Insights from Ben Berard at GBTA Wisconsin Session

Drvn is pleased to share that Ben Berard had the opportunity to present a keynote at Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Wisconsin Innovation Session, a collaborative program designed to spark creativity, dialogue, and forward-looking strategies in the business travel industry. The session took place on September 10, 2025, bringing together travel professionals, suppliers, and thought leaders for a hands-on exploration of the forces shaping the next decade of business travel.

Starting off this event was Ben Berard, Partnership and Brand Manager at drvn, who delivered the opening keynote, “The Next Decade of Business Travel.” In his keynote, Berard examined critical trends reshaping corporate travel, including hybrid work, sustainability, cutting-edge technologies, and the pursuit of stronger ROI in the hospitality and transportation spaces. Through interactive polls and live engagement, attendees set the stage for collaborative problem-solving that continued throughout the session.

Following the keynote, participants rotated through four innovation labs, each led by industry experts and designed to deliver practical, real-world takeaways:

• Traveler-Centric Travel Policy: Redesign policy elements to support well-being and productivity without overspending, guided by Sahara Rose De Vore, Founder & CEO of The Travel Coach Network.
• The Booking Tug of War: Role-play scenarios to balance traveler convenience with compliance, facilitated by Amy Hazuka, Senior Procurement Associate, VP | Procurement.
• AI vs. Human Touch: What’s the Balance? Test AI travel tools and debate where technology adds value and where human service is indispensable, led by Beth Cail, Global Sales Manager at Amadeus.
• Travel ROI Makeover: Reimagine KPI dashboards that measure engagement, retention, and deal velocity, led by Sarah Morgan, Manager of Business Development at Amex.

With Ben Berard setting the tone through his keynote and industry leaders guiding hands-on innovation labs, attendees left equipped with fresh insights, actionable strategies, and a renewed vision for driving meaningful change in the coming years.