The second annual Corporate Travel & Technology World China (CT&TW China), an event organized by the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and TTG Asia Media, this week brought together more than 260 corporate travel professionals from 13 countries, including China, the United States, the UK, Europe and other Asia-Pacific regions to examine the dynamics of China’s flourishing economy and the rise of business travel throughout the Asia Pacific region.

CT&TW China sessions focused on topics such as the value of a managed travel program; building relationships with travel partners; understanding the Chinese aviation and hotel markets; trends in the Chinese travel industry; and compiling and providing accurate and timely data to drive success in a managed travel program.

NBTA Vice President Michael Lyons said of the event, “NBTA is honored to have hosted a second CT&TW China together with our partners from TTG Asia. China’s economic growth and business travel market growth is only expected to continue, and we fully expect Chinese travel management to be one of the most important segments of the business travel industry in just a few years. Companies based and operating here need to gain the best understanding possible of travel management opportunities and challenges unique to this region. CT&TW China aimed to provide attendees with the resources and insights necessary to minimize travel costs and maximize travel safety in this vital market.”

A common theme throughout the event was the slowing U.S. economy and possible repercussions to global travel management, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. Many speakers mentioned that the Asia Pacific business travel industry will only continue to gain strength, noting recent booms in hotel and airline performance.

TTG Asia Media Managing Director Darren Ng, said, “It is essential for companies to optimize control and identify cost saving opportunities as the number of employees going on business trips and T&E expenditures continue to increase. With our combined resources and expertise in the education and tradeshow market, TTG and NBTA are well positioned to help these companies optimize and control their T&E expenses, to increase their industry knowledge, and to improve their travel management practices. TTG is happy to play a significant role to further help develop China’s corporate travel industry.”

NBTA’s Lyons added, “NBTA plans to continue providing resources that help companies from or operating in China to effectively manage their travel. In doing so, we will continue to look for opportunities to work with TTG and the sponsors of this event to develop the best possible content and to make that content available to corporations and travel supplier companies.”