Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, together with executive travel managers and buyers from 17 leading international corporations, have launched the Accor  Global Leadership Council (GLC), an innovative advisory board aimed at reimagining the  future of corporate travel and meetings.

Established to create a forward-looking vision for  business travel and corporate meetings, the GLC connects business leaders responsible for  corporate travel across diverse industries with senior executives from Accor.

Council delegates include representatives from sectors such as financial services, engineering,  manufacturing, transportation, energy, professional services and technology.

The GLC discussed shifting corporate and traveller expectations; the importance of  recognition, personalisation and B2B-focused loyalty; the evolving importance of sustainability; emerging traveller trends; the role and impact of distribution and pricing; and  a deep-dive on areas of Accor’s business and brands. 

The Global Leadership Council delegates, who have a combined employee base of over 2.7 million travellers, unanimously agreed the top three priorities for business travel are

1. Traveler experience and well-being – including corporate employee engagement,  wellness, traveller security and digital efficiencies.
2. Cost management and optimization – including program compliance, pricing,  cost-reduction and cost avoidance.
3. Sustainability – including sustainable action, carbon budgets and DEI (diversity,  equity and inclusion)

Antony Meguerdijian, SVP Sales, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific at Accor said: “The  dynamics of international and corporate travel in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific  region are evolving rapidly.

"It is essential for both our clients and hospitality businesses to  adapt to new demands and priorities. The new GLC, and the program of client and commercial  partner events we host across the region, are critical forums for sharing insights and  collaborating on solutions that meet the changing needs of travellers and delegates.

"Travel and tourism is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by an increased focus on  flexibility, sustainability, cost and personalisation.

"At Accor, we are committed to not only  meeting these needs but also anticipating them, ensuring that every journey is as enriching and impactful as the destination and travel intent itself.”

Highlighting the group’s commitment to thought leadership in the leisure and business travel  sectors, Accor has been actively involved in several key events in the Middle East, Africa and  Asia Pacific regions.

The Group recently hosted a private dinner at the new Banyan Tree in  Dubai during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) event, bringing together 50 industry leaders from top travel firms around the world.

Additionally, Accor has demonstrated its expertise in the business travel sector by hosting  the prestigious Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) conference at Swissôtel Singapore  from 13-15 May.

This significant event attracted over 800 top travel buyers from leading  companies worldwide. The GBTA board was also hosted for dinner at the iconic Raffles Singapore, where a customer advisory meeting was held to capture key business travel  insights, further cementing Accor's role as an industry leader.

Accor’s dedication to inclusivity and diverse community engagement was further emphasised  during the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) with the hosting of GAYTE – a celebration of  the LGBTQI travel community in Australia.

This event showcased Accor’s commitment to  fostering open mindsets and expanding travel horizons for all communities.

Accor's partner interactions have been elevated through the expansion of the "ALL THANKS  TO YOU" appreciation weeks, hosted from Africa to Australia.

Events have been held in  Riyadh, Dubai, Istanbul, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tokyo, with upcoming  events in Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, and Abidjan this month.

This initiative  reflects Accor's dedication to recognising and celebrating its diverse global clientele.

Kerry Healy, Chief Commercial Officer for Accor in the Middle East, Africa and Asia  Pacific, added: "Our recent events in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific underscore  Accor's unwavering commitment to fostering strong relationships with our partners and  communities.

"These gatherings, along with the expansion of our 'ALL THANKS TO YOU'  customer appreciation weeks, demonstrate our continuous efforts to connect with and  celebrate the millions of guests we welcome both locally and globally.

"In Middle East, Africa,  and Asia Pacific, we are honoured to support some of the fastest growing and most ambitious  countries in prioritising their tourism economies.

"We play a crucial role in fostering their  growth ambitions and serving the travellers they represent. We are proud to be at the  forefront of industry innovation, driving meaningful conversations and initiatives that open  new horizons for travel.”