The American Society of Travel Agents is looking to inspire small and medium-sized travel agencies to enter the corporate travel sector with a one-day forum on April 30.
Held at the Hilton Old Town in Alexandria, Va., the Business Travel Exchange is open to all ASTA and non-ASTA member agents.
It will feature business travel industry experts discussing ways to create managed hotel programs, ground transportation and technology in the corporate travel market.
"It is about learning different skill sets to manage corporate accounts and is a sales model that is transaction-based by nature, operating on a different fee structure," said ASTA CEO Zane Kerby.
"I can’t think of a better time for agencies that want to increase their corporate travel business, or start learning about managing corporate travel," Kerby said.
Robust growth is forecast for business travel in 2014 and 2015.
A recent report by the Global Business Travel Association expects business travel spending to rise by 7.1% to $293.3 billion during 2014.
Members of ASTA and sister association the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA) are offered discount registration for the Business Travel Exchange through the ASTA website.
