GBTA Announces Dorothy Dowling as New Allied Leadership Council President

Through Leadership Role, Dowling to Provide Input and Insight on Future Direction of GBTA

Alexandria, VA (May 14, 2019) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, announced Dorothy Dowling, Chief Marketing Officer & SVP, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, as the President of the Allied Leadership Council (ALC). Dowling will be the first woman to assume the position of president in the ALC’s long history. She will follow Scott Solombrino, who was recently appointed the COO & executive director of GBTA.

“I am thrilled to have appointed Dorothy Dowling, one of the industry’s longest-serving and most respected executives, to serve as President of the ALC,” said Christle Johnson, GBTA President. “As a more than 30-year veteran of the travel industry and having served as Vice President of GBTA’s Allied Leadership Council since 2013, Dowling brings a wealth of experience to her new post. Known for driving positive change within Best Western Hotels & Resorts and the industry in general, we have every confidence she will contribute significantly to GBTA’s continued evolution.”

The ALC represents GBTA’s Allied Members by acting as a voice for the Allied community within GBTA and works to assure a strong Allied and GBTA relationship to address common issues facing the travel industry. The ALC President also sits on the GBTA Board of Directors offering input and voting on all issues pertaining to the future direction of GBTA.

Dowling previously served as ALC Vice President since 2013. She also chairs the WINiT by GBTA Strategic Advisory Board helping advance WINiT’s mission of driving positive change for the career mobility of women in the travel-related industries.

Since joining Best Western in 2004, she has reenergized the Best Western Rewards® loyalty program, grown the brand’s market share and undertaken several groundbreaking initiatives. She was recently named as the recipient of the coveted 2018 GBTA Allied Member of the Year award, which recognizes an Allied Member whose dedication, enthusiasm and hard work have generated significant benefits for the Association and the business travel industry.

“Dorothy has worked tirelessly behind the scenes for GBTA as a Board member, strategic adviser and team player for years,” said Scott Solombrino, GBTA COO & executive director. “I know she will continue to provide invaluable input for the future direction of GBTA as she takes on this new role.”

About the Global Business Travel Association
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA’s 10,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. To learn how business travel drives lasting business growth, visit gbta.org.