Accor Launches Global Leadership Council to Shape the Future of Corporate Travel

International

The global hospitality Group and representatives from 17 international corporations form an advisory council to design and shape a new era of corporate travel and meetings for 2025 and beyond.

Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, together with executive travel managers and buyers from 17 leading international corporations, have launched the Accor Global Leadership Council (GLC), an innovative advisory board aimed at reimagining the future of corporate travel and meetings. Established to create a forward-looking vision for business travel and corporate meetings, the GLC connects business leaders responsible for corporate travel across diverse industries with senior executives from Accor. Council delegates include representatives from sectors such as financial services, engineering, manufacturing, transportation, energy, professional services and technology.

The first session, which was hosted earlier this month in Paris by Sophie Hulgard, Chief Sales Officer at Accor, discussed shifting corporate and traveler expectations; the importance of recognition, personalization and B2B-focused loyalty; the evolving importance of sustainability; emerging traveler trends; the role and impact of distribution and pricing; and a deep-dive on the hosting hotel brand, Sofitel.

The Council delegates, who have a combined employee base of over 2.7 million travelers, unanimously agreed the top three priorities for business travel are:

1. Traveler experience and well-being – including corporate employee engagement, wellness, traveler security and digital efficiencies

2. Cost management and optimization – including program compliance, pricing, cost-reduction and cost avoidance

3. Sustainability – including sustainable action, carbon budgets and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)

Sophie Hulgard, Chief Sales Officer at Accor and host of the GLC, commented: “The dynamics of corporate travel are evolving rapidly. It is essential for both our clients and hospitality businesses to adapt to new demands and priorities. The GLC is a critical forum for sharing insights and collaborating on solutions that meet the changing needs of business travelers and delegates.”

The GLC aims to generate valuable insights and actionable strategies to drive and transform business travel, impacting the sector globally. Accor will compile the council's findings into a comprehensive report to be released later in the year.

Karelle Lamouche, Chief Commercial Officer, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division for Accor, concluded: "Corporate travel is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by an increased focus on flexibility, sustainability, and personalization. Today's business travelers seek more than just efficiency and comfort; they prioritize sustainability, personalized experiences, and seamless technology integration. Throughout our business, Accor is committed to not only meeting these needs but also anticipating them, ensuring that every journey is as enriching and impactful as the destination and travel intent itself."