Global Business Travel Association - GBTA

Regional Direct Talks - GBTA Canada
2025-03-27 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
GBTA Canada recognizes the importance of peer networking and best practice sharing. Unique to GBTA Canada are our Regional Direct (buyer) Talks. Direct (buyer) members gather virtually, to exchange ideas, and understand market dynamics.
Upcoming 2025 Direct Talk:
• March 27, 2025 @ 2PM EST
• May 29, 2025 @ 2PM EST
• September 25, 2025 @ 2PM EST
• December 4, 2025 @ 2PM EST
To learn more and register for the GBTA Canada Direct Talks, please contact: Canada@gbta.org

Global Travel Professional (GTP®) Certification
2025-04-02 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Testing Window: May, 2025
Application deadline: April 2, 2025
The Global Travel Professional® Certification program is designed for individuals who are committed to leadership and knowledge of business travel. The program establishes the business travel industry standard of knowledge and positions Certification holders as credible and influential leaders. The GTP® Certification Program brings three key benefits to those who earn their certification:

Advance your career in business travel management
Showcase your career commitment to peers and leadership team
Amplify your ability to contribute to strategic business objectives

The GTP® examination consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and is offered in English only.
Pricing
$350 member/$450 non-member

TSA REAL ID Enforcement Date - May 7, 2025. What your travelers need to know
2025-05-05 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an informative and engaging webinar on Real ID compliance, where we will delve into the intricacies of TSA’s approach to enforcement of REAL ID requirements go in to effect on May 7, 2025.
Real ID is a coordinated effort by the U.S. federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of state-issued identification documents, which in turn enhances national security. This webinar is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of Real ID, its requirements, and its implications for both individuals and organizations.
Date: 5 May 2025
Time: 2:00PM US Eastern Time | 1:00PM US Central Time | 11:00AM US Pacific Time
Location: Webinar
Charge: FREE

GBTA Candidate Forum
2025-05-28 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Register now to hear directly from this years GBTA Candidates for Board of Directors Elections 2025. Voting opens on June 2.

Webinar GBTA Italia: Sicurezza, Cyber Attack e Business Travel
2025-06-17 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Durante il webinar verranno trattate le tematiche di sicurezza e Cyber Attack applicate al Business Travel sempre più all’ordine del giorno.
Il Webinar è in collaborazione con gli esperti di AIPSA – L’associazione Italiana Professionisti di Sicurezza Aziendale
Data: 17 giugno 2025
Orario: dalle 10.00 am alle 11.00 am
Lingua: italiano

Travel Risk Management 101 Part 2: Health and Security Travel Risks
2025-08-29 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
10:30 AM Mumbai | 1:00 PM Singapore | 2:00 PM Tokyo | 3:00 PM Sydney
Traveling for work can be exciting, but it also comes with real risks — from unexpected illnesses and accidents to political unrest or legal trouble in unfamiliar places. This session is all about helping organizations keep their people safe when they travel.
We’ll walk through the different types of health and security risks travelers might face, and how companies can prepare for them. Think of it as a practical guide to doing the right thing — not just because it’s legally expected, but because it’s the smart and responsible thing to do.
You’ll hear about:

The biggest travel risks today — from disease outbreaks and crime to cyber threats and natural disasters
What “duty of care” really means for employers
How to prepare before, during, and after a trip
What to do when things go wrong — like a medical emergency or border issues
The role of tech — from tracking tools to real-time alerts
Real-life scenarios based on common challenges travelers face

By the end, you’ll have a clear checklist to help you build or improve your organization’s travel risk management plan – so your people stay safe, supported, and confident wherever they go.
GBTA Members: FREE
Non Members: $25 USD

