Middle East Travel Update – client advisory

From the moment you step off the plane, Tokyo announces itself as somewhere unlike anywhere else on earth. From trains that arrive to the second and immaculate streets to a unique business culture built on hierarchy and respect, the capital of Japan is an iconic business travel destination. It is also a city of contrasts. Ancient Shinto shrines stand in the shadows of gleaming skyscrapers, and centuries-old tea ceremonies take place just streets from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In this comprehensive guide for business travellers, we help you navigate Tokyo’s unique business ecosystem, share practical tips for getting around, and highlight our top 3 things to see or do to make your trip unforgettable.

2026 staat in het teken van vernieuwing binnen zakelijk reizen. Bedrijven kijken niet alleen meer naar hoe zij reizen, maar vooral naar het doel en de toegevoegde waarde van iedere reis. Deze ontwikkeling beïnvloedt reisbeleid, technologie, duurzaamheid en de verwachtingen van reizigers.

n the movies and on TV, a hotel is rarely just a place to sleep — it’s a stage for drama, comedy, fear, romance and unforgettable encounters. In the BBC Radio 4 feature Seven of the most memorable hotels in film and TV, hosts Ellen E. Jones and Mark Kermode unpack why hotels make such rich settings for storytelling, acting as hermetically sealed worlds where lives collide, secrets simmer and anything can happen.

Procurement portals are now a common way to run Travel Management Company RFPs, offering structure and consistency for procurement teams. But when portals are poorly configured, they can unintentionally limit supplier responses, create unnecessary friction, and make it harder to assess what truly differentiates one TMC from another.

Based on extensive experience responding to portal-based RFPs, this guide from Gray Dawes Travel shares nine practical ways travel managers and procurement leads can attract higher-quality responses, improve evaluation, and achieve better outcomes from the process.

As winter fades and brighter days arrive, it’s the perfect time to plan ahead for a successful season of business travel. With over 800 Premier Inn hotels across the UK, you’re always close to your next meeting, conference, or event. From city centres to business hubs, enjoy convenient locations, comfy beds, blackout curtains for great sleep, and the option to upgrade to Premier Plus for extra comfort. Start your day with an unlimited breakfast, wind down with delicious on-site dining, and save with meal deals. Book early for the best value, flexibility, and stress-free stays wherever work takes you.

When your travel management company is acquired, the impact goes far beyond industry headlines. From technology changes and service disruptions to pricing uncertainty and contract implications, a merger can fundamentally reshape your corporate travel programme. This guide helps travel managers understand what’s really changing, the critical questions to ask their TMC, and how to assess whether staying or exploring alternatives makes the most strategic sense. With a clear framework for evaluating technology, service, costs, and stakeholder needs, you’ll be better equipped to protect programme value and move forward with confidence.

As business travel continues to evolve, travel policies must keep pace with new expectations and challenges. Learn how to build a smarter, more flexible travel policy for 2026 – one that balances cost control, compliance, sustainability goals, and a better traveller experience.

Plant u een zakelijke reis naar Londen? Met deze gids maakt u op een toegankelijke manier kennis met een van de belangrijkste steden ter wereld voor handel, financiën en internationale samenwerking.

Bij Gray Dawes Travel zijn we druk bezig met de voorbereidingen voor het nieuwe jaar, met alle kansen en uitdagingen die horen bij een dynamische en voortdurend veranderende zakelijke reisomgeving. Dit is ook hét moment voor medewerkers die verantwoordelijk zijn voor het boeken en inkopen van zakelijke reizen om het eigen reisbeleid opnieuw te bekijken. Wat werkte goed in 2025, wat moet anders en hoe blijft u een stap voor.

In this episode of our award-winning webinar series, Justin Issacs, Global Implementation Manager, and Jeffery Paul, Security and Governance Manager, share an insightful and practical discussion on what every business traveller should be doing to keep their data and digital self safe.