
The GBTA Ladders season culminates at the three-day Summit, bringing together all program pillars: professional development, global networking across verticals, and innovative presentations on the season theme. The goal of Summit is to inspire current and next generation business travel leaders and to drive industry change.
Attend Summit to experience the full value of the Ladders program.
Attendees will benefit from:
- An environment that encourages collaboration between current industry leaders and rising top talent
- Project presentations that showcase the transformative ideas and concepts generated from the Ladders teams
- Content aimed to accelerate personal, professional, and industry development
- Strengthened connections between individuals on Ladders teams
- Boosted access and exposure to industry leaders
100%
of attendees rated their overall Summit experience as excellent or above average
9.2 out of 10
is the average rating for all Summit networking sessions
85%
of attendees will or are likely to return to next year’s Summit
8.4 out of 10
is the average rating for all Summit education sessions
13 countries
represented in the Season 9 program
Participants include:
- GBTA Ladders Season 9 participants – Mentors, Mentees, Alumni Advisors, Committee volunteers, and Advisory Board members
- GBTA Ladders alumni
- GBTA representatives
- Keynote speaker and expert guests from outside the program
Please note – this event is by invitation only
Agenda*
Season 9 Theme: Get inspired: Looking beyond travel to drive change
Featuring subject matter experts Barbara Rose, EY Americas Travel Lead and GBTA Direct Board Member; and Kessie Bratko, Business Transformation Consultant
The travel industry is no stranger to change, but true transformation is elusive. Elusive, though not impossible. Amazon revolutionized the retail landscape. SpaceX re-imagined space exploration. And social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok shape how people educate themselves, think and communicate around the world. How do they do it? What lessons, processes and inspiration can we take from industries outside of travel? How can we think beyond our typical environment to find new paths forward?
Additionally, there will be sessions focused on hot industry topics and professional growth. Attendees will walk away from Summit with takeaways that can be applied directly to their personal and professional lives.
While we look to nurture our industry, let’s not forget the personal responsibility we have to nurture our communities. The last day of Summit will focus on a community service event where Ladders participants will give back to those who are underserved.
Agenda subject to change.
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration
Grand Ballroom Foyer II
12th Floor
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
Riverbend
11th Floor
1:00 PM – 1:10 PM
Opening Remarks
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Ladders Leadership
1:10 PM – 1:25 PM
Welcome from GBTA
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Denise Truso
President, Board of Directors | GBTA
Global Travel Manager | PayPal
1:25 PM – 2:10 PM
Keynote Address – Transformation in Travel
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Barbara Rose
Direct Board Member | GBTA
Americas Travel Lead | EY
2:10 PM – 3:10 PM
DISC Assessment: What Do Your Results
Mean
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Juan Kingsley
Talent Strategist | Career Blindspot
3:10 PM – 3:30 PM
Networking Break
Grand Ballroom Foyer II
12th Floor
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Team Beth
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Fireside Chat with GBTA Foundation
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Leslie Andrews
Board of Directors and Ladders Champion | GBTA Foundation
Global Category Leader, Travel | JLL
Rosemary Maloney
President, Chapter President’s Council | GBTA
Travel and Expense Manager | Alteryx
Delphine Millot
SVP, Sustainability & Manading Director | GBTA Foundation
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Team Anja
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Closing Remarks
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Ladders Leadership
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Riverbend
11th Floor
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Scavenger Hunt around NOLA
TBD
8:30 PM – END
Informal Meet Up, Location TBA
TBD
8:00 AM – 2:00PM
Registration
Grand Ballroom Foyer II
12th Floor
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
Riverbend
11th Floor
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Opening Remarks
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Ladders Leadership
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM
Building Your Brand
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Mike Daly
SVP, Sales | Serko
Tita Moreno
Director, Business Marketing | Avis Budget Group
Ali Prejean Smith
Director, Marketing & Communications | BCD Travel
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
What Would You Do? Leadership Edition
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Grace Morrisey
Director, Global Travel & Expense | General Atlantic
Katie Virtue
Principal, Supplier Consulting | Festive Road
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Networking Break
Grand Ballroom Foyer II
12th Floor
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Team Mike
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Ready or Not, Here (A)I Come
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Natalie Gardner
Sr. Global Travel Manager | Electronic Arts
Dan Raine
CEO and Founder | Unlocked Data
Lindsay Straub
Vice President, Sales | The BTN Group
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch
Riverbend
11th Floor
1:15 PM – 3:15 PM
1. Standing out as top talent continued:
Career progressions available in travel
Chairman
12th Floor
Kim Napolitano
Executive Director, Industry Relations & Intermediary Group Sales | Hilton
Abby Pharr
Director, Marketing | TRIPBAM
Denise Truso
President, Board of Directors | GBTA
Global Travel Manager | PayPal
2. TMC, Airline, Hotel walk into a bar: Supplier
ecosystem, partnership, revenue strategies,
negotiation
Executive
12th Floor
Emily Wong
Head of T&E | Jefferies
Laura Choules
Sr. Director, Global Sales | Global Hotel Alliance
Christopher Crowder-Bromley
General Manager, B2B Marketing | Delta AIr Lines
Benjamin Ford
Client General Manager | AMEX GBT
3. Improv/Public Speaking
Salon
12th Floor
Allison Davis
Key Account Manager, Global Gateways | American Airlines
Christina Reichelt
Sr. Director, Global Client Team | BCD Travel
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Networking Break
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Team Dan and Katie
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Season 9 Presentation
Recap
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
Awards + Closing remarks
Grand Ballroom
12th Floor
Ladders Leadership
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Mentor / Committee / Alumni Adviser Mixer
Riverbend
11th Floor
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Small Group Dinners
8:30 PM –End
Informal Meet up, Location TBA
9:00 AM
Giveback Event
New Orleans Mission
1130 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.,
New Orleans, LA 70113
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Breakfast
New Orleans Mission
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Tour
New Orleans Mission
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Making of Brown Bags
New Orleans Mission
10:30 AM – 12:30 AM
Distribution of Brown Bags
New Orleans Mission
Location
The GBTA Ladders Summit 2023 is hosted by The Westin New Orleans
100 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70130
A room block has been secured for the duration of the summit. Room accommodations can be secured through the reservation link or by calling the Reservations Department (504) 566-7006. Individuals must identify themselves as being with the group, GBTA Ladders Summit, at the time the reservation is made in order to receive the special group rate.
The reservation cut-off date is FRIDAY, APRIL 28th. Reservation requests received after this deadline date will be subject to availability and the prevailing rate.
Room Rates:
Single/Double, City View: $156 (plus applicable taxes)
The group rate will be available from 5/22 – 5/25. The group rate will also be available 2 days pre and post event, based on availability.
Hotel room, tax, incidentals, airfare and other expenses are the responsibility of the attendee.
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Room Cancellation Policy
Room cancellations can be made no less than 72 hours prior to arrival without penalty.
Hosted By

