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Check-In with Suzanne
GBTA Convention Is Where Insight, Innovation and Our Industry Converge
July is here—and with it, the anticipation for one of the most important moments of the year for global business travel. In a few short weeks, we’ll come together in Chicago for GBTA Convention 2026, our industry’s largest and most influential event. There’s nothing like the energy of thousands of business travel professionals—buyers, suppliers, partners—gathering from across the globe to connect, learn and move the industry forward. Haven’t made your plans yet? There’s still time to attend, sponsor or exhibit.
This year, Convention kicks off in new, exciting ways. We’ll debut the GBTA Foundation Gala, celebrating those in our industry driving meaningful, measurable change and impact for People and the Planet. VentureConnect also comes to Convention for the first time, bringing innovators, investors and industry experts together around real-world business travel needs.
From there, we’ll move into three dynamic days of programming—ranging from business transformation and career progression to economic forecasts, AI, sustainability, payments, risk and leadership. With nearly 90 education sessions and more than 250 speakers alongside impactful Main Stage discussions, the scope of insights will be unmatched. We’ve also built in meaningful time for connection and networking on the Expo floor and beyond. That’s where relationships are built and real business happens. While GBTA is more than just our annual convention, this is where our industry truly connects, learns and helps shape what’s next.
As we look ahead to Chicago, I’m especially excited about the new research we’ll be launching. Building on our latest U.S. Economic Impact Study, we’ll soon unveil our next Pricing Forecast and Business Travel Index forecast, two of our flagship studies that illuminate where the industry stands and where it’s headed. We will also reveal early learnings from our first-ever study on the economic impact of business travel within top global cities and destinations. There’ll be a lot to learn!
At GBTA, we believe research is most valuable when it goes beyond the numbers. GBTA Research helps the industry understand itself by bringing together economic data, market trends, traveler insights and member perspectives—providing trusted context, not just data points, to help organizations navigate change. And in an increasingly AI-driven world, we intentionally keep “humans in the loop,” with our data and analysis grounded in real industry expertise and experience. Access to a broad array of research is a top benefit of GBTA membership. At a time when change is constant and often complex, strong, reliable research matters more than ever.
Also central to shaping what’s next is our annual GBTA Board of Directors election. Today is the final day to cast your vote for the 2026 election, and I encourage all eligible members to participate. Then, join us tomorrow at 11:00am ET for our Annual Business Meeting where we will unveil election results and share a review of GBTA’s 2025 financials, key metrics, milestones, progress and what’s ahead in 2026. If you can’t attend live, I encourage you to register to watch the replay.
There is so much ahead in the weeks to come. I look forward to seeing many of you in Chicago where together, we will continue to strengthen our community and shape the future of global business travel.
Thank you all for being part of it.
Suzanne
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