The industry’s festive season officially kicked off on December 3 at The Business Travel Magazine’s Dinner Club at The Dorchester.

Around 40 guests – travel managers and leaders from travel management companies – joined representatives from the four partners, Front, Etihad, South Western Railway and Expedia TAAP, for an evening of networking.

After a Champagne reception, guests were formally welcomed and introduced before being served a three-course dinner in the hotel’s elegant Park Suite.

After the main course, the guest speaker – Karen Hutchings, founder of Cobb & Hutch Consulting – spoke about her career in the industry, including time with SWISS, HRG, Merrill Lynch, AIG and EY, and outlined how mentoring and a passion for innovation helped guide her along the way.