Business Travel 2024: Hotels Bet on the New Road Warriors

Aug 30, 2024 • 9 min read

Skift Global Forum kicks off on September 17th with an opening reception at The Glasshouse (660 12th Ave at 48th Street) in New York City, running from 6-9 pm ET. This special evening will include insightful fireside chats with top executives from the travel industry, followed by an exciting reception.

Summer travel 2024, with its record-breaking crowds, is set to reach a fever pitch over Labor Day Weekend. The busiest summer season in recent history is set to end with a bang, as a historic number of people are expected to take to the roads and skies.

Delta Air Lines has launched a new rewards program specifically for frequent business fliers, called Delta Business Traveler. 

Amex GBT (American Express Global Business Travel) has become a giant since spinning out from American Express a decade ago. Last year, it helped employees at about 20,000 companies book $6.3 billion in travel transactions. It’s probably the largest travel management company by sales, though many competitors don’t disclose their financials publicly, making comparisons tricky.

Dozens of global carriers have secured more than 550 orders for Airbus' newest narrowbody plane, the Airbus A321XLR, since its 2019 launch.

This month, an 11-year-old startup called Flyr raised the largest single round of venture capital for a travel tech company in years: A total package of nearly $300 million. 

Steve Singh and a group of industry veterans are rolling out a new AI trip planner and booking agent for business travel. 

Universal Orlando currently boasts eight on-site hotels, offering guests easy access to the fun of Universal's theme parks. Next year, they'll add three more to that lineup to accommodate the influx of guests likely to flock to Orlando when Universal Epic Universe, the resort's newest theme park, opens in 2025. Epic Universe is being built on a 750-acre site a few miles away from Universal's existing parks and hotels and will nearly double the size of Universal Orlando Resort, further exacerbating the need for additional hotels.

Founded by the Tata Group in 1932, Air India was once the gold standard for air travel — so much so that Singapore Airlines modeled its business after it.

Switzerland is trying to persuade business travelers to extend their trips through a new marketing campaign.

Savute Safari Lodge, part of the Desert & Delta Safaris portfolio of luxury lodges, has officially reopened after a complete rebuild. A highlight for travellers for the past 25 years, the new Savute Safari Lodge elevates the safari experience to new luxury standards. Each of the 11 standard rooms and one family room features a combination of natural thatching and canvas, to envelop guests in a stunning natural environment and welcome temperature control during the hotter months. Guest rooms have been designed to offer breathtaking views of the prolific amounts of wildlife that congregate around the famous waterholes along the Savute Channel. The rooms feature private outdoor showers offering guests the magic of a starlit shower or a brisk cool-down after an exhilarating morning on safari. The sophisticated yet simple interior décor blends elements of traditional safari lodge design with a clean, contemporary feel. The colour palette draws inspiration from the striking contrasts of the Kalahari, blending earthy greens and the vibrant colours of the life-giving rains.