Andrew Sheivachman

The hubbub over commission cuts seems to have died down for now, although agents and planners are scrambling to figure out what to do. Booking away from Marriott and Hilton properties may not always be the best move for a client, so it will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.

Travel agents and meeting planners feel betrayed by Marriott’s – and now Hilton’s – move to cut commissions on group bookings. They’re grappling with ways to deal with the cuts, even as they fear more hotel companies may follow suit. It's not personal, though; it's strictly business.

Corporate travel policies are restrictive, and perhaps no organization is as restrictive as the U.S. government. The Scott Pruitt scandal is a good reminder that business travel is an important part of life wherever you happen to work. Everyone wants to live the good life, but few really can.

Deem wants to make its products compelling for both travelers and their travel managers, which is great. Getting its core business back on track will let them innovate again without losing track of what made them successful to begin with.

Delta Air Lines is making bank on basic economy fares and other divisions like cargo and loyalty while costs are slowly rising. The airline remains in good position to continue growth despite some trouble in the first quarter.

Somehow, Deem keeps chugging along, immune to the gravity that tends to fell travel services companies that reach too far and fall short. It's likely too big to fail even as it simplifies its product offerings. But, hey, if clients keep coming back, clearly they're doing something right. Forget it Jake, it's Deem.

Data security is taking on a new importance, with new legislation and the public spotlight moving to shine on the dangers of mishandled personal information. Partner with the right technology providers to avoid making a costly mistake.

U.S. meeting planners expect the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation to have a major effect on how they manage data. While the giant meetings firms are prepared to comply with it, smaller companies and related meetings vendors may lag behind.

Collaboration between IMEX Group and C2 International shows the value, and power, of creativity in the meetings and events space. The more lessons planners from around the world can learn from these educational sessions, the better.

Safety should be a priority for events, whether taking place at a local hotel or a convention center in a gateway city. Unfortunately, event planners don't always have the resources they need to prepare for complicated security situations.