Ask a concierge: Surfers Paradise, Australia

At the vocoTM Gold Coast, concierge Christopher McHarg has spent nearly nine years advising visitors on where to go, what to do and where to dine in this coastal suburb of City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Here he offers tips for business travelers.

Market monitor: Thailand at a glance

Thailand business travel outlook: Experts expect Thailand’s economic growth to slow from 4.1% in 2018 to 2.9% in 2019 and 3% in 2020. Business travel spending will grow 5.8% for next three years.

Market monitor: South Korea at a glance

This market monitor for South Korea shows that trade uncertainty weighs on the world’s 12th-largest economy, but travel spending is still strong. Corporate travelers spent almost US$15 billion on trips to, from and within South Korea in 2018.

Market monitor: South Africa at a glance

South Africa business travel outlook: To reduce exposure to commodity price volatility, South Africa is diversifying its economy—particularly by expanding services. The financial, mobile telecommunications, tourism, transport and logistics sectors have all performed well.

Ask a concierge: New York City

At the Kimpton Muse in New York City, concierge Daniel Mitchell has spent four years advising visitors on where to go, what to do and where to dine in Manhattan. Here he offers advice for business travelers.

Ask a concierge: Singapore

At the Grand Hyatt Singapore, concierge Faisal Rahim guides visitors on the best things to see, do and eat in this Asia-Pacific business hub. He offers packing, dining and sightseeing advice, as well as business etiquette tips for corporate travelers.

Market monitor: The Philippines at a glance

The Philippines has one of Asia’s most robust economies. The nation averaged annual economic growth of 6.3% between 2010 and 2018. Expansion was 6.2% in 2018 and is expected to slip to 5.9% this year.• Consumer spending is getting a boost from healthy growth in remittances and slowing inflation.

Ask a concierge: Bogota

At the Grand Hyatt Bogota, concierge Geraldin Gordillo Cardozo guides visitors on the best things to see, do and eat in Colombia’s capital city. She offers packing, dining and sightseeing advice, as well as business etiquette tips for corporate travelers.

Market monitor: Peru at a glance

Between 2013 and 2018, overall business travel spending in Peru grew 6.3% a year. Spending is expected to grow about 6% a year through 2023. Chile and the U.S. lead inbound travel to Peru, which is Latin America’s fifth-largest economy.

Ask a concierge: Monaco

Tips for business travel to the luxurious city-state on the French Riviera.

Market monitor: Japan at a glance

Inbound international travelers drive growth in Japanese business travel market. Between 2013 and 2018, business travel spending expanded, on average, by 3.4% per year. Spending on domestic trips grew by less than 1% annually. But spending on business trips to Japan soared by 22.5% a year.

Ask a concierge: Shanghai

At the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, concierge John Yin guides visitors on the best things to see, do and eat in this seaside metropolis. Here he offers advice for business travelers.

Market monitor: Brazil at a glance

Business travel spending is forecast to rise 6.6% annually through 2023.  Companies spent more than US$24 billion (90 billion Brazilian reals) on business travel to, from and within Brazil in 2018. Domestic trips account for 44% of all spending; outbound international trips account for 37%. Less than a fifth is spent by business travelers visiting Brazil from abroad.

Market monitor: Austria at a glance

Most visitors come from Germany, but arrivals from China are on the upswing.  In 2018, companies spent almost €11 billion on travel to, from and within Austria. Inbound travel made up 42% of that spending. Domestic travel accounted for 31%; outbound trips made up 27% of spending. Oxford Economics forecasts average annual growth of 5% through 2023 with all travel segments expanding at similar rates.

Market monitor: China at a glance

Hotel demand in China is expected to grow 4.4% a year through 2020. Companies spend nearly US$327 billion (2.2 trillion Chinese yuan) a year on travel to, from and within China, according to the last-available annual data from 2017.

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