Main Stage Sessions are a platform for leaders and industry experts to showcase their knowledge, share their experiences, and offer insights into the latest developments in business travel. Explore the sessions at this year’s Conference.
Monday 10 November
Opening Session | 14:00 – 15:15
Through the Looking Glass: Navigating Economic Uncertainty and Global Power Shift
Markets in motion, a look at the dynamic economic and (geo)political landscapes and their far-reaching implications for global organisations. Global economist Nenad Pacek sets the stage with an essential briefing on the macro forces reshaping how and where businesses operate.
We’ll then be joined by leading voices from the business travel industry to explore what these forces mean for our sector – from demand forecasting and the traveller experience to supply chain resilience and C-suite engagement.

Nenad Pacek
Founder & President
EMEA Business Group
Nenad Pacek is the founder and president of Global Success Advisors and the EMEA Business Group (founded in 2009). He is the author of five books, including “The Future of Business in Emerging Markets”, “Global Economy” (both published by Marshall Cavendish), and the most recent publication “The Rise of Chinese Multinationals” that also discusses China as a rising global power. He is the lead author of two book editions of “Emerging Markets: Lessons for Business Success and Outlooks for Emerging Markets” (published by Profile Books). Nenad is one of world’s leading authorities on global economy, global geopolitics, emerging markets, global business trends and corporate strategies for faster international growth. He regularly interacts with global and regional managers of large corporations, performing hundreds of client sessions every year around the world face-to-face or over video links. He is well known in corporate circles for his “no written notes” and “no slides” presentations and consultations. Nenad, via his holding company Global Success Advisors, acts as a trusted advisor to global executive teams of major multinationals helping them understand and predict future developments. He is the former Executive VP of The Economist Group (Economist Intelligence Unit) where he worked from December 1990 to August 2009. He chaired over 100 Economist Government Roundtables with Presidents, Prime Ministers and their cabinets across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Nenad is passionate about emerging markets, economic history, economic development issues in emerging markets, global economics and geopolitics, as well as ever evolving corporate growth strategies. He resides near Vienna and partly near Dubrovnik with his wife and three daughters. As an avid sportsman, he uses his rare free time to play basketball, tennis and golf. And he also loves to spend time skiing and swimming.
Tuesday 11 November
09:00 – 10:00
Travel Disruption – Multi Modal Mayhem and the Path to Smarter Travel
How the EU Plans for seamless travel and interoperability across the region will drive smarter travel, and how the business travel industry is reacting to this vision.
15:00 – 16:00
Travel Rewired – Rethinking Corporate Travel in the Age of Social Influence
What Every Generation Really Wants from TikTok to generative AI, the modern travel experience is shaped as much by social influence as it is by corporate policy. But how much do generational differences really matter – and how much is just myth?
Are Gen Z travellers truly more sustainable? Are they less loyal to employers – or just more vocal? This session challenges assumptions and surfaces insights on how travel behaviours are evolving (or not) across generations.
You’ll hear from digital influence expert Jennifer Quigley-Jones before we open the floor to a panel of industry voices. Together, we’ll explore the real drivers of travel satisfaction, technology expectations, and programme engagement – and how to respond with relevance, not assumptions.

Jennifer Quigley-Jones
CEO
Digital Voices
Wednesday 12 November
Opening Session | 10:00 – 11:00
Innovation can drive efficiency but is it at the expense of the travel experience? From AI-powered servicing to self-serve automation, how do we embrace new technology without losing sight of what travellers actually want?
In this keynote, international speaker and customer experience expert Nancy Rademaker explores how we can embrace disruption while protecting the human moments that matter. She’ll challenge our assumptions, highlight cutting-edge examples from other sectors, and offer a framework for striking the right balance between innovation and empathy.
This session will inspire travel leaders to think differently about service, operational efficiencies and what it really means to be traveller-centric in a digital-first world.

Nancy Rademaker
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