There are moments when an industry gathers under one roof and instinctively knows that the future has arrived. The inaugural Business Travel Show Asia Pacific, held at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, wasn’t just another calendar filler. It was a proper turning point. And judging by the raucous applause, nods of approval, and the palpable buzz in the exhibition halls, the event did far more than just tick boxes—it redrew the business travel map.
“Travel makes business happen,” declared Jason Young, CEO of Northstar Travel Group, as he formally opened proceedings. It was a bold statement, but one that the event delivered on with gusto across two jam-packed days, drawing over 150 corporate travel buyers from a who’s who of global markets, including Australia, India, Europe, the UAE, and the dynamic Asia Pacific corridor.
With 55-plus exhibitors spanning global giants to regional disrupters, this first-of-its-kind showcase in APAC was equal parts marketplace, think tank, and crystal ball. From high-powered meetings to AI-fuelled future-gazing, the event delivered what few in the corporate travel space have seen in one place—substance and style, served straight.
✦ APAC Comes of Age on the Global Business Travel Stage
It’s no secret that Asia Pacific has long been the sleeping giant of the business travel industry. Well, folks, the giants are now wide awake—and hosting one hell of a housewarming.
Shaik Abid, International Travel Manager, Adobe, was announced as the first ever APAC Travel Buyer of the Year Award.
From Tokyo to Tamworth, travel managers descended on Marina Bay Sands for exclusive networking opportunities, including the much-buzzed-about BTN Communities sessions—strictly for buyers—and deep-dive forums exploring AI’s place in travel, sustainability shifts, ground mobility revolutions, and more innovative sourcing strategies.
One such travel veteran, Pramod Shetty, who’s clocked more than 25 years wrangling corporate travel out of Mumbai, gave the show an enthusiastic nod:
“APAC is a growing market, and I’d recommend this event to every travel manager in the region. It delivered vital insights into the future—especially around generative AI. This is where you sharpen your edge.”
And sharpen, they did.
✦ Wings Take Flight—and Meetings Take Off
For seasoned players like Chris McEvoy, Head of Business Development at Wings Travel, the event proved fertile ground:
“We had fantastic footfall. Genuine conversations with potential clients and suppliers—it’s been brilliant,” he said, flashing the kind of grin that can only mean deals are already brewing. “Being here lets us fly the Wings flag in Singapore and grow our brand in Asia.”
And that, perhaps, is the essence of the show’s success: an energy that doesn’t feel manufactured but forged through meaningful contact—something many in the room hadn’t experienced since before the pandemic turned boardrooms into Zoom grids.
✦ Trailblazers Rewarded: APAC’s First Travel Buyer of the Year
A major highlight was the unveiling of the first APAC Travel Buyer of the Year Award, where Shaik Abid, International Travel Manager at Adobe, beat finalists from Perenti Group and London Stock Exchange Group to claim the inaugural title.
Abid’s achievement? Taking the notoriously clunky world of MICE air bookings (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) and dragging it—kicking and screaming—into the digital age.
His pioneering work in customising Adobe’s online booking tool to automate the complex processes of group travel not only streamlined compliance and slashed response times but also carved a new benchmark for the industry.
“Shaik’s commitment to innovation and his bold attack on M&E’s pain points stood out,” said Elizabeth West, Editorial Director of BTN Group. “He’s written a new playbook that others would be wise to follow.”
One might say he took a screwdriver to a problem that had long been held together with duct tape—and built something beautifully efficient in its place.
✦ Innovation Faceoff: Trip.biz Clinches Victory
Another hotly contested showdown took place in the form of the APAC Business Travel Innovation Faceoff, where the region’s most agile thinkers presented bold solutions to a panel of discerning judges and a live audience.
Emerging triumphant was Trip.biz, a name that’s been buzzing in Asia’s corporate corridors since it launched its full-service TMC offering in 2006. The company held its own against stiff competition from Acai Travel, Travog, WegoPro, and Zenmer, ultimately taking home the top prize.
Product Director Terence Eng didn’t mince words:
“We’re grateful—and winning this will drive our business forward. The APAC market’s evolving fast, and this platform is crucial for innovators like us.”
He also tipped his hat to the BTN Group, praising the event for its role in uniting innovators with decision-makers. “We’ll be back,” he added, with a glint of someone already plotting next year’s pitch.
✦ Looking Ahead: 2026 Dates Locked In
Co-located with The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, the Business Travel Show APAC made such an impact that organisers wasted no time locking in the dates for next year’s return: 14–15 April 2026, back at Marina Bay Sands.
Until then, those who attended are walking away with full notebooks, heavy lanyards, and perhaps most importantly, the sense that APAC has claimed its rightful place in the business travel spotlight—not as a fringe player, but as a bold leader.
And in a world still adapting to new norms and technologies, that’s a move worth celebrating.
For full event highlights and updates, visit www.businesstravelshowapac.com.
By Alison Jenkins