As you plan your travel, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have graciously provided discount codes for airfare to and from Summit, exclusive to Ladders members. Very special thanks to our Ladders members at United and Delta for their support!
Delta Air Lines:
Please click here to book your flights. You may also call Delta Meeting Network® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (EST) and refer to Meeting Event Code: NM2KY. *Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number.
United Airlines:
To make flight reservations online please click on discount code ZN9T872396. MileagePlus members earn valuable miles for their travel when using the Meetings discount code. You may also call United Meetings Reservation Desk Monday – Friday at (800) 426-1122 for booking assistance. Booking fees are waived for Meeting reservations. International customers may contact their local United Reservation Desk.
As you plan your travel to/from the airport, or your dinner reservations, drvn has graciously provided discounts for car service needs during Summit, exclusive to Ladders attendees.
Please click here to reserve your chauffeur at drvn. You may also book private car service by email res@drvn.com.
Registration
This event is by invitation only.
Registration is complimentary* to GBTA Ladders Participants.
If you need assistance in making the business case for attendance to your employers, we have created this document detailing the benefits of Ladders Summit for your use.
*You must be a member of GBTA in good standing to attend Summit. If you need to renew your membership, please click here.
If you are not a current or past season Ladders Participant but are interested in attending Summit, please reach out to ladders@gbta.org
Registration Powered by

Thank you to our generous sponsors
Platinum Plus

Platinum




Gold



Featured

Silver



Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Showcase your company as a passionate leader who invests in the future of the travel industry. Summit attendees are buyers and suppliers who are both veterans and rising stars alike. To download the Sponsorship Brochure, click here.