The Evolution of Managed Hotel Programs
2025-09-10 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
As managed travel programs navigate a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by shifting traveler expectations, flexible rate models, and economic considerations, new opportunities are emerging to drive greater value from hotel sourcing and procurement. With growing access to diverse sourcing options and smarter technologies, travel managers are rethinking traditional approaches to RFPs, rate strategies, and partnerships. Given the rapidly shifting landscape for managed travel programs, key questions arise including:
What gaps do travel programs often see in certain cities regarding hotel availability?
With the continually growing OTB trends, is there an opportunity to further review hotel program compliance?
What role do TMCs play with hotel bookings and how have they changed in the past year? How do travel managers expect bookings will change in upcoming few years?
Based on recent research with travel buyers in North America and Europe, this webinar explores the evolving role of negotiated rates, trends in hotel booking behavior and innovative pricing models for 2026 and beyond.
Topics explored in the webinar include:
What is changing with hotel booking trends? What are the trends with programs seeking negotiated vs. non-negotiated rates? What types of discounts do programs seek and what are the preferred pricing models for 2026 negotiations?
What gaps do travel programs often see in certain cities regarding hotel availability?
What role do TMCs play with hotel bookings and how have they changed in the past year? How do travel managers expect bookings will change in upcoming few years?
Are there any differences in terms of generational cohorts in terns of their preferences when traveling for work?
What do travel managers perceive as being the top challenges in terms of the hotel procurement landscape?
Join us to gain insights and practical takeaways that will help you elevate your hotel sourcing strategy and build more resilient, traveler-centric programs.
Made Possible by:

Why ROI matters in M&E Now More Than Ever
2025-09-19 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
10:30 AM Mumbai | 1:00 PM Singapore | 2:00 PM Tokyo | 3:00 PM Sydney
Understand why ROI matters in today’s M&E landscape and pick up practical ways to measure ROI in various ways to demonstrate the true value of meetings/events. Hear from our panel of event professionals who can share some of their success stories, their insights and advice on how to and the dos and don’ts.
Key Takeaways:

Understand why ROI matters in today’s meetings & events landscape
Learn practical methods to measure both tangible (e.g. lead generation, conversation tracking, attendee engagement) and intangible ROI
Gain insights through real case studies
Discover how to align event goals with broader business objectives

Expert Panel:
Moderator:
Hida Khalid is an accomplished hospitality executive with over 18 years of experience in the hotel industry, including more than a decade in senior sales leadership roles. Currently serving as Director of MICE for Asia Pacific at Hilton Worldwide Sales, she leads strategic initiatives across APAC. At Hilton, she plays a pivotal role in forging impactful partnerships with global and regional stakeholders, consistently delivering innovative and tailored solutions that meet evolving client needs. A Certified Incentive Specialist and graduate of the National University of Singapore, Hida is passionate about shaping the future of MICE in APAC and creating exceptional experiences that leave a lasting impact.
Panellist:
Donna is the Regional Brand, Marketing and Communications (BMC) Leader for EY in Asia East, as well as Asean and Singapore. She leads the development and execution of integrated brand, marketing and communications B2B strategies to support organizational and business growth plans. She advises leadership on a globally connected strategy in engaging internal audiences and external buyers, and advocates functional transformation through innovation and Martech. She also co-leads the flagship EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program in Singapore, among several other key market programs. She has 25 years of experience in brand and events marketing, public relations and strategic communications for both public and private sector organizations spanning tourism, hospitality and professional services.
Panellist:
Isaac Yeo is a seasoned MICE industry leader with 15 years of Meetings & Events experience, currently leading Travel and Events for BCG across Southeast Asia. He has championed innovation through the successful adoption of an Online Booking Tool (OBT) and the strategic optimization of travel behaviors, driving significant cost efficiencies. In addition, he plays a key role in delivering high-profile internal leadership events involving C-suite stakeholders. Earlier in his career at AMEXGBT M&E, Isaac spearheaded the deployment of transformative Strategic Meeting Management (SMM) programs for major pharmaceutical clients, achieving measurable savings and enhancing operational excellence.
Panellist:
Simone Seiler, Global General Manager, FCM Meetings & Events
GBTA Members: FREE
Non Members: $25 USD

