Thriving through Change: Highlights from the GBTA Sustainability Summit 2025

From SAF to AI, the fourth GBTA Sustainability Summit empowered attendees with key insights and actionable strategies to build a business [travel] case for a positive change.

The fourth annual GBTA Sustainability Summit marked a pivotal moment for the global business travel community, convening leaders and innovators to confront the urgent challenges — and opportunities — of sustainability in travel. Held at a time when climate resilience and economic pressures are shaping corporate agendas, the Summit delivered a full day of thought leadership, data-driven insights, and bold ideas at the intersection of people, planet, and purpose. 

Three main takeaways:  

1. Navigating Uncertainty: The New Leadership Imperative

Uncertainty, from economic pressures to political shifts, isn’t going away. However, the Summit made clear that resilient organizations are those that embed sustainability into their core strategy, even amid disruption. 

2. Corporate Demand is Critical to Scaling Decarbonization 

Whether it’s supporting the scale-up of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), enabling rail integration, investing in renewable energy, or pushing for better data transparency across the supply chain, companies play a decisive role in accelerating the transition. Bold climate action won’t happen without corporate investment, and strategic procurement is an essential tool to drive change across the travel value chain. 

3. Data and Innovation: Driving Smarter, More Sustainable Travel Decisions 

From AI-powered emissions forecasting to carbon pricing models, emerging tools are giving travel programs more visibility and control than ever before. Whether through better supplier evaluation, nudging traveler choices at point of sale, or tracking impact post-trip, companies now have actionable pathways to align travel behavior with their climate goals. 

From keynote inspiration on embedding sustainability into core business strategy to deep dives into cutting-edge topics like AI, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hotel emissions data, and rail integration, the Summit empowered attendees with practical tools and strategic frameworks to drive meaningful change. With over 120 participants from 88 companies, the event highlighted the collective momentum — and growing urgency — behind decarbonizing business travel and building a more sustainable future. 

Access the Event Recap Report HERE.

Relive the memories by viewing event photo album.

To further accelerate your company’s sustainability efforts, GBTA Acceleration Challenge 2025 is officially open! Submit the free and confidential maturity assessment before September 23 to get your company score and a customized report. Download the questions HERE.