Direct Travel

As the expectations of travel buyers and travelers evolve, so does the role of the travel management company. In this expert Q&A with Business Travel News, CEO Christal Bemont shares how Direct Travel is reimagining the travel experience—and why TMCs must lead with innovation, adaptability, and a human touch. Read more and discover how Direct Travel is helping shape what’s next for #BusinessTravel: https://lnkd.in/gA9MhDB3 #ThePerfectTrip #CorporateTravel #TravelerExperience

Still feeling the energy from our Direct Travel Sales Kickoff (SKO) in Dallas last week! When you bring together the best in Corporate Travel, magic happens. SKO wasn’t just about strategy and enablement—it was about alignment, innovation, and momentum. We tackled it all: ?? Breakout sessions with the incredible Juliann Wiese, B.Ed, CPCC, PCC, CMC, leaving us sharper and more confident than ever. ?? Highspot is here! Our team is ready to elevate the way we sell, engage, and deliver value. ?? A bold vision with Avenir, setting the course for how we continue to transform corporate travel. ?? Celebrating our top performers! We had the honor of recognizing our 2024 award winners—a reminder that great people drive great results. ?? ?? Collaboration across teams—from Corporate Travel to Direct ATPI, Creative Group, Product, Marketing, Customer Experience and more. The biggest takeaway? We are ONE Direct Travel. Ready to innovate. Ready to lead. Ready to WIN. ?? The foundation is set. The momentum is real. Let’s go! #SKO #DirectTravel #Avenir #ONEDirectTravel #CorporateTravel #SalesKickoff #Highspot #Recognition #AwardWinners

Two major changes to #InternationalTravel are expected in the coming months following recently revised timelines. Here’s what travelers need to know about the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS): 1?? EES: A new EU border automation process for short-stay visa & visa-exempt travelers. It will involve a digital fingerprint scan, and passports will no longer need to be stamped. ?? October 2025 is the latest expected launch date, with the rollout taking place over a six month period. 2?? ETIAS: An electronic document linked to a traveler’s passport. It will be a new entry requirement for visa-exempt individuals traveling to many European countries. ?? ETIAS is expected to be operational six months after EES, which likely means this won’t take effect until 2026. ?? Travelers can stay up to date with EES, ETIAS, and other #BusinessTravel changes by bookmarking this Direct Travel resource:? https://lnkd.in/gqT-hpUv

The Direct Travel team has had a busy week on the road, and #SAPConcurFusion has come to an end! Thank you to everyone who joined us. ?? Our team had a rewarding time connecting with customers in person, fostering meaningful conversations, and networking with fellow attendees. We’re leaving Fusion eager to use our learnings as we continue to reimagine #BusinessTravel together! #WeAreDirect

This week, we had the privilege of hosting our Leader Summit in Dallas, bringing together members of our team as #OneDirectTravel. The event was a much-anticipated opportunity where we strengthened connections, aligned on our vision, and reaffirmed our commitment to Direct Travel's next phase of growth. Throughout the summit, our team engaged in insightful discussions and celebrated our collective momentum. The energy and ideas shared will undoubtedly shape our path forward for months to come! ? Thank you to all of our leaders who made the journey, and a special shout out to our partners and sponsors who made this event possible. #WeAreDirect #ThePerfectTrip #BusinessTravel

At our #OneDirectTravel Leadership Summit, the Direct Travel team kicked off with a meaningful social impact initiative—packaging 400+ baby hygiene kits for Hope Supply Co. These kits will be distributed through their partner network to support homeless and at-risk children across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But we didn’t stop there! We also helped raise $1,300+ worth of items for birthday bags, bringing moments of joy to children in need on their birthdays. This experience reinforced a key takeaway: corporate events can be a force for good. By integrating community support into gatherings, companies can create a lasting impact while fostering deeper engagement among attendees. How is your organization incorporating social impact into events? Let’s share ideas and inspire more action! #SocialImpact #Leadership #CorporateResponsibility #meetings Donna Brokowski Wendi Mazzucco Susan Barnes Kelly Delpo Allison Breeding Ginny Potter Chris Taylor Stephen Smith Sandro Garofalo Jae Baruch-Scott Mary Wysopal Janet Traphagen Melissa (Arms) Van Dyke

Sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a responsibility. ?? That’s why waste reduction is a key focus in how we support our clients for meetings and events. From managing materials to diverting food waste, we’re committed to lowering environmental impact at every stage. At our #OneDirectTravel Leadership Summit this week, we’ve partnered with Hilton Dallas at Lincoln Centre to eliminate food waste from our summit. This is made possible thanks to their collaboration with Denali, the country’s largest recycler of organic materials. Sustainable practices like these make a difference—not just on #GlobalRecyclingDay, but all year long. Explore ways to take action: https://lnkd.in/ewNM_bR #SustainableMeetings #WasteReduction #Recycling #WeAreDirect

Members of the Direct Travel team are coming to you live from Dallas this week, where we’re hosting our #OneDirectTravel Leader Summit! And what better way to kick things off on St. Patrick’s Day than by connecting with travel suppliers at our Welcome Reception—where great partnerships (and maybe a little luck) come together. ?? A huge thank you to all of our partners for their participation, and a special shoutout to our sponsors – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Enterprise Mobility, Hilton, and Sabre Corporation – for helping make this summit possible. #WeAreDirect #ThePerfectTrip #CorporateTravel

Planning your next business trip? Consider arriving by train. As rail travel continues to gain popularity, it is becoming a more viable solution that can contribute to both connectivity and #sustainability. This eco-friendly mode of transport is already well-established throughout Europe and Asia, but there is also growing interest in North America. ?? Learn more about the future of rail travel and how to incorporate it into your #BusinessTravel:?https://lnkd.in/g2jC_i8w #ThePerfectTrip #TravelManagement #CorporateTravel

Will you be joining us next week at #SAPConcurFusion? Our team will be in Seattle at booth 409 ready to help you simplify your travel program and reimagine #BusinessTravel. Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow industry pros — see you there! ??