Check-in with Suzanne

Championing the Uniqueness, Value and Impact of Business Travel

Many times when GBTA is speaking or meeting with legislators and policymakers – whether in the U.S., EU or Canada – we find they may not have a dimensional understanding of business travel in terms of what it is, how it works and how it’s different. They may lump it together with leisure or tourism travel, not recognizing the nuances of managed versus unmanaged travel, or perhaps they aren’t aware of the significant contributions business travel brings to their region.

Face-to-face connections, like the annual GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., where I am this week, are important moments to educate and elevate our industry and profession to those who can bring about needed changes for business travel’s continued advancement. An event that had its origins in 2007, this Summit is unlike any other from GBTA.

Today, over 120 GBTA members and staffers in D.C. will hear takeaways from our just-launched report, the “GBTA U.S. Economic Impact Study: Business Travel’s Impact on Jobs and the U.S. Economy.” Takeaways from the U.S. frequently serve as leading indicators for other markets around the world. Summit participants will also focus on GBTA’s top U.S. policy priorities: passenger facilitation, promoting sustainable business travel investments, and modernizing travel infrastructure. Tomorrow, the group takes to Capitol Hill to meet with federal legislators and their senior staff to advocate for the future of business travel. Thank you to all who participate in this important act of advocacy and civics. (You can follow the action at #GBTALegislativeSummit2024.)

In association “civics,” if you are an active GBTA member, don’t forget that the 2024 Board of Directors election is underway – vote now before the June 25th deadline. Check your email for a unique link from “GBTA Elections” to cast your vote. The 2024 Elections page has all the candidate platforms and other important information to help make your vote is your “voice.” Results will be announced during the June 26th GBTA Annual Business Meeting.

And when it comes to face-to-face connection, the GBTA Convention is the biggest and best gathering of the global business travel community. We’re only a few weeks away from the 2024 Convention, July 22-24 in Atlanta. If you register to attend by tomorrow, June 12th, you can take advantage of the last available price break. See you soon in Atlanta!

Suzanne

Industry Spotlight

GBTA Foundation
GBTA Foundation Announces Ladders Season 10 Winning Team

The GBTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the GBTA, announced Team Trusted Travel – or Team Robert (Winkler) as they are known to participants – as the Ladders Season 10 winners. Ladders is a unique mentoring and professional development experience that leverages collective talents to empower emerging industry leaders to connect and expand their careers through mentorship, education and collaboration.

Season 10’s theme is Radical Collaboration, with all teams tasked with creating an innovative idea to transform business travel within the context of innovative partnerships.

The winning idea presented by Team Trusted Travel is a solution that addresses the issues and challenges a traveler faces while managing travel documentation. The team imagined a platform called Pathfinder that offers personalized, real-time and verified documentation.

This season’s leaders, led by Ali Prejean Smith, Grace Morrisey and Lindsay Straub, recently held their Season 10 Summit in Chicago. Along with educational content and networking sessions, the four finalists presented their solutions for the Radical Collaboration challenge. Along with Team Trusted Travel, the following teams made up the final four:

• Team Rita / Venture Voyagers – a community meant to serve as a gateway for startup companies in the business travel industry as a place for innovators, mentors and advisors.
• Team Katie & Dan / Charting a Course for Inclusive Travel – a solution supporting neurodivergent travelers bringing together advocacy, a Neuro D Charter, partnerships and education.
• Team Christiane / Fare Aware - a partnership that addresses the challenges of planning travel, meetings and events for participants with dietary restrictions, with a solution to search for restaurants that meet requirements.

Team Trusted Travel will be presenting their winning pitch at the 2024 GBTA Convention in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 23rd at 10:30 ET.

For more information about GBTA Foundation’s Ladders program, click here.

GBTA WINiT
Seeking GBTA WINiT Mentors to Inspire Industry Leaders

Application Deadline: July 9

Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge and making a lasting impact? If you’re a member, become a GBTA WINiT Mentor to give back to the global business travel community by helping emerging leaders reach their full potential. As a mentor, you’ll help ignite the careers and lives of women in our industry, while building your leadership and communication skills. And you can participate from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection! Don’t miss this rewarding opportunity – submit your application by July 9.

Interested in becoming a WINiT Mentor?

Resources

Crisis24 Intelligence Brief

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