Check-In With Suzanne
Traveling for Business and Finishing Strong in 2022
For many, the past few months put a focus on well-deserved vacations, personal time off, and more leisure travel in general. But turning into the final third of the year typically means more business travel as a critical element in helping organizations and professionals hit their annual goals, achieve client objectives, and come together for meetings, conferences and events before the holidays and a new year is upon us.
If recent media interest is an indicator, many are wondering what the coming months will mean for business travel. GBTA research – and especially the latest Business Travel Index released last month – provided data and insights included in an Associated Press article on continued travel recovery as well as the Wall Street Journal’s look at blended – also known as “bleisure” – travel. At GBTA, we’ve also been sharing more on our evolution as I outlined in my recent Q&A with Business Travel News.
Although we are predicting an extended recovery to get back to 2019 levels, the current size of business travel and its impact on economies, companies, and regional/global collaboration are substantial – and a force to be reckoned with. Travelers themselves seem to need more guidance than ever in the face of ongoing disruptions, even as their own personal tech is already pervasive – so the roles of the travel manager and suppliers who serve those business travelers become ever more important.
The GBTA Board and our GBTA Team have been discussing future-focused strategy and innovation, including how to future-proof our industry. Without a doubt, that includes cultivating and recruiting the next generation of business travel professionals, which is a long-standing mission of GBTA Ladders. Ladders brings the best of our industry and GBTA – community, education, career growth, and connection – to help individuals grow as professionals. Applications are now being accepted for the 2022/2023 Ladders season and the deadline is September 30. Whether you are a participant, mentor, or champion, now more than ever is the time to invest in the future of our industry. We are especially seeking mentees – so please spread the word at your companies as we nurture the next generations of innovators and leaders within our industry.
GBTA continues to invest in – and experience – the future of work, as well. With the rise of hybrid and remote work along with the recent sale of our GBTA HQ building in Alexandria, VA, the GBTA team for now will be working fully remote. (You’ll find our new mailing address on GBTA.org.) We have the opportunity to re-imagine what works best for our team as well as our member-focused mission.
Suzanne
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