Check-In with Suzanne

What’s on Your GBTA Convention Hot List for Dallas?

While the decision to bring Convention to Dallas this year was made long before I joined the staff at GBTA, it will still feel like a homecoming for me next month. My family and I moved to the DFW area the same year basketball great, Dirk Nowitzki, joined the Dallas Mavericks (1998). And while we moved away in 2015 (he didn’t) and I’m still working (he retired) – it’s still a DFW milestone that the German half of my family loves to reference. For those of you who live there, or have lived there, you know what a thriving community it is.

As we get ready to gather in Dallas with thousands of fellow business travel professionals for several great days of GBTA community, learning and advocacy, here’s what I am looking forward to most about being back:

• Hot topics… It’s not just the temperature outside, the content inside at Convention will also be hot, from the Main Stage’s four TED-Talk quality speakers to over 90 practitioner-led education sessions. This is how we drive learning and make each of us more thoughtful about the industry and how we work within it.
• Connections… Expo? After-hours networking? Team building? The list goes on. It’s all in Dallas this year, beginning with the opening welcome reception (on the Expo floor for the first time) and extending through Tuesday long into the evening. (If you leave early, you’ll miss out!)
• Are you blending business with leisure time? Shopping, history, art, music, food… if you have time to explore Dallas or the neighboring communities, there are countless choices! All air-conditioned, of course. (Check out Visit Dallas for more inspiration.)

Before we head to Dallas, it’s time to “get out the vote.” Candidates are vying for five open GBTA Board seats and voting is now open through August 11 for eligible GBTA members. Look for your email from “Election Services” – remember, your vote is your voice. Visit the Elections page for details and results will be announced at Convention.

And today, join us online for the GBTA Annual Business Meeting (11:00 AM ET) where we’ll take a look back at 2022 including our audited financials and highlighted activities and results from the past calendar year.

Suzanne

Industry Spotlight

Sponsored
American named Air Transport World 2023
Eco-Airline of the Year

To learn more about the progress we've made and the strategy we're building to create a more sustainable airline, click here.

GBTA Convention 2023 Diamond Spotlight
Insights from the Industry: Choice Hotels, Delta Air Lines and United for Business

With GBTA’s 2023 Convention a few weeks away, we asked the event’s Diamond Sponsors about the ways they’re better serving customers and embracing the future. Below are highlights from interviews with leaders from each company:

• Patrick Pacious, President & CEO of Choice Hotels International, shares one of the most exciting things to happen during his 20-year tenure: adding Radisson Hotels America to the Choice Hotels portfolio in 2022. He also provides an overview of the Choice Direct Pay program, where corporate customers can book rooms at multiple Choice hotels under one invoice. Last, Pacious offers a peek into what’s on the horizon including how a major trend in business travel is resulting in increased bookings.
• Bob Somers, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Delta Air Lines, reveals why their greatest asset – their people – are the foundation of Delta’s success. He also shares how Delta’s leadership role in the New Distribution Capability (NDC) means taking an “evolutionary vs. revolutionary” approach. Somers also provides updates on what perks, like free Wi-Fi, and Delta Sync will make the busy summer travel season more enjoyable. Finally, he previews what’s ahead at the airline in B2B innovations, including Delta Professional, Corporate priority and Status Match programs.
• Doreen Burse, Senior Vice President Worldwide Sales at United Airlines, shares the progress of its United Next strategy, which focuses on improving traveler experiences with its fleet and route upgrades. Burse, with 30+ years of experience in the hospitality industry prior to joining United in 2021, also confirms United’s commitment to sustainability by investing in over three billion gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Last, she explains ways the airline is adapting its contracting process through the United for Business Blueprint.

Learn more about the GBTA Convention’s Diamond Sponsors by reading their full-length interviews here.

It’s also not too late to register for the GBTA Convention 2023 in Dallas, Texas! For more information, click here.

GBTA + VDR Europe Conference 2023 – Hamburg
Preview of the Diverse Range of Education in Hamburg

November 14 - 16

Get ready to embark on an enlightening journey through the vibrant city of Hamburg, where knowledge meets innovation. As we prepare to ignite the stage at GBTA + VDR Europe Conference 2023 – Hamburg, we couldn't be more thrilled to offer you a glimpse into the diverse range of education sessions that await.

From cutting-edge technologies to industry trends, sustainable practices to cultural intelligence, our educational lineup promises to inspire, challenge, and transform the way you perceive business travel.

Join us in Hamburg as we unveil an education experience like no other, and the future of corporate exploration begins to flourish. Preview the diverse range of education in Hamburg.

Resources

Crisis24 Intelligence Brief

Argentina - Unionized subway workers to strike on all lines in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 13:00-16:00 July 26. Public transport disruptions likely.

Asia - Super Typhoon Doksuri tracking northwestward in Philippine Sea early July 25. Close approach to Babuyan Islands, Philippines early July 26.

Canada - Authorities extend Light Rail Transit Line 1 suspensions in Ottawa, Ont., Canada, until at least July 31 due to mechanical problems.

Western, Central, and Southern Europe - High temperatures forecast across much of southern and southeastern Europe through July 27. Transport and power disruptions possible.

More Information