Check-In with Suzanne

Uniting to Solve for What Matters Most in Business Travel

There’s no more important time to work on solutions together than when we face challenges, change or uncertainty. Fortunately, our industry has always come together in these moments – driven by collaboration, innovation and problem-solving purpose.

That spirit was on full display last week in Washington, D.C., where GBTA hosted two impactful events that brought our industry community together.

At the GBTA Sustainability Summit on June 10, the GBTA Foundation introduced the Sustainable Business Travel Transition Pathway – a strategic framework designed to guide our industry toward a more resilient future. With over a hundred travel leaders and sustainability experts teaching, learning and discussing throughout the Summit, the message was clear: sustainable business is smart business. We were also excited to announce that the second year of the GBTA Sustainability Acceleration Challenge is now open for submissions. The Challenge is designed to empower organizations worldwide to confidentially measure their progress on reducing emissions from business travel and to drive meaningful change.

From June 10-12, we also convened for GBTA’s annual U.S. Legislative Summit, a cornerstone event for GBTA members focused on driving industry resilience through government advocacy. Year after year, attendees tell us this is a most-impactful event, and it’s easy to see why. Their direct engagement with lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill helps shape policies and opinions that impact our industry. This summit wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of members from across our 38 U.S. Chapters. Thank you!

Looking ahead, we’re just weeks away from the GBTA Convention in Denver, the world’s largest gathering of global business travel professionals. This event is the culmination of our year-round work and a powerful opportunity to connect, learn and lead. And buyer attendee registration is already trending ahead of 2024, a strong signal of the industry’s eagerness to come together and shape what’s next.

At times of global trade uncertainty, travel helps deliver new partnerships and mend faltering ones. At GBTA, we remain steadfast that travel – including the safe, efficient movement of business travelers – is vital to global progress. When business travel moves forward, economies grow, innovation accelerates, and people and purpose connect.

Suzanne

Industry Spotlight

GBTA, IBTA and Transfesa Urge French, Spanish and Portuguese Governments to Improve International Rail Connections

Last week GBTA, along with the Iberian Business Travel Association (IBTA), the largest Spanish business travel and meetings organization; and Transfesa, a European leading company in sustainable door-to-door logistics and freight solutions, signed a letter to the governments of France, Spain and Portugal calling for investment in railway connectivity and reliability between these countries in order to reduce emissions and strengthen economic ties.

Five other non-government organizations: Réveil Écologique, Eco-Union, Zero, Ecodes and T&E, showed their support in the letter as well.

Read more here.

GBTA Research
New Research from GBTA and Radisson Hotel Group Goes Inside the Modern Hotel Program

As managed hotel programs undergo a period of rapid transformation, companies and their corporate travel managers are rethinking how they source, negotiate and manage hotel stays. New research released today by GBTA and the Radisson Hotel Group, highlights how travel buyers are modernizing rate structures, embracing innovation and adapting to traveler expectations

The report – The Evolution of Managed Hotel Programs – finds from survey results that corporate travel managers are seeking innovation within the accommodation procurement process, with annual procedures seen as outdated, expensive and inefficient.

The report also explores timely topics such as what is influencing booking decisions (i.e. company-negotiated rates, proximity and traveler preferences), opportunities for innovation in the hospitality process, addressing travel management gaps, and the outlook for 2025 business travel spending.

Read the full announcement here. Download the full report here or visit the GBTA Member Hub.

Resources

Crisis24 Intelligence Brief

More Information