Check-In with Suzanne

Like, Love and Longevity – the Career Outlook for Business Travel Professionals in 2024

The success of any company or industry comes down to the people that make it tick daily – and conversely, what makes them tick when it comes to how they feel about their jobs, work and career. Our latest GBTA Business Travel Outlook poll results released today explores just that: the current state of the global business travel professional.

Based on responses from 800+ travel buyers, suppliers and others across 41 countries, we see a picture of an industry workforce of experienced, engaged and dedicated professionals. Overall, professionals report they enjoy the industry, their work and current organization. An overwhelming 85% of survey respondents say they like or love working in our business travel industry. In 2024, the vast majority (82%) plan to remain in the industry and 65% intend to remain with their current company. Among key functions, travel buyers are most likely to be the lead decision makers for overseeing their organization’s TMC relationship (67%), hotel sourcing (55%) and air sourcing (54%).

We also gauge their current sentiment around a much discussed and timely topic: implementation of NDC (New Distribution Capability). Travel buyers say there hasn’t been major advancement over the past six months in key NDC areas since we last asked them in GBTA’s October 2023 poll. In the current poll, travel buyers acknowledge a need for more information and education about NDC (71%) and continued uncertainty about their TMC’s readiness (45%) − with half (51%) who say they have not started to implement NDC. You can read all the details in today’s announcement here and access the complete poll results and key highlights here.

We’re also moving into high gear for the GBTA Convention 2024, and notably in the very important area of learning opportunities that attendees can take advantage of while there. We’ve just finalized the 80+ education sessions at Convention across 15 thematic tracks. When combined with the impactful professional development courses that will be offered by the GBTA Academy, our Convention represents a total of five days chock full of options to actively learn and connect with peers on the industry’s most urgent topics.

Of course, between now and then we will be in Singapore for our annual GBTA APAC Conference, Chicago for our annual GBTA Ladders Summit, and Washington, D.C., for our annual GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit. I hope you can join us for one or more of these critical connection points!

Suzanne

Industry Spotlight

GBTA Among Sustainable Aviation Fuel Stakeholders Uniting to Form the SAF Coalition 

Yesterday, GBTA was among 40 companies and organizations engaged in the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuel who united to announce the formation of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition. The goal of the new nonprofit, nonpartisan SAF Coalition and its members is to work together to rapidly invest in the SAF sector and advocate for the incentives and policies necessary to promote U.S. economic competitiveness in the emerging SAF marketplace.

The Coalition represents the entire SAF value chain and includes airlines and aircraft operators, agricultural enterprises, aircraft and aircraft equipment manufacturers, airports, technology developers, labor unions and biofuel producers. SAF Coalition members have been working together informally for years and this newly formed organization will leverage their collective strength to accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels in the U.S.

GBTA Foundation
Empowering Today for a Resilient Tomorrow

After just one full year post-relaunch, the GBTA Foundation is steadfast in its mission of promoting, supporting, and encouraging progress for People and Planet, and further solidifying the role of business travel as a source for good in the world. Check out the GBTA 2023 Foundation Progress Report for highlights into last year’s milestones, updates on strategic program goals, and a glimpse into what’s to come in 2024 and beyond.

Resources

Crisis24 Intelligence Brief

More Information