Check-In with Suzanne

Education, learning and professional development sometimes don’t get the credit they deserve for how much they do to inform, inspire, engage and advance us. But at GBTA, they are not unsung heroes–they are the stars.   

When it comes to volume, breadth and relevancy, GBTA takes deep pride in leading the industry in year-round learning and development programs specifically designed for business travel professionals. We continue to listen to our members globally to deliver what they want and need.  

Here’s just a few recent highlights from the THOUSANDS of available GBTA learning opportunities available in-person, virtual live and on-demand: 

• The 2021 GBTA Collaboratory webinar series has been tackling emerging and important topics in our industry today. June’s Collaboratory took on Sustainability… Panelist Jenny Sabineu: “How can we expand measures and methods to create some real material changes?” September’s Collaboratory featured the Future of Work… Panelist Donna Rufo: “Right now, it’s so much more than managing the travel management company and the policy.” This month’s webinar focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), including how to reframe the narrative from “difficult” to “necessary” and incorporate the three C’s of compassion:  Connection, Communication, Collaboration. And on October 22, there’s still time for you to catch the final Collaboratory on Meetings & Events. 

All of these are available post-event for members on-demand on the GBTA Hub. The curated programs and insights are really extraordinary, and I hope you take advantage of them, even if via bite-sized chunks. And there’s more… 

• Earlier this month, LATAM came together for GBTA’s virtual one-day conference covering timely best practices and issues there. In Canada, GBTA is taking curated, in-person learning on the road to Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto.
• And ultimately, the biggest in-person education extravaganza of them: the GBTA Convention, November 17-19 in Orlando, featuring five keynotes and 60 education programs. Here are the education sessions trending with the most views from attendees right now: 
  • “Preparing Your Travelers and Yourselves:  Managing Through Crisis” 
  • “Building a Sustainable Business Travel Program with Sustainable Aviation Fuel” 
  • “Tech Trends – New Players and Industry Experts” 
  • “Let’s Be Safe, Let’s Be Accepted and Let’s Travel!” 
  • “Hotel & Corporate Client Partnerships: Work Smarter Not Harder” 

 If you can’t make Convention in person this year, you don’t have to miss out. Sign up for the Convention Replay package and you’ll have access to 25 curated Convention education sessions for post-event, on-demand learning. 

• And to end the year, in December, the GBTA Conference Berlin will continue the power of learning with onsite educational sessions and networking. 

Times of change and uncertainty make ongoing learning one of the best ways to adapt for the future. So make sure you’re taking advantage of GBTA’s education offerings. They’re here to help you best understand the business of travel and keep business travelers served, safe and well, now more than ever.  

And speaking of unsung heroes, we want you to recognize yours at GBTA! As a Board of Directors initiative, this week we’ll be launching a way for you to recognize outstanding GBTA travel professionals across impactful areas. Watch for more details. So many of you work hard out there on programs and projects and we want to hear all about it.

  

Suzanne 

 

News To Know 

COVID-19 Vaccinations Mandatory for Federally Regulated Transportation Employees and Travelers 

Vaccinations are our best line of defense against COVID-19 and its variants and on October 6th Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that all employers in the federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sector must establish vaccination policies by October 30th. At the same time, travelers departing from Canadian airports, and travelers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, will be required to be fully vaccinated in order to travel. Learn more about these policy changes here >> 

Facial Recognition Program for Delta’s PreCheck Members 

Last year, Delta began building it’s “curb-to-gate” facial recognition program in Detroit with plans to expand to more hubs. The carrier recently announced that TSA Pre-Check members at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will now be able to get through security and other checkpoints at Atlanta’s South Security Checkpoint even quicker with the new face-recognition software in the next few weeks. 

75 Years of Iberia Flying South America 

Spanish airline Iberia is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its first flights to Latin America. In September 1946, an Iberia DC-4 left Madrid’s Barajas airport for Buenos Aires, establishing the first regular flights between Europe and Latin America. To celebrate 75 years of connections, Iberia organized an event at Casa de America with guest speakers, a documentary, and a photographic exhibition of the last seventy-five years of Iberia.  

European Planners Regaining Confidence 

According to a report by CVent, eight in 10 event planners across the UK and Europe are currently sourcing in-person functions, showing growing confidence about bringing people together. The new CVent 2021 Planner Sourcing Report features European-focused data exploring hybrid events, domestic versus global functions, and more. 

 

GBTA News & Reminders 

GBTA Europe Town Hall: The Changing Landscape – Navigating Brexit and Getting Back to Business Sustainably 

The effects of Brexit are constantly evolving, and navigating these new restrictions and requirements is a critical consideration for travelers and travel managers as the global workforce returns to business travel. Join us for our October Europe Town Hall to hear Jens Liltorp, the European representative on the GBTA Board of Directors, discuss the latest with GBTA followed by an expert insight on how to manage the growing documentary demands of getting travelers on the move. 

Ready. Safe. Travel. Workshop Series 

GBTA is offering the Ready. Safe. Travel. Workshop Series as a one-day, hands-on program in four Canadian cities, starting with Vancouver on October 19th. The workshop will be a critical way to ease back into meeting again, while also keeping in the know of the changing Canadian industry, trends and evolutions for the days and months ahead. 

Virtual Special Event 

Enjoy the LATAM Regional Panel, free for active members and face-to-face Conference 2022. This one-day Spanish language event will explore different topics including the current state of travel, traveler wellbeing, and different perspectives for the coming year in business travel. Learn More >>