From 5 to 7 March 2014 the Business Travel Days at ITB Berlin will be where business travel and event managers can meet to find out about new ideas and obtain first-hand knowledge. The two slogans of the three-day event are ”Creating added value for today” and “Knowing what is important tomorrow.“

The paper due to be held by Peter Schaar, until late in 2013 the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, is certain to spark debate. On Thursday, 8 March he will be speaking about ”leaving a data trail on one’s travels – how accessible should traveller information be?” One of the items he will discuss is the topical and controversial issue of IATA’s new distribution capability, which is a main element of its sales concept. He will also address the issue of the excessive amounts of data being collected by security agencies. Another highlight will be the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Walter, who in 1993 was an astronaut on board the Space Shuttle and who is currently the chair of the Aerospace Systems Department at the Technical University of Munich. His report entitled ‘Travelling with NASA’, which is sponsored by AirPlus International, includes a fascinating ‘Photographic journey around the Earth’, his view on the prospects for space tourism and his personal experiences of settling travel expenses with NASA.

This year, a Business Travel Theme Day will be taking place for the first time. On Friday, 7 March the focus will be on “efficiently managing employees abroad.“ Michael H. Wurche’s report, which is sponsored by the Result Group, is equally fascinating. Formerly a national Lufthansa representative in Bolivia, in 1983 he was held captive by kidnappers for eleven days. He has exploited this brutal experience in a positive way and is now able to give advice on how to avoid dangerous situations. Full details of the programme are available at www.itb-convention.com/program.

The Home of Business Travel by ITB & VDR, a lounge in Hall 7.1a, will provide visitors with an opportunity to exchange knowledge and network in a relaxed atmosphere. Following its successful launch last year, the Home of Business Travel, which was set up by Messe Berlin and the German Travel Management Association (VDR), offers a unique meeting area for travel and event managers, young professionals, buyers and office workers from around the world, and is a place where they can find out more about services and options that enable them to optimise their business trips. Co-exhibitors including AirPlus International, Business Visum GmbH, Concur (Germany) GmbH, Derpart Travel Service, Egencia GmbH, FCm Travel Solutions, Holiday Inn Berlin Airport – Conference Centre, SAP and TS24 Travel Solutions will be showcasing solutions for professional management before, during and after business trips. The Home of Business Travel will also focus on furthering participants’ knowledge, with the display area being devoted to holding lectures and discussion rounds at the ITB Business Travel Days.

A trade visitor pass to ITB Berlin grants admission to all the lectures and seminars at the Business Travel Days.