BTN's Top 10 Stories of 2022

The year 2022 was one of renewal, with the Covid-19 pandemic's grip on the business travel industry loosening as travel restrictions faded and international trips returned. That's not to say it was smooth sailing: the effects of labor shortages, persistent inflation and soaring prices challenged travel managers the world over. Presented here are the BTN reports that gathered the most unique readers in 2022, perhaps as a preview of a 2023 that features further recovery to a pre-pandemic world. 

1. JPMorgan Chase to Acquire Frosch (Feb. 17)

BTN's most-read story of 2022 centered on one of the larger acquisitions of the year. After travel management company Frosch Travel Group in recent years had acquired several other agencies, JPMorgan Chase turned the tables and bought out Frosch. Frosch CEO Bryan Leibman later called the deal a "one plus one equals 10" proposition. 

: Newly Acquired by JPMC, Frosch Goes Into Growth Mode

[Note: Private equity company Eagle Tree Capital owns BTN parent company Northstar Travel Group and is an investor in Frosch.]

2. Travel Manager Salaries Rise as Roles Expand (Aug. 15)

The 39th annual edition of BTN's Travel Manager Salary and Attitude Survey was of even higher interest in 2022. After the 2020 onset of the pandemic upended the profession with layoffs, transfers, outsourcing and changed responsibilities, many remaining travel managers in 2022 found themselves in a tight labor market and a complex travel environment. Their pay in many cases reflected it: The average compensation in BTN's survey increased 11 percent year over year.

3. Concur Fills In Some Lines on Booking Experience Roadmap (Aug. 22)

SAP Concur remains a keystone player in the online booking and expense management space, so when the company in May elevated Concur and American Airlines vet Charlie Sultan to president, his explanation of Concur's re-platforming plans drew much attention. Concur has promised upgraded hotel and air booking experiences in 2023.

: Legacy OBT Suppliers Detail Long-Term Direction

4. Amex GBT Readies for Lasting Environment of Travel Disruptions (Aug. 23)

One of the key storylines of 2022 was the labor shortage that spread throughout all corners of the business world, not sparing the business travel industry. Travel management companies and hotels struggled to find, train and keep employees. For airlines, a pilot shortage helped trigger summertime capacity reductions, and the industry still is looking for solutions. American Express Global Business Travel EVP David Reimer in August talked to BTN about the TMC's tools for disruption management and why he thinks such disruption is here to stay.

5. Omicron Wreaks Havoc on Holiday Travel; Will It Stall Business Travel Recovery? (Jan. 3)

BTN's first report of 2022 was on the wild holiday 2021 rampage of the omicron variant of Covid-19, as a nervous industry hoped the devastation of the delta variant would not repeat. It didn't. Although omicron proved very contagious, its effects generally were milder than those of delta, and despite some January slowdowns and cancellations, the industry within a few weeks had exhaled. 

: Optimism Increases for Limited Omicron Corp. Travel Effect

6. BTN's 2022 Travel Manager of the Year & Best Practitioners (Aug. 24)

BTN since 1985 has named a Travel Manager of the Year, and in 2022 recognized Visa senior director of global travel and events sourcing Kim Hamer for developing a program with Visa airline, TMC and booking tool partners that delivers customized amenity and service bundles based on the New Distribution Capability standard to Visa travelers. Also honored as Best Practitioners of 2022 were Siemens' Emma Eaton, Estee Lauder Cos.' Jami Stapelmann and Takeda's Faye Zeidlhack.

7. British Airways, American Among Carriers Making Significant Schedule Cuts (Aug. 22)

The waning effects of the pandemic brought with it new challenges for airlines throughout the world. Rapidly escalating demand, persistent supply chain disruptions and staffing shortages—along with similar issues down the line at air traffic control, maintenance and catering providers—helped trigger something of a global operational breakdown, and carriers cut capacity to regain footing. Still, issues persist.

8. Delta Leads 2021 On-Time Performance for N. American Carriers (Dec. 29, 2021)

Bending the rules a bit to include BTN's final report of 2021, heralding Delta Air Lines' on-time performance, which topped major North American carriers in 2021. The carrier repeated that performance in 2022, though like several of its competitors a lower share of its arrivals were on time last year.

9. U.S. Travel Industry Intensifies Push to End Inbound Testing Requirement (June 8)

The U.S. federal government's maintenance of a requirement for inbound international travelers to test negative for Covid-19 before departure, after the United Kingdom and several European countries had dropped similar rules, was a springtime thorn in the side of U.S. travel suppliers. A few days after this report, the U.S. dropped the requirement. But it's not quite gone for good: On Jan. 5, the U.S. will require a negative test for travelers to the U.S. from China.

10. CWT: Expect Travel Prices to Keep Rising in 2023 (Aug. 10)

Persistent inflation helped send U.S. airfares and hotel rates soaring in 2022, beyond all forecasts, and CWT and the Global Business Travel Association in August projected travel managers could expect more of the same in 2023, thanks in part to potentially higher fuel prices and staff shortages. Other forecasts, including those from Amex GBT and CBRE Hotels Research, also projected further 2023 rate hikes. 

Bonus! 11. Sabre Acquires Conferma Pay (Aug. 8)

In one of the largest industry acquisitions of the year, travel distribution and IT company Sabre in early August acquired U.K.-based virtual payments company Conferma for what BTN sibling The Beat reported was a purchase price of $72.5 million. Conferma for years has powered the Sabre Virtual Payments product, but now Sabre has suggested the deal would allow for the development of "end-to-end" payment solutions. Mastercard subsequently took a stake in Conferma in a partnership to build new virtual payment capabilities.

Thanks for reading in 2022, and BTN wishes you a happy and prosperous 2023. 

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