Business Travel: 7 hours at the business travel show

PLAN your time carefully at the Business Travel Show and instead of just leaving with tired feet, you could have seen the industry’s latest innovations, heard the hot topics debated, munched your way through chocolates, drunk champagne and won a holiday.

With around 200 exhibitors packed into London’s Olympia between February 1-3, there will be plenty of new products and services launched, as well as refreshment respite on stands. Here’s Travel Weekly’s guide to the Business Travel Show.

09:30: make sure you pre-register online at businesstravelshow.com so you can walk straight in on the day. Mark Tami MP, the Guild of Travel Management Companies parliamentary adviser, will officially open the show.

10:00: the airlines are aiming to impress agents at this year’s show. Malaysia Airlines will unveil its new business-class seats and there’s a chance to win a pair of return business- class tickets to Penang, Langkawi or Kuala Lumpur.

Have your say on what makes the perfect airline at the Etihad stand. The best suggestion wins a trip for two flying business class to the United Arab Emirates with accommodation at the new Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The Etihad corporate sales team will be promoting its business travel services.

The British Airways stand will have a Club World seat and a self-service kiosk so agents can trial the self-service check-in. There will also be demonstrations of how boarding cards can be printed from home computers. And if that gets you tense, there will be massages on offer using Molton Brown products.

Gulf Air’s new first and business-class seats will be on display and the airline will be promoting its Better for Business package, which includes Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies.

11:30: the Guild of Travel Management Companies will be updating delegates on changes to its Certificate in Business Travel qualification, including the withdrawal of workplace assessments, a new online examination and further Government funding. The seminars will be held on the first day of the show at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Places are limited so make sure you book early. For details contact GTMC on 020-7222 2744.

12:00: want to see what the competition is up to? Check out rival agencies’ new products being launched at the show.

TQ3 Travel Solutions is launching its Skygate fare search system, which allows consultants to search for web fares as well as global distribution system-listed fares.

The Travel Company will showcase its revamped online booking tools, and its management information tools Online MIS and Online MIS Lite.

P&O Business Travel is offering travel buyers the opportunity to sample the product with a one-month free trial. It is also giving away a romantic weekend for two in Paris and sponsoring classical musicians who are performing at the show’s cafés.

13:00: time for a spot of lunch. Restaurants include Pizza Express, Pret A Manger and Salut Café Bar.

14:00: the latest industry issues will be debated at seminars and masterclasses running throughout the show. Topics include GDS deregulation and the debate over whether procurement managers should buy travel.

15:00: there have been a series of multi-million pound hotel revamps this year as competition hots up in the sector. Visitors to the Hyatt stand can win a weekend at the new Park Hyatt Zurich.

There will also be information on the £4 million revamp of the Hyatt Regency Birmingham.

Meet the new Concorde Hotels sales team over a glass of champagne, and see its new GDS programme and upgraded website.

From 11am each day the Accor stand will be offering champagne made under a specially selected label for the Sofitel St James hotel.

16:00: Eurostar is sponsoring the VIP lounge at the show, which will be in the style of its lounges at London, Paris and Brussels – designed by Philippe Starck. If you’re lucky enough to get an invite, take a well-earned rest. There’s also a competition to win travel with Eurostar on its stand.

TheTrainline stand is offering demonstrations of its site and products. As well as champagne and chocolates, giveaways include mouse mats and season tickets.

16:30: Galileo will showcase its new SMS Messaging Service on its stand every day at 4pm, where visitors will be served champagne and canapés. Its Service Fee Calculation and Management tool, which helps agents to manage fees, will also be demonstrated.