Part 2: The Best Conversations We Had at GBTA & Business Travel Show Europe

The biggest weeks in business travel just wrapped up for the summer and similar topics kept coming up on both sides of the pond.

At GBTA and BTS Europe, one thing was clear. Buyers are more informed, stretched thin, and ready for real solutions that will lead travel programs into the future.

Hear from Vice President, Marketing, North America Angie Langen, as she reveals the second half of the ten core themes that were top of mind for conversations, and how CTM is delivering.

Check out the first half of our 10 key takeaways from these great events.

6. Global travel is more complex, but it doesn’t have to be hard

This year’s conversations confirmed what we already knew: complexity is back. Border policies shift overnight. Supplier performance varies by region. And one-size-fits-all programs are falling short for global businesses.

At CTM, we don’t follow the model of forced standardization. We believe that consistency matters, but flexibility wins. That’s why we pair in-market service teams with a global strategy that connects the dots. Clients get local expertise, real-time visibility, and aligned program direction without compromising on care or control.

7. Small programs still expect (and deserve!) big results

The SME presence at GBTA was impossible to miss. Standing-room-only sessions, passionate questions, and a shared sense of “we want a seat at the table, not a smaller table.”

Growing companies and those new to managing travel want the same service quality, content access, and visibility that large volume buyers get, but without the layers of complexity or bloated pricing models.

CTM was built for this. We’re not retrofitting a global model for smaller programs. We’re delivering right-sized solutions from the start. Our platform scales with the client, not ahead of them. And our support teams actually pick up the phone.

We offer small businesses better data, smarter workflows, and human-led service that feels personal – because it is.

8. Meetings are back, and under pressure

Event planners are being asked to do more with tighter timelines and tighter budgets. More meetings to support remote workforces, more events to engage buyers and reward top producers, and a return to meaningful in-person interactions.

CTM’s Meetings & Events team helps bring strategy, creativity, and control into one connected program. We don’t just book venues. We help create experiences that move people. And when underpinned by a strong corporate travel program that’s aligned to your business goals the result is not just efficient, it’s transformative.

9. NDC is here, but it needs to be easy

At GBTA in North America, buyers want access to the best fares, but they also want transparency, control, and consistency. And someone please help explain NDC to the CEO.

CTM’s NDC strategy gives clients modern content and clean data without the usual headaches. It’s not about chasing shiny tools. It’s about delivering smarter options and savings directly within the tools and channels that work for each program.

10. The future of travel is a mindset

You can’t demo vision. But you can build it every day. The energy on the expo floors in London and Denver this year was the strongest we’ve seen since 2020. Conversations about the future dominated while meandering over the past is done. On both sides of the pond, CTM was here for it!

At CTM, we invest in people, technology, and ideas that keep our clients ahead of what’s next. We don’t follow the industry. We help shape it.

Final Thoughts

Business travel is changing fast. Buyers are sharper. Expectations are higher. And traditional TMCs are struggling to keep up with buyer needs.

At CTM, we’re not just responding to change. We’re creating better ways to connect, deliver, and evolve the way travel works.

Let’s build something better. Let’s move the industry forward.

Be sure to visit us at our next show, Business Travel Show Americas, October 15-16, 2025 at stand #520!