Global Business Travel Index (BTI™): Outlook for Global Business Travel 2025-2029
2025-09-24 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
The Business Travel Index (BTI), one of GBTA’s premier research initiatives, marks its 17th year as an essential resource for industry strategy and planning. Widely recognized for its depth and global scope, the BTI offers a detailed analysis of business travel spending and growth trends across 75 countries and 48 industries. With a forward-looking five-year forecast, it delivers a holistic view of demand-side data—including costs related to airfare, lodging, meals, ground transport, and incidental expenses.
This webinar will delve into the key drivers shaping the future of business travel: the pace of forecasted growth and the influence of economic headwinds such as inflation, supply chain disruptions, global trade dynamics, geopolitical instability, and rising interest rates. Drawing on insights from GBTA’s global survey of over 7,000 business travelers, we’ll also explore evolving behaviors around spending, trip length, booking patterns, travel frequency, and payment methods.
Join us for a comprehensive look at where the business travel industry stands today and where it’s headed over the next five years.
Pricing: Complimentary
Made Possible by

Regional Direct Talks - GBTA Canada
2025-09-25 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-04 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
GBTA Canada recognizes the importance of peer networking and best practice sharing. Unique to GBTA Canada are our Regional Direct (buyer) Talks. Direct (buyer) members gather virtually, to exchange ideas, and understand market dynamics.
Upcoming 2025 Direct Talk:
• December 4, 2025 @ 2PM EST
To learn more and register for the GBTA Canada Direct Talks, please contact: Canada@gbta.org

Navigating New Horizons: Launching Corporate Travel in the Middle East
2025-10-22 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Date: 22nd October.
Time; 2pm/ 11am Uk/ 12noon CET
Format: The webinar will be 45 minutes long with an additional 10 mins for Q&A,
Join us for this insightful session as we introduce GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) and explore the evolving landscape of business travel in the Middle East. The webinar will begin with a short presentation offering high-level market insights, followed by a dynamic panel discussion featuring both buyers and suppliers. Together, we’ll explore the key opportunities, emerging trends, and challenges shaping the region’s corporate travel market.
Whether you’re new to business travel or an experienced travel professional, this session will provide valuable perspectives to help you navigate the road ahead.

Hotel Sourcing Insights: The Role of RFPs Today
2025-11-05 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Description: Hotel and meetings RFPs remain a key pillar of managed corporate travel. While some companies turn away from RFPs, others have adapted their approach to deliver value in new—and increasingly important– ways. Today, RFPs not only drive time and dollar savings. They help companies maximize traveler satisfaction, manage risk, and reduce carbon emissions.
Based on research conducted in North America and Europe, this session examines the role of transient hotel and meetings RFPs. It addresses a number of questions including:
Do companies conduct RFPs? How often do companies conduct RFPs with hotels and meeting venues? How often do they negotiate outside of an RFP process?
The state of hotel RFPs today: Which types of questions are included in hotel RFPs? Which types of rates do companies negotiate? How is the RFP process changing?
Meetings: How do companies source venues for company-held meetings? Do they have a defined sourcing process they are required to follow? What benefits do they realize from this process?
Based on GBTA research sponsored by Cvent
Speakers:

– Mark Sharoff, Sr. Research Manager – GBTA

– Traci Volpe, Senior Manager Customer Success Manager, Cvent

– Taylor Embler, customer Success Manager, Cvent
Start Date/time: 11am EST
End Dtae/time: 12pm EST
Location: Zoom – Webinar
Pricing: Free

Business Travel Outlook 2026: tendenze e scenari
2025-11-19 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Il webinar illustrerà le tendenze e le previsioni 2026 dei principali verticali del Business Travel.

Webinar GBTA Italia - Scenari del Business Travel nel 2026
2026-02-04 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Durante il webinar i relatori si confronteranno sull’outlook generale del mercato dei viaggi d’affari nel 2026, tra cui le previsioni di spesa e dei volumi, sulle ultime novità di settore e sulle priorità di Travel Management.

