Women in Executive Leadership in the Business Travel Industry

GBTA New England – March Chapter Meeting
Join us for our March Chapter Meeting featuring a powerful moderated panel on Women in Executive Leadership in the Business Travel Industry.

📅 Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026
🕒 Time: 3:00–5:00 PM (Cocktail reception with cash bar to follow)
📍 Location: Newport Marriott

As the corporate travel landscape continues to evolve, strong leadership, strategic vision, and inclusive decision-making have never been more important. This session spotlights accomplished women executives who are shaping the future of travel through innovation, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.
Our moderated panel will bring together senior women leaders from across the travel and hospitality ecosystem to share candid insights on their leadership journeys and the realities of leading at the executive level. Panelists will explore both the opportunities and challenges women face in leadership roles and discuss how organizations can build more diverse and effective leadership pipelines.

Discussion topics will include:
• Navigating the path to executive leadership in the travel industry
• Leading through disruption, transformation, and change
• Sponsorship, mentorship, and building strong professional networks
• Driving business outcomes while fostering inclusive cultures
• Advice for the next generation of women leaders in travel

Expect an engaging, authentic conversation filled with real-world perspectives, actionable takeaways, and inspiration for professionals at every stage of their career.

Ordre du jour:
• Interactive moderated panel discussion
• Audience Q&A
• Networking with peers and industry leaders
This session is ideal for travel managers, suppliers, and industry professionals who want to learn from trailblazing women leaders and gain practical leadership insights they can apply within their own organizations.

Sponsor: ITS

Modérateur:

Jen Bankard – Executive Director of Conference Content & Strategy, The BTN Group
Jen’s mission is to transform the way corporate travel managers succeed, helping them empower their travelers, elevate their companies, and advance their careers to run best-in-class travel programs. Jen draws on 25+ years of experience in non-profit and association sectors, specializing in training and development. Currently with The BTN Group, she was named one of the 2024 WINiT Top 50 where she was recognized as a Global Leader with Global Impact for her groundbreaking work in corporate travel education.

Before joining The BTN Group, Jen served as Manager of Global Education at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), where she built industry-leading learning experiences based on cutting-edge research and best practices.

Haut-parleurs:

Karen Catlin – Managing Director of Sales Effectiveness, United Airlines

Karen Catlin is the Managing Director of Sales Effectiveness. She leads a team of nearly 100 employees who support multiple functions for Worldwide Sales including sales & leadership training, sales service, internal communication, worldwide budget & resource management and policy & procedure. Since joining United in 1986, Karen has had 15 positions in a variety of leadership & headquarters based Sales roles as well as a tour in Airport Operations Business Management. She has lived in Connecticut, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Melbourne & Sydney Australia and Chicago.

A native of Illinois, Karen received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Karen enjoys interior decorating, travel- especially to Australia to visit friends, and loves all furry animals. She has been married to Bob for 34 years and their daughter, Grace, is currently a senior at Boston University.

Liz Batsche – Founder, Well Hosted

Liz Batsche is the founder of Well Hosted, where she helps students & professionals develop the soft skills that accelerate careers and elevate client experiences—what she calls The Practice of Hosting. Her career spans real estate investment banking (during the subprime mortgage crisis) and 11 years in luxury alcohol marketing, giving her a unique perspective on leadership under pressure and in high-touch, relationship-driven industries.

An alumna of NYU Stern and ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business and Barrett Honors College, Liz is a passionate advocate for executive women and the power of presence, hospitality, and human skills in shaping modern leadership.