Inside Air Travel.

Apr 2, 2007 Preview: Business Travel Show 2007 in London

For the first time since its launch 13 years ago, the Business Travel Show, alongside the Travel Technology Show, will be held at Earls Court 2. The seasoned exhibition visitor will know that the name of the venue doesn't correspond to the nearest underground station, so newcomers wishing to save themselves a walk are advised to take the District Line to West Brompton rather than Earls Court. The large gray and red arch of Earls Court 2 is clearly visible from the station exit, so you will also limit the risk of getting lost.

The size of the new venue is demonstrative of the growing success the shows have enjoyed since they began. The floor space at Earls Court is almost double that of Olympia National Hall, where the Business Travel Show has been held for the past six years and the Travel Technology Show since its first year, 2004. All 17,000 sq m (55,774 sq ft) are packed with stands from leading companies in the industry, with some 70 new exhibitors at the Business Travel Show and 35 at the Travel Technology Show.

The Advice Centre and oh-so-topical Carbon Offset Zone greet you as you enter the Business Travel Show. Visit the former to get independent advice from the ITM (Institute of Travel Management) on buying and booking business travel, and the latter for the latest news on environmental issues and how to offset not only your company's emissions, but your journey to the exhibition as well.

Behind these "fountain of knowledge" stands are the two main airline players in the United Arab Emirates: Etihad, the national airline, and Dubai-based Emirates. Both airlines recently revealed new long haul routes, with Etihad offering flights to Sydney and Emirates set to debut services to San Paulo (Brazil) in October.

Other airlines to visit at the show include new exhibitors Aer Lingus, Air China, Air One, Germanwings and of course the newly arrived business class only carrier Silverjet. Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Qatar, EOS and Flybe are just some of the others you'll spot on your travels around Earls Court 2, and when you get tired of walking around make sure you visit British Airways on stand 407 where you can put your feet up trying out the new Club World seats.

Must-see companies in the hotel industry include new reservation services TravelRes and Hotelzon, new exhibitors Park Plaza, Loews Hotels, Golden Tulip and Starwood (whose entrance into the show is somewhat extravagant with their own Starwood Village). Serviced apartments, independent hotels such as the Iroquois in New York, and major hotel groups are all to be found at the show, although unlike the airlines they tend not to bring examples of their latest bedding!

Big players in the travel management industry include CarlsonWagonlit Travel, HRG, BCD Travel, Portman Travel, AirPlus and Expedia Corporate Travel, among others. Global travel company RADIUS are sponsoring the Business Lounge, where you can book a meeting room, check your emails, charge your phone and photocopy documents. Also exhibiting is Capita-owned Lonsdale Travel, who is re-naming as Capita Business Travel at the show.

When you tire of talking to everyone on the stands, there are plenty of conference sessions covering key topics in the industry, from getting the most out of the internet, to finding the right venue for your meeting and the pros and cons of video conferencing. If you'd like to get a little more involved in what's being said there are numerous debates going on as well, such as 'green taxation in aviation - who should pay?' and 'GDS deregulation in Europe: what travel managers need to know'. Next stop is the Travel Technology Show. As with the Business Travel Show, a good place to start is the Advice Centre. This year travel technology consultancy company Equinus has teamed up with marketing experts Ellion to give free, independent website evaluations and advice on the exhibitors that offer the right kind of solutions for you.

Event director Neil Simpson explained keeping the customer on your website is key: "The internet offers so much choice now, so you've got to make sure that customers find what they are looking for or they'll simply leave your site and find it elsewhere. Mapping technology, which takes you straight to the relevant information with targeted, fine tuned search facilities, has been greatly improved over the past year. Employing intelligent marketing technology is another way to keep your customers coming back to your site, and by giving them targeted information that suits their needs and travel behaviors, you'll ensure you don't lose them to your competitors." To help with the minefield that is the internet today, the show is offering targeted educational seminars: "Our four zeitgeist sessions have been created to demystify the buzz words and threats associated with doing business online, as well as highlighting the opportunities and benefits it offers to travel professionals," explains Simpson.

To see some of the new technology solutions at work visit the Product Presentation Theater (free for all visitors), where companies will be showcasing their products in 45-minute sessions. The Travolution Blog Space features information and advice on harnessing the possibilities of the blog, with computers available for you to add to the Travolution blog hosted by editor Kevin May.

After such a packed day, even if you didn't feel the need to take the road train to the shows, you'll almost certainly want to take it for the trip back. Or, if you feel you'd like to sit back and be taken straight to your door, you could always stop off at one of the many chauffeur drive companies exhibiting at the Business Travel Show, such as Tristar, Addison Lee or newcomers Business Taxis, and arrange for a car to pick you up.

Business Travel Show: 13-15 February

Travel Technology Show: 13-14 February for more information: http://www.businesstravelshow.com Feb 16, 2007

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Apr 2, 2007