer-Supplier Relationship Award.
This year, the 23rd year of btTB Conference, the region’s biggest business travel event, we will be recognising two-way excellence in travel management. Entries are open for the Travel Buyer-Supplier Relationship Award, which will acknowledge an outstanding arrangement and relationship between a travel buyer and its supplier.
Perhaps too often, the two sides of travel management are considered too separately. With the current disruptions and developments in the supply chain, and the ever greater need for mutual understanding, it is a good time to recognise and promote successful two-way procurement effort.
The Programme.
9.00am
Welcome and Housekeeping
Lesley Wardropper, Owner & MD btTB/PASA
9.15am
Introduction & Award Description
Tony O’Connor, Managing Director, Butler Caroye
9.30am
The Revolution is Coming
AI has taken a leap forward with ChatGPT. How will AI change business travel and travel procurement?
What exactly is AI? Why is it so different and powerful? How might it change business travel – the booking, the management and the travelling?
Dr. Michael G. Kollo, CEO, Evolved Reasoning
10.30am
Morning Tea Break
11.00am
The Sustainability Session
How to ensure offsets are good. And what other measures are available?
Is it time to stop relying on offsets? Why are some inadequate? If carbon reduction at source is needed, how should travel managers achieve ambitious goals?
Dr. Phil Ireland, CEO, Carbon Neutral
Frances Atkins, Co-Founder, Givvable
11.50am
Break
12.00pm
Travel Risk Management. The Post-Covid Challenges and New Solutions
Learn how an emergency assistance case is managed. Identify some of the key elements to look out for and incorporate into your Travel Risk Management category strategy for the coming 12 months in terms of emergency medical and security assistance, followed by some insights into the insurers’ perspective, to help you drive increased value in your program.
Debra Harvey, Operations Manager, Clinical Services, World Travel Protection
David Stone, Global Network Manager, World Travel Protection
Daniel Kenny, Head of Accident & Health – Australasia, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
12.30pm
The Business Travel Pricing Outlook
As the business travel industry continues its recovery with more factors to consider such as sustainability and ESG, what does recovery look like in terms of business travel pricing ? How are inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, labor shortages, and energy costs impacting the business travel industry? How should buyers respond to these pressures and what does it mean for air, hotel, and ground prices in particular? To stay ahead of the curve with business travel spending join CWT for the first look at where pricing is trending and where the industry should look for opportunities.
Jackie Kidd, Manager, CWT Solutions Group Australia, CWT
12.50pm
Lunch & Networking
2.00pm
State of Play
The Travel Industry Outlook
One of Australia’s leading travel industry analysts discusses the lasting structural effects of Covid, and what we can expect in coming years.
Adele Labine-Romain, Partner, Deloitte Access Economics
2.50pm
Break
3.00pm
Airline Performance
The many factors behind delays and cancellations
We go behind the doors to explore the many factors and processes that effect airline performance. And what are your rights and remedies as a traveller?
Keith Tonkin, MD, Aviation Projects Consulting
Tony Cordato, Principal, Cordato Partners Lawyers
3.45pm
Afternoon Tea Break
4.10pm
The NDC Session.
It’s happening. It’s accelerating. And it matters. What you need to know.
After many years of talk, New Distribution Capability is really starting to impact on how we book and manage travel. After an Australian update and outlook, we hear from insiders about the risks and opportunities before us.
Kaylene Shuttlewood, Amadeus
Sarah Constable, Sales Manager, Air Canada
Russell Carstensen, CEO, Aeronology
Nathan Smeulders, Senior Manager Distribution, Qantas
Moderated by Mick Lavers, Partner, Deloitte
5.00pm
Day One Wrap-Up
Cocktails
9.15am
About Today
9.20am
Accommodation Procurement Inventory and Efficiency are Key
Accommodation management is unique. There are many suppliers. But too few rooms when and where you need them. It requires an efficient process and a focus on inventory. Should you use an aggregator, automated tenders or just outsource?
John Balloch, Head of Supplier Relations, CTM
Lynda Cali, Operations manager, The Hotel Network (THN)
Natascha Schaller, Indirect Category Specialist, Cochlear Ltd.
Moderated by Liz Newberry, Travel Manager, QUT
10.00am
Driving Sustainability
Anna Paula Brito, Head of Strategy and Planning, Uber
10.30am
Morning Tea Break
11.00am
TBA
11.05am
The New Travel Territory
Navigating the Changed Supply Chain
The world of travel pre and post Covid – the Old-World vs the New World and what the analysis tells us. The findings might surprise but then again if you’ve been part of the travel sector in recent times nothing would surprise!
John O’Shea, Senior Analyst, Ord Minnett
11.50am
Break
12.00pm // Breakout room
The Travel Suppliers’ Forum
An opportunity for travel suppliers from different parts of the supply chain to talk over pressing issues, including a presentation and discussion on managing the growing demand from buyers for CSG.
Tass Messinis, Chairman, ATMC
Oliver Tams, Executive Director, ATMC
Karen Perks, Managing Director, Ancient Wisdom Business Writers
Taylor Fox-Smith, Partnerships Lead, Climate Technology, Trace
12.00pm // Main Theatre
The Buyers-Only Travel Procurement Workshop
Splat: 25 Years of Tendering in 50 Minutes
After twenty five years in the travel tendering trenches, Tony will share many of his tips, learnings and methods to help you to get the best TMC, IT, airline, accommodation and rental car procurement outcomes
Tony O’Connor, Managing Director, Butler Caroye
12.50pm
Lunch & Networking
2.00pm
Presentation from the 2023 Travel Management Award winner
Presented by Lesley Wardropper, PASA
2.20pm
Building a Best OBT Relationship
Is this now the key supplier arrangement?
How do you ensure good performance, fair pricing and full access to all features and functions from this key travel technology? You might be surprised by what you’re not getting. Do you need a separate relationship or even a contract?
Liz Newberry, Travel Manager, QUT
Penny Meakes, Travel and Expense Manager, University of Sydney
Peter Wiseman, General Manager Sales, CTM
Amy Richards, Strategic Account Manager, Serko Ltd
3.00pm
Let’s Ask The Expert
A Business Travel Q&A with ChatGPT
To finish things on a high note, we ask the real expert in the room questions about travel management. Let’s see what we can learn.
MCed by Tony O’Connor and Bennett Jordan , Category Manager, Serco Group Plc
3.45pm
Wrap-Up and Thanks
Meet Our Speakers.
What's coming up.
First 150 buyers attend free
Our Sponsors.
Platinum Sponsor
What people say about our events.
The PASA conference was the best conference I had attended in many years – many practical advice and applications that my team and I can put to use straight away, a great investment of our time.
Procurement Professional
It was great to hear a wide range of presentations from a diverse mix of speakers, especially in person.
Procurement Professional
I very much enjoyed the depth and variety of skills experience of the presenters.
Procurement Professional
First 150 buyers attend free
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