Check-In with Suzanne

On the Road to Connect, Learn and
Be Inspired

Traveling for business is all about connecting − and this is a marathon month for me on behalf of GBTA and our constituents. I kicked off last week in Marbella, Spain, with a keynote presentation at the Lufthansa City Center General Assembly, marking LCC’s first international in-person annual conference in 40 months. It was energizing to be there and share GBTA’s insights on sustainable industry growth and the evolving needs of business travelers.

This week, I look forward to connecting with more of you in Berlin for the ITB Convention. In my March 9th presentation – “Business Travel is back. So where do we go from here”? – I will share GBTA’s data- and trend-driven outlook for global business travel. While in Berlin, we’ll also be meeting with important industry sponsors and sustainability program partners.

Then it’s on to Singapore for APAC market planning meetings and to prepare for our fall conference. From there, in Stockholm I will moderate a session at the Nordic Spring Conference (March 21-22), and then to Vienna to keynote at a gathering of the Austrian Business Travel Association (March 23). Before I return to NYC, I’ll be meeting with GBTA’s association partners within Europe. These meetings are valuable opportunities to connect and hear even more GBTA voices and views.

I’ve packed in as much as possible this month, including spending weekends in Germany with family in between the trips to make it as sustainable as possible. My suitcase hasn’t seen this much stress since 2019!

The GBTA team is also busy creating opportunities for impactful connections this month. The dynamic voices of women from across our industry is the focus of a GBTA WINiT-powered free webinar on March 8th as part of International Women’s Day. Join the conversation as we #EmbraceEquity, celebrate women’s accomplishments, and explore ways to rally together to drive change. And GBTA’s Mexico Conference takes place next week in Mexico City. There’s still time to register here.

Looking forward to seeing you on the road,
Suzanne

Industry Spotlight

GBTA Legislative Summit
Registration Is Now Open

June 14 - 15, 2023
Washington, D.C.

The GBTA Legislative Summit is a one-of-a-kind GBTA event that empowers you to be the voice of the business travel industry. By attending this event you will:

• Meet one-on-one with Senators and Representatives to share opinions and advocate for policies that support the business travel industry
• Broaden your understanding of government actions and how the outcomes impact the industry
• Hear perspectives from Administration Officials and Members of Congress
• Network with colleagues from around the country

Engage this select group of business travel professionals and join GBTA as a sponsor of GBTA Legislative Summit 2023. Contact our sponsorship team with any questions.

GBTA WINiT
Celebrating Our Voices on International Women's Day, A Day to #EmbraceEquity

Tomorrow, March 8
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate women’s accomplishments and encourage worldwide engagement and collective action in advancing women's equality.

This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. We’ll share the voices of women in our industry from around the world as we celebrate social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. And we’ll share where we see gaps, with simple ways we can rally together to drive change.

Resources

Crisis24 Intelligence Brief

Brazil - Disruptions due to flooding ongoing across parts of Parana State, Brazil, as of early March 7. Hundreds displaced.

Greece - Further strikes and protests likely in Greece, through at least early March in reaction to fatal train collision in Tempi.

Guatemala - Military veterans plan to hold protests and block roads in numerous locations across Guatemala March 7-9; transport disruptions likely.

United States - Adverse winter weather forecast across parts of the western US through at least March 8. Hazardous travel conditions likely.

More Information