The Road Ahead: The Global Sustainable Business Travel Outlook and what this means for APAC
2026-03-25 13:00 - 14:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | Virtual
Join speakers as they explore the Global sustainable business travel outlook, covering predictions and forecasts on regulations, trends and insights and what this means for the APAC market. We’ll cover off sustainability, SAF, GHG reporting, technology, data analytics, certifications, compliance and climate.
Brought to you by APAC Sustainability Committee

The State of Corporate Travel Policies: What a Modern Policy Looks Like in the U.S. and Canada
2026-03-26 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
In business travel, there is nothing more universal than a corporate travel policy. Based on GBTA research, this webinar will discuss the current state of corporate travel policies. Topics include:
1. Travel policy evolution: How are travel policies changing? Are policies becoming stricter or more lenient over time? How long is a typical travel policy? How can AI help educate employees about travel policies?
2. Risk management: Why is a well-designed travel policy important to keep employees safe? What risk-related considerations are important when designing a corporate travel policy?
3. Air travel: How often is business class allowed? In which scenarios is it allowed? How often are employees allowed to purchase various air-related add-ons and amenities—such as seat selection and early boarding—at company expense? Do travel programs have “lowest logical fare” (LLF) and “advance purchase” policies?
4. Meals: Do travel policies outline per diems or spending limits for employee meals?
Do companies set their own meal rates – or use a government benchmark?
5. How do travel policies address hotel stays? Do they outline per diems or spending limits – or do they advise employees to purchase “reasonably” or “moderately” priced accommodations?
Speaker Info:

Dr John Rose
Chief Risk Advisor
ALTOUR

Michael J. Boult
SVP Chief Commercial Officer
ALTOUR
Start Date and Time: 3.26.26 11am EST
End Date and Time: 3.26.26 12pm EST
Location: Webinar

GTP® Certification Program Spring Exam - Registration Closes
2026-04-02 | Virtual
The Global Travel Professional® Certification program is designed for individuals who are committed to leadership and knowledge of business travel. The program establishes the business travel industry standard of knowledge and positions Certification holders as credible and influential leaders. The GTP® Certification Program brings three key benefits to those who earn their certification:
– Advance your career in business travel management
– Showcase your career commitment to peers and leadership team
– Amplify your ability to contribute to strategic business objectives
Spring Application Deadline: April 2, 2026
Spring Testing Window: April 25 – May 23, 2026
LEARN MORE>>

The Fundamentals of Business Travel Management (Americas)
2026-04-07 - 2026-04-28 | Virtual
Course dates: April 7 – April 28 (Tuesdays)
Our Fundamentals of Business Travel Management course equips you with the knowledge you need to confidently own business travel management function at your organization, develop and implement an efficient business travel policy, oversee business travel vendors and technology procurement, and much more. The learning modules covered during the training include:
– Overview of Travel Management
– Travel Policy
– Creating a Service Model
– Strategic Sourcing/Vendor Management
– Travel Technology Basics
– Data and Analytics/Measuring Success
– Travel Risk Management
After the course you receive your GBTA Professional Development Certificate. GTP holders will earn 14 GTP® Recertification credits.
Registration closes on March 29.
Questions? Please reach out to learning@gbta.org.

The Fundamentals of Business Travel Management (Europe)
2026-04-28 - 2026-05-19 | Virtual
Course date: April 28 – May 19 (Tuesdays)
Our Fundamentals of Business Travel Management course equips you with the knowledge you need to confidently own business travel management function at your organization, develop and implement an efficient business travel policy, oversee business travel vendors and technology procurement, and much more. The learning modules covered during the training include:
– Overview of Travel Management
– Travel Policy
– Creating a Service Model
– Strategic Sourcing/Vendor Management
– Travel Technology Basics
– Data and Analytics/Measuring Success
– Travel Risk Management
After the course you receive your GBTA Professional Development Certificate. GTP holders will earn 14 GTP® Recertification credits.
Registration closes on April 19.
Questions? Please reach out to learning@gbta.org.

GTP® Certification Program Fall Exam - Registration Closes
2026-09-02 | Virtual
The Global Travel Professional® Certification program is designed for individuals who are committed to leadership and knowledge of business travel. The program establishes the business travel industry standard of knowledge and positions Certification holders as credible and influential leaders. The GTP® Certification Program brings three key benefits to those who earn their certification:
– Advance your career in business travel management
– Showcase your career commitment to peers and leadership team
– Amplify your ability to contribute to strategic business objectives
Fall Application Deadline: September 2, 2026
Fall Testing Window: October 3 – November 7, 2026
LEARN MORE>>
