BCD Meetings &
Incentives (formerly WorldTravel Meetings &
Incentives), based in Chicago, has acquired U.K.-based event firm
Talking Point. Last year, BCD’s parent company, BCD Holdings N.V.,
purchased The Travel Company, a U.K.-based corporate travel
management firm that partly owned Talking Point.
The Luxury Alliance, a
marketing partnership of Crystal Cruises; The Leading Hotels of the
World; Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises; Relais &
Ch0teaux, and Silversea Cruises, has released “The Direction of
Luxury,” an annual white paper highlighting trends in high-end
travel. Places of increasing interest, according to the alliance,
are Argentina, the Baltic States, Botswana, Brazil, Indian Ocean
destinations, Peru, South Africa and Vietnam.
In a recent poll of members of the
Chicago-based Society of Incentive & Travel Executives, 25
percent said planning green events was a priority to them; just 5
percent said green events were important to their clients, but 38
percent said requests for green programs were increasing.