What is your perception of Indian business travel segment vis a vis other countries in APAC region?
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Welf Ebeling
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India is in a similar situation with most other countries in Asia. Business travel has always been part of corporate life but structured travel management is still in its infancy and the role of the travel manager is still undervalued. When GBTA went global it merged existing travel management associations in Europe, South Africa, Australia and Latin America. However there were no similar associations in existence anywhere in Asia.
Do you think you are starting the Indian chapter a bit late, or is it the right time?
As India’s business travel market is the fastest growing in Asia and set to double by 2015 with Indian business travellers being forecasted to become the second largest group after the Chinese within the next few years, we think this would be the right time to launch in India.
How many members do you have from India and what is the target you are looking at in the next five years?
GBTA globally has 6,000-plus members who manage over US$ 350 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. With the launch of the GBTA India chapter and the benefits this will bring to the Indian travel industry we are confident that numbers will grow rapidly and will position the GBTA India as an important group within the global GBTA community.
Tell us about your certificate courses?
GBTA has its own Academy which offers training for corporate travel management, buyers and suppliers alike, around the globe. It is linked to some major US Universities such as Virginia U, University of Texas and the prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. We are currently offering ‘The Fundamentals of Business Travel Management’ Associate Level Certificate course which is designed as an entry level to the key facets of managed travel. Participants are expected to take an exam at the end of the course which underlines the value of the certificate.
What are the benefits of these programmes for the travel trade in India?
The Fundamentals course teaches participants to maximise cost containment, improve efficiency and create a managed travel culture in a company. Business travel expenditure is today the single largest controllable expense for most companies particularly in an export driven market such as India. Participants will not only expand their own knowledge base and career opportunities but also offer significant benefit to their company.
