Welcome to the July edition of the Global Advocacy newsletter where governments continue proving that making travel simpler is apparently a long-term stretch goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The GBTA Convention is just a few days away, and I have officially entered the pre-event phase best described as \u201cthe night before Christmas, but with more badge lanyards and fewer cookies.\u201d I\u2019m excited for everything ahead\u2014and, naturally, mildly terrified by the sheer logistics of it all. Think Ralphie in A Christmas Story<\/em><\/a>, dreaming of that Red Ryder BB gun: you spend months pining for the big moment, something inevitably goes sideways, you briefly think you\u2019ve shot your eye out, and then somehow it all works out and becomes a story you tell forever. That, in many ways, is Convention magic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But you didn\u2019t come here to read my thoughts on old movies. You are reading this to learn what in the heck our political overlords are doing. So here we go\u2026 This month, Brussels wants more flights paying for carbon, Washington wants fewer people yelling into their phones at 35,000 feet (a genuine bipartisan achievement), TSA might finally get to spend security fees on…security, Europe is still untangling passenger rights, ETIAS has been fashionably delayed again, and USMCA has entered its annual “will they, won’t they?” phase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, GBTA has been busy making sure the voice of business travel is heard\u2014whether it’s defending the Quiet Skies Act, pushing for smarter tourism data, protecting travelers’ rights, or reminding policymakers that uncertainty may be great for cliffhangers, but it’s terrible for travel managers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As always, progress isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it’s measured in fewer headaches, fewer voice calls, and fewer government surprises. We’ll take the wins where we can.<\/p>\n\n\n