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The Business Travel Magazine Feb/Mar 2019

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ARRIVALS<br />

Welcome<br />

Rise of the machines<br />

Technology has long been the driving<br />

force behind the travel industry's<br />

evolution, but as you absorb the pages<br />

of this issue's extended feature (p61-<br />

79) you might come to the conclusion<br />

that <strong>2019</strong> could be something of a<br />

watershed moment for the tools and processes that power the business<br />

travel industry. Booking tools are increasingly incorporating bots and<br />

artificial intelligence as TMCs bid to deliver greater personalisation and<br />

efficiencies, while the divisive topic of NDC is also gaining traction.<br />

It is interesting that technology also underpins the vast majority of<br />

entrants in this year's Disrupt Awards. I'll have the pleasure of joining the<br />

judging panel when the finalists pitch their businesses to delegates at the<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> Show on <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 20-21 and I look forward to hearing<br />

more about their various innovations. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> team<br />

will be out in force at the show reporting on the latest announcements<br />

and trends, so come and say hello.<br />

One topic that will undoubtedly reverberate around the halls of Olympia<br />

London is that of Brexit. At the time of writing, it is still not clear how – or<br />

even if – the UK will depart the European Union on <strong>Mar</strong>ch 29. Perhaps the<br />

picture will be clearer by the time our next issue goes to press at the end<br />

of <strong>Mar</strong>ch – or perhaps not!<br />

Finally, it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Colin Ellson who<br />

passed away in January. Colin was a regular contributor to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Travel</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> and other BMI Publishing titles. A veteran travel journalist,<br />

he was well-loved and respected by his many industry acquaintances.<br />

the<br />

<strong>Business</strong>travel<br />

MAGAZINE<br />

EDITORIAL<br />

EDITOR<br />

Andy Hoskins<br />

andy.hoskins@thebusinesstravelmag.com<br />

CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Catherine Chetwynd, Linda Fox,<br />

Rob Gill, Gillian Upton<br />

& Angela Sara West<br />

JOURNALIST<br />

Benjamin Coren<br />

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR<br />

Steve Hartridge<br />

SALES<br />

PUBLISHER<br />

David Clare<br />

david.clare@thebusinesstravelmag.com<br />

DESIGN & PRODUCTION<br />

SENIOR DESIGNER<br />

Louisa Horton<br />

DESIGNERS<br />

Ross Clifford & Zoe Tarrant<br />

PRODUCTION & STUDIO MANAGER<br />

Clare Hunter<br />

PRODUCTION CONTROLLER<br />

Steve Hunter<br />

BMI PUBLISHING<br />

MANAGING DIRECTOR<br />

Matt Bonner<br />

CEO<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>tin Steady<br />

Andy Hoskins, Editor<br />

(Print) ISSN 1754-8543. THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY<br />

BMI PUBLISHING LTD: SUFFOLK HOUSE, GEORGE STREET, CROYDON,<br />

SURREY, CR9 1SR, UK. T: 020 8649 7233<br />

E: ENQUIRIES@BMIPUBLISHING.CO.UK<br />

BMIPUBLISHING.CO.UK<br />

ALL PAPER USED IN THIS PUBLICATION IS SOURCED FROM SUSTAINABLE<br />

FORESTS AND IS FULLY RECYCLABLE.<br />

WHILE EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE ACCURACY, BMI PUBLISHING LTD<br />

CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS.<br />

©BMI PUBLISHING LTD <strong>2019</strong><br />

IMAGES: SOURCED FROM SUPPLIERS, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM<br />

AND BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM<br />

THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM<br />

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