GBTA Board of Directors Spotlight

From “I Could Never” to
“What Could I Do?”

In this feature series, Board of Directors share their perspectives on topics that matter most to members, the industry and the way forward for business travel. Today's guest author is Board member Christina Reichelt, Senior Manager, Global Travel Procurement at Regeneron. 

With voting for the GBTA Board of Directors underway, there may be some of you thinking, "Oh, I could never do that!" Too much time, too much effort, too much imposter syndrome. In fact, it was the imposter syndrome that nearly kept me from running for the board last year – "who would vote for me?!" Though it can be easier said than done, pushing through your doubts can lead to growth and opportunity you never thought possible. Instead of "I could never do that," ask yourself, "what could I do?"

Your GBTA membership comes with so many opportunities to get involved, to meet and network with peers, and to grow and learn professionally. There is so much more to GBTA than just Convention – though I do hope to see you all on the expo floor in Chicago this August, preferably with a good pair of walking shoes and an open calendar.

Take a moment and explore what is possible when you take full advantage of everything GBTA has to offer:

Lean in: Volunteer as a mentor or mentee with the Ladders or WINIT mentorship programs. Seek out others in the industry with skill sets different than yours, learn from each other, and explore other verticals. You might be surprised how much you have to offer – and how much you still have to learn. Spoiler: That never stops.

Mix and mingle: GBTA is active around the world, and if there’s a U.S. GBTA Chapter near you, take full advantage of the events at your disposal. Get involved and build your network at a local level to stay active between Conventions. Your next great collaborator, client, or career opportunity might be just one happy hour away.

Onwards and upwards: GBTA recently launched GBTA Community+  and GBTA Learning, two new platforms for peer-to-peer connection and professional development. Both are member-only benefits designed to sharpen your skills and up your professional game. No commute required.

The point is: your membership is only as valuable as what you put into it. So go ahead – lean in, show up, and maybe even throw your name in the ring someday. You might just surprise yourself.

P.S. The GBTA Board of Directors election closes on July 7, so members: don’t forget to vote!

Industry Spotlight

GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit 2026
GBTA Brings Industry Voices to Capitol Hill to Champion Business Travel’s Value and Economic Impact

Bringing the voice of business travel to Capitol Hill, 120 Global Business Travel Association members and stakeholders from 31 states convened in Washington, D.C. this week for GBTA’s annual U.S. Legislative Summit 2026, advocating for policies that strengthen an industry that drives $624 billion in annual economic impact in the U.S. and accounts for 2.1% of the nation’s GDP.

Held June 9-11, the Summit brought together industry professionals to network, learn and engage directly with legislators, culminating in more than 120 Capitol Hill meetings where GBTA members from 30 chapters delivered a unified message: Business travel is a powerful economic driver for good across the United States.

Key to the week’s discussions was the recently released “GBTA U.S. Economic Impact Study: Business Travel’s Impact on Jobs and the U.S. Economy.” Summit attendees also advocated for policies essential to ensuring a connected, resilient travel ecosystem including:

• enhancing the traveler experience
• supporting Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel
• modernizing the U.S. air traffic system
• avoiding burdensome entry processes and
• advancing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) solutions.

Read more here.

GBTA Foundation
GBTA Foundation Gala 2026

August 2 | Field Museum | Chicago

The room before the room. 

Before GBTA Convention officially begins, the GBTA Foundation Gala brings together the leaders, partners and changemakers shaping what comes next for business travel. 

If you’re bringing a team, a client group or senior leaders to Convention, a Gala table creates a high-value way to gather with purpose. 

If you’re attending on your own, an individual seat puts you in an evening designed for connection, recognition and impact. 

Many across the industry have already secured their place – see who's joining us and be part of it.

One night. One iconic venue. One opportunity to start the week in the right room. 

Tables and individual seats are available now.