It's hard to get a true sense of what future business travel demand will look like until international borders reopen and people can return to the office. But it is time to temper the optimism on any significant recovery happening by the end of the year. CEOs seem to finally get this.

After a yearlong pause for the travel industry, it's now starting to feel like the cloud of uncertainty is being lifted. Planners are increasingly optimistic about the state of meetings and events and are growing more confident by the day about the future of the industry.

Hotel apps and loyalty programs involve a lot of guest data — and potential vulnerability to foreign hackers. Just ask Marriott. Radisson's Americas breakup aims to beef up guest data security.

Critics blasted Airbnb for relying too heavily on Google advertising to obtain customers in 2019. But in the beginning of 2021, Expedia outspent all of its rivals on paid marketing and made some gains. Expedia and its Vrbo brand are making no apologies for it.

Given air travel's standstill in 2020, and the impact of new Delta variant scares, you might think this list would be longer. Still, seeing the airline casualties together like this is pretty staggering.

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The city is in tune with the pandemic protocol: after the tourists, next come the business travelers. Las Vegas is edging towards recovery, but Delta variant concerns may spoil the party yet.

Despite decades of economic progress, it is forecast that more people will fall back into poverty post-pandemic than come out. Globally, children remain incredibly challenged to find proper education and socialization. And people are dying. It's clear to me that the public sector cannot do this alone and it is time for the private sector to step up.

Twenty years after that fateful day, enhanced security measures are now just part of the routine of travel — and the cost of doing business across the globe.

It's time to recognize long-haul travel for what it is: an endurance event. For those making the trip instead of the Zoom, there are new imperatives that premium brands need to serve up to cater to these travelers. Hint: it doesn't look like the luxury of the past.

While the pandemic forced users across the globe to flock to virtual events, the peculiar context motivating this massive influx of revenue has left virtual event tech vendors struggling as the need for virtual declines. As a result, establishing realistic business expectations for 2022 and beyond is an entirely new and unpredictable challenge.