GBTA APAC MICE Power Talks is a thought-leadership podcast series created by the GBTA APAC MICE Committee to explore how the business events industry is evolving across Asia-Pacific. Designed for corporate buyers, destinations, venues, DMCs, and industry partners, the series brings forward practical conversations on strategy, innovation, sustainability, technology, and the future of meetings and events in one of the world's most dynamic regions.

Each episode features candid discussions with industry leaders and decision-makers, focusing on real challenges and opportunities shaping MICE programmes today. The intent is not promotional, but insightful—offering perspectives that help planners, suppliers, and stakeholders make better-informed decisions in a complex, multi-market environment.

A defining feature of the podcast is its destination-focused approach. Selected episodes spotlight specific APAC destinations, including established hubs and emerging markets. These conversations go beyond surface-level narratives to examine each destination's MICE ecosystem—covering infrastructure, policy developments, sustainability initiatives, talent, technology adoption, and the unique experiences they offer to global and regional buyers.

By combining destination voices with corporate and industry perspectives, GBTA APAC MICE Power Talks provides a balanced view of how destinations are positioning themselves for the future of business events. The series serves as a platform for shared learning, regional collaboration, and forward-looking dialogue—bringing APAC destinations into focus through meaningful, industry-led conversations.

Music track is Space Jazz by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

The Big Idea: How divisive debates in travel are shaping the future

The verdict is in! After three fiery debates across GBTA's APAC, Europe, and Australia conferences, we're unpacking the results, reactions, and revelations that shook the business travel community.

This isn't a replay; it's a deep dive into what the debates revealed about the future of our industry. Which arguments swayed the audience? Where did consensus emerge, and where did fault lines deepen?

Join us as we explore the key insights and implications from these high-stakes discussions:

• The Future of OBTs: Are they on the brink of extinction, or evolving with AI and chatbots?
• Next-Gen Traveller Behaviour: Does flexibility drive better outcomes than rigid policy?
• Biometrics & Secure ID: Will tech streamline travel or create new global challenges?

Expect candid analysis, surprising trends, and expert commentary on what these debates mean for travel programs, technology, and the traveller experience. If you want to know where the industry is headed, and why, this podcast has the answers.

Brought to you by BCD

Moderator:

• Chris Elmitt, CEO LIVVE

Speakers:

• Sarah Whiting, Senior Director Global Solutions Engineering, BCD Travel
• Siobhan Prideaux, Sr Director Sales , BCD Travel

Music track is Space Jazz by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

In an era where data tells the truth about traveller motivations, "When the Data is the Story" explores how numbers can illuminate narratives of culture, identity, and experience. Drawing from the 2025 Traveller Identity Consensus report, Evita Robinson and Dr. Alana Dillette reveals how BIPOC traveller data does more than quantify, it humanises and reframes the industry's understanding of community-driven exploration and global movement.

Key Takeaways:

1. How to translate raw data into storytelling frameworks that reflect lived cultural experiences.
2. The role of inclusive data collection in shaping equitable tourism narratives.
3. Strategies for leveraging insights from underrepresented travellers to inform media, marketing, and policy.

Music track is Space Jazz by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License