The GBTA APAC Conference 2024 – Singapore, alongside their co-host Worldwide ERC®, brought together the business travel community of APAC, offering invaluable networking opportunities and insights from industry experts.
Here's a recap of the key learnings you can take into your next strategy meeting...
GBTA Business Travel Management Fundamentals 2.0
“All roads lead to data and having one source of truth in a consolidated form should be the foundation for any successful travel programme.”
Speaker: Koreen Barbara, Global Travel Manager at McDonald's
The session stressed the importance of engaging travelers by explaining strategy rationale. Travel Management professionals need to start with the fundamentals: visualise and outline where you want to go, how you’re going to get there and what you can do in the interim.
Collaboration with supplier partners was highlighted as crucial for success. Consolidating data and embracing new technologies is foundational for a successful travel programme; there is a need to focus on having supplier partners work ‘with you’ and not ‘for you’, to achieve mutual objectives.
There needs to be an appetite for new ways of working, and new tech and service players on the market who can help you elevate your travel and mobility programme.
Choosing Sustainable Suppliers - How and Why?
“Action trumps perfection.”
Speakers: Dr. Carl Jones, Industry Consultant and GBTA Advisory Board Member and Varun Mehra, Manager - APAC Regional Lead at CWT Solutions Group
The speakers discussed legal opportunities and challenges in calculating carbon emissions. It was mentioned that business travel can account for up to 80% of emissions for professional services companies.
The session also delved into the distinction between carbon offsets, such as compensating with tree plantations, and carbon inset, which involves the reduction of emissions.
The government plays a significant role in addressing this issue by mandating consumption regulations. Specifically, in Singapore, there is a levy of 2% by 2026 and 5% by 2030, leaving 95% yet to be addressed.
Innovations in Employee Relocation: Harnessing AI and Technology
“AI must be thought of as an enabler, but human touch will not be able to be replaced.”
Speakers:
- Natasha Lie, Senior APAC Strategy Specialist at Amazon
- Dima Lorenz, VP Account Management - APAC at Dwellworks
- Kamylle Mourao, Senior Manager, Global Mobility at Deel
- Oliver Trundley, Co-CEO at WERC
- Sandip Bhandal, Executive Director at Deloitte
The panel addressed AI's role in administration, analytics, and enhancing user experience. It highlighted the example that global HR platforms in over 100 countries worldwide need technology and can’t rely on spreadsheets.
AI is constantly discussed in the industry, but there is an understanding that we are yet to harness it fully.
AI can streamline logistics, such as right to work checks. It can help with creating an automated travel assessment, which empowers individuals to have information and travel compliantly. Visa rules are always changing, so data and policies are continually updated - another scenario where the quick updates via AI can be beneficial.
Generative AI can also scan travel documents, highlight and reject the data it cannot read – and provide suggested actions to specialists.
The panel also concluded that while it can be harnessed better, AI can’t recreate genuine empathy – real life experience from expats supporting assignees remains invaluable.
Navigating Mobility in the Asia-Pacific: Updates and Insights
“The housing shortage in Australia is chronic...”
Speakers:
- Anna Kavelj, Managing Director at EWR
- Lili Heng, Managing Director at LandPLUS Asian Welcome
- Cher Ho, Partner, Lead Consultant at Visa Care
- Jingpei Lin
- Raman Narula, Managing Director at Formula India
- Alex Toyoda, General Manager at All Japan
This session provided insight into Australian Visa applications and how they have noticeably improved. Although the location is still a desirable place to relocate to, the housing shortage is chronic; meaning the incoming talent influx is not sustainable.
Data protection and compliance were emphasised, as they have seen a rise in property scams around Singapore. Data protection is a vital component of business travel and relocation. Key trends surrounding this are:
- Minimising data protection where possible
- Investment in IT teams to build secure data storage
- The realisation of human error – which requires the deletion of data and data security training
The Next Iteration of Travel Payment & Expense Management
“Payment is the enabler and not the star of the show’.
Speakers:
- Adam Williams, Head of Commercial, APAC, Conferma
- Ashwin Joshi, Director, Product Management, Mastercard
- Christopher Hecht, CPO HRS Pay, HRS GmbH
- Dheeraj Raikhy, Commercial Cards Client Executive Team (Asia), Citibank
The panel agreed that payment processes should mirror traveller experience. To overcome the virtual card process overhaul, it needs to include input from the property – especially in detailing where the current pain points are.
Payment options need to be much more agile and flexible. Emerging trends included stating that more and more clients are now presenting with their own payment intermediary and process.
This can cause a bit of a headache for the TMCs. New technology is developing seamless payment experiences, but it is disjointed right now. The panel discussed the new government legislation already released in some European and APAC countries regarding e-payment data collection and dissemination and how that should drive confidence in using e-payments.
WERC Economic Outlook: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in the APAC Region
“Tourism and business travel are on the rise, though supply chain disruptions remain a worry.”
Speaker: Selena Ling, Chief Economist & Head, Global Markets Research & Strategy, OCBC
Prolonged sluggish growth in China is poised to impact South East Asia's trade dynamics, while potential immigration policy shifts under Trump could affect the mobility sector. Despite concerns, market sentiment leans towards a soft landing, bolstered by resilient US growth. Japan grapples with currency depreciation amid low interest rates, while manufacturing is expected to rebound.
In China, plummeting property transaction volumes underscore a lack of market confidence, compounded by lingering skepticism over policy effectiveness. Despite domestic tourism gains, outbound travel remains restricted. ASEAN sees an influx of investments, though not solely driven by China, with currency volatility prevailing. Strong inflows into APAC signal growth potential, while improved ASEAN-China connectivity and low unemployment rates further highlight the region's economic resilience, albeit with risks including high living costs and China's slowing growth overspill.
The team would like to thank each speaker, event organizer and attendee for another great event. It’s through sessions like this that insights are shared and discussed, and our industry continues to thrive.
