Reflections from GBTA Project, Crew, and Team Travel Summit 2024
Houston, TX | November 18-19, 2024
Our team was privileged to attend the GBTA Project, Crew, and Team Travel Summit 2024 in Houston, Texas. The summit provided an incredible platform to exchange ideas, collaborate with peers, and explore the latest trends in managing project and crew travel.
In this blog post, we will share key takeaways from the event and reflect on how we, as an organization, will apply these insights to better serve our clients.
Key Insights and Lessons Learned
Sourcing Under Pressure: A Lesson in Agility
Managing travel logistics during disruptions is no longer an exception—it’s the norm. The session on “Sourcing Under Pressure” showcased real-world examples of how organizations have tackled availability challenges, from natural disasters to last-minute deployments.Key Takeaway: Be proactive. Preparation is everything, whether it is strong supplier relationships, advocating for clients, or reselling unused resources. Flexibility and adaptability are critical when faced with unexpected situations.
Availability and Cost: The Balancing Act
During an interactive session, the audience highlighted the top challenges in managing accommodations for project teams. Issues like limited availability, rising costs, payment hassles, and delayed responses from suppliers stood out.Key Takeaway: Timely communication and leveraging technology for room block management can make all the difference. WWStay's focus on balancing availability and cost with innovative pricing and sourcing models for global clients positions us well to address these pain points effectively.
Efficient Booking for Planned Projects
This session explored the nuances of managing different travel scenarios—rotating crews in rural areas, one-time trips to urban locations, and recurring deployments in suburban areas.Key Takeaway: It is vital to tailor travel solutions to the unique needs of each scenario. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work in project travel.
Governance and Advocacy
One of the most inspiring takeaways was the importance of creating advocacy within teams and organizations. Travel success doesn't depend on policies; it requires buy-in from all stakeholders.Key Takeaway: Education is key. Whether it's members, suppliers, or internal teams, aligning everyone on risk management, cost control, and expectations leads to smoother execution.
Technology Literacy
The future of travel lies in how effectively we can leverage technology to meet immediate and long-term goals. The discussion on technology literacy underscored the need to partner with providers who understand our vision and can help us grow.Key Takeaway: At WWStay, we continually evaluate and build technology that can enhance our services. This summit reinforced the importance of staying agile and innovative in adopting the right tools.
Proactive Monitoring and Emergency Preparedness
Preparing is non-negotiable, whether tracking its extensions, managing emergencies, or planning for unforeseen disruptions.Key Takeaway: Clear processes and robust contingency plans can mitigate risks and ensure traveler safety, a priority for all of us at WWStay.
Credits: Ink Factory & GBTA
Why This Matters for WWStay
As we continue to support our clients in managing complex projects and crew travel, these insights reaffirm our core values: efficiency, adaptability, and innovation. The discussions at the summit highlighted the dynamic nature of the Travel industry and the necessity of staying ahead.
At WWStay, our goal is to help our clients navigate these challenges efficiently. Our strong partnerships with clients, leveraging cutting-edge technology, and adopting a proactive approach enable our clients to remain focused on their mission. Meanwhile, we handle all the logistics for them.
Final Thoughts
The GBTA Project, Crew, and Team Travel Summit 2024 was an enriching experience, and we are excited to bring these learnings back to WWStay. Together, we can continue to redefine what seamless project and crew travel looks like in an ever-changing world.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can support your team’s travel needs or discuss the trends shaping the future of our industry, feel free to contact us. Let’s keep the conversation!