GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit Brings the Voices of Business Travel to Policymakers to Advance Industry Priorities

Over 100 GBTA members converged last week in Washington D.C. for the GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit 2024, June 10-12, where they met with U.S. Senators, Representatives and their staff to share data-informed insights and advocate for policies that support a sustainable future for business travel.

“Most U.S. legislators fly or commute weekly on business trips that enable them in their roles and to serve their constituents. We want to ensure they are informed about business travel’s unique purpose and value in bringing people together and fostering economic growth,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA.

Participants heard perspectives directly from members of Congress including Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (Delaware At-Large), as well as from experts on visa processing and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

In close to 150 meetings with policymakers, Summit participants presented takeaways from GBTA’s latest economic impact study outlining how U.S. business travel contributes $484.4 billion annually, or 1.9% of the U.S. gross domestic product. Participants also shared GBTA’s policy priorities for U.S. business travel for 2024-2025 – i.e., focusing on passenger facilitation across the U.S. and globally, promoting sustainable business travel, and modernizing physical and digital travel and transportation infrastructure − while also asking legislators to support the Farm to Fly Act and the Visa Processing Improvement Act.

GBTA also recognized Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Senate Commerce, Subcommittee Chair on Tourism, Trade and Export Control, and Representative Sam Graves (R-MO), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, with its prestigious “GBTA Navigator Award” for championing business travel in the U.S.

Read the full announcement here.

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