Check-In with Suzanne

Business Travel is Essential Travel

When uncertainty and change is broadly happening in the world, there is frequently an increased need for people to come together. In times when connection is critical, so is business travel ─ but there’s also distinct considerations that come with it.

All travel is not the same and there are important differences between leisure and business travel. Leisure trips focus on enjoyment, personal preferences and flexibility. Traveling for work involves connecting for meetings, projects, trainings, and conferences, typically with oversight to ensure traveler safety and cost management. It involves door-to-door journeys and significantly contributes to economic growth for organizations. It allows people to connect in person and ultimately enables societies and economies to thrive and grow.

Business travel is essential travel. From Washington, D.C. to Brussels and beyond, our focus is to make that distinction clear for policy makers. We’ll continue bringing this message forward and advocating for the industry at the upcoming GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit next month.

As we put the final touches on preparations for our 4th GBTA APAC Conference just a week away, I can’t help but reflect on the year since we were last in Singapore for this event. Engagement across the region has grown by leaps and bounds. We now have a team of five on the ground based across APAC, including in Singapore, Australia and India. We are grateful for the early leadership of GBTA Board member and Regional Chair for GBTA APAC, Peter Koh, and the ongoing contributions of the 15 APAC Advisory Board members for their commitment and expertise in bringing together the business travel community.

At the APAC Conference I’ll be sharing the regional Business Travel Index forecast and APAC sentiment from our April GBTA poll regarding the potential impact of U.S. government actions on business travel. To share one highlight: the poll shows that APAC professionals are more optimistic (40%) compared to their global peers (31%). APAC’s optimistic outlook, however, is still down when compared to regional sentiment from our November 2024 poll (63%). Business travel in APAC is poised for growth and they may feel less risk is ahead, but it is clear these actions have introduced uncertainty and change in just a few months.

We can’t wait to welcome the hundreds of attendees from over 30 countries in Singapore next week. And we look forward to connecting with more of you, especially at the world’s largest gathering of the global business travel industry, the GBTA Convention, July 21-23 in Denver.

Suzanne

New GBTA Research

Achieving the Perfect Business Trip: New Study Reveals Top Challenges and Technology Solutions for Success

While business travel drives critical business outcomes, it can also come with challenges for organizations and employee travelers alike. These challenges can sometimes make the pursuit of the "perfect business trip" seem like a distant fantasy. Yet, it is an aspiration the industry can work to achieve — with travel managers identifying various technological innovations that can reduce friction and drive trip success. This is according to new research released today by GBTA in partnership with Direct Travel, Spotnana, and Troop.

Findings from “The Perfect Business Trip,” a report stemming from a survey of U.S.- and Canada-based corporate travel managers outlines the challenges they face in their travel programs including the use of online booking tools (OBTs) and addressing travel disruptions, as well as managing travel management companies (TMCs), meetings programs, and expense reporting and insights.

Read more here.

Industry Spotlight

GBTA Foundation
Help Shape the Next Generation of Business Travel Leaders

As professionals who understand the power and importance of business travel, we have a unique opportunity to invest in its future. The GBTA Foundation Destination Scholarship project is seeking talented students to join our vibrant industry. Launching in phases in 2025, this inaugural fund will first become available in the U.S., followed by an expansion to other countries later in the year.

Do you have college-age children, mentees, or young professionals in your network who might be a perfect fit? Please share this opportunity with them! Let's guide and support the next wave of innovation and leadership in business travel.

You can also directly contribute to empowering these future leaders by donating to the scholarship fund. Every contribution makes a difference!

Resources

Crisis24 Intelligence Brief

More Information