GBTA Strengthens European Foothold

New Chair of European Advisory Board Named; European Partners Renew Exclusive Partnerships with GBTA

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel association, is delighted to announce the appointment of Ben Park as the new chair of the GBTA Europe Advisory Board, following an extensive application process including a quorum of representatives from GBTA Committees, GBTA France and GBTA Italy.  Ben Park will serve a three-year term, replacing Mark Cuschieri, who recently joined the GBTA Global Board as Vice-Chair.

The new appointment is supported by a newly restructured European Advisory Board, including representation from GBTA France and GBTA Italy including former President and now Vice-President for GBTA France, Stéphane Vallegeas, and President for GBTA Italy Roberta Billè, ensuring all of GBTA’s volunteer community is represented across the region. Following his election in July, Jens Liltorp will represent Europe on the GBTA Global Board.

“After a challenging couple of years for our industry, I am delighted to take on the role, to lead the European advisory board and help our members and partners throughout the region navigate a return to a new kind of business travel – considered, strategic and sustainable. I am looking forward to meeting many of the members at the GBTA Europe 2021 Conference 28 Feb-2 March in Berlin,” said Ben Park, President, GBTA Europe Advisory Board.

European Partners Renew Exclusive Partnerships with GBTA

The following GBTA European partners have agreed on a renewal on an exclusive partnership with GBTA including:

• ITM (UK & Ireland)
• SBTA (Sweden)
• NBTA (Norway)
• DBTA (Denmark)
• FBTA (Finland)
• NATM (Netherlands)
• VDR (Germany)

Further association partnership renewals will be announced shortly.

The new agreements will give all partner members access to GBTA membership including content, events and education and will continue to foster collaboration across the regions and GBTA in Europe. GBTA Europe will support regional events through content and research, the partners will continue to provide specific regional content to address local issues in the market.

Advocacy efforts will continue in Europe, supported by Grayling and will expand the remit to include the UK.

Scott Davies, CEO, ITM, said: “We are excited to re-launch ITM’s partnership with GBTA. Now, more than ever before, is the time to collaborate globally to support our business travel community. ITM is proud to be the representative for GBTA in the UK and Ireland, as the industry body that understands the concerns, needs and challenges facing corporate buyers in this market. Travel buyers and managers have a heavy ‘to-do’ list in 2022 with sustainability, supplier collaboration, traveller management and financial value all at the top as they manage their organisation’s return to travel across people, planet and profit. Our partnership with GBTA will give our members the opportunity to access valuable resources to help them achieve this.”

“On behalf of the partners across Europe, I am delighted that we are all joining forces once again to work with GBTA. By coming together we can better serve our members and represent the business travel industry as one voice, collaborate more and advocate on behalf of our community,” said Lotten Fowler, President, SBTA.