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Check-In with Suzanne
Empowering the Future of Business Travel through People, Insights and Connection
GBTA’s mission of community, learning and advocacy will be in full play at the GBTA +VDR Conference 2024 in Partnership with the Nordic Business Travel Associations coming up next week in Copenhagen, November 4-6. (There’s still time to register to attend!) This event will put the current and future state of European business travel in the spotlight and offers a platform for deep conversations and peer-to-peer sharing. Awaiting delegates is a diverse range of education and main stage sessions, Europe-specific research insights, the Big Idea workshop, and eight committee roundtables, as well as new offerings including an innovation-focused Tech Village and a Connections Zone to learn about GBTA initiatives. We are excited to be in Copenhagen this year, marking the first time GBTA has partnered with the Nordic Business Travel Associations. Thank you to all our partners, sponsors, exhibitors, advisory groups, committees and volunteers for making it possible!
Additionally, the co-located annual GBTA Sustainability Summit on November 4th will be the place for industry-wide dialogue on responsible travel, and will also feature the release of the GBTA Sustainability Acceleration Challenge results. The Challenge will provide a global benchmark − based on the aggregated assessments submitted by the nearly 250 participating companies − in how our industry is addressing carbon emissions reduction and adopting sustainable practices.
Looking back to last week, I’d like to wish a very happy 10th anniversary to GBTA WINiT, a program of the GBTA Foundation focusing on advancing professional development and careers for women in business travel. Last week’s WINiT Summit at the iconic TWA Hotel at New York City’s JFK airport was a chance to reflect on WINiT’s beginnings and also, importantly, on what is needed ahead. The Foundation unveiled its “GBTA WINiT Path to Gender Parity: Advocating for 50/50 Leadership by 2035” initiative to achieve gender equity in our industry – with attendees participating in a workshop around five pillars: inspiring change, shaping leaders, engaging at every level, motivating change and recognizing achievement. At the evening’s WINiT Gala, the accomplishments of 10 individuals and organizations were honored, along with the WINiT 2024 Top 50 Award recipients. To top off an inspiring and productive day, we raised over $13,000 in crowd-sourced donations for an inaugural GBTA Foundation scholarship fund. Thank you to all for your enthusiasm and support, with a particular shout-out to GBTA’s friend and patron, Dave Hilfman, for providing very generous matching funds for this Foundation effort. Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners!
Now – switching gears a bit -- what do offshore drilling companies, sports teams, airline and transportation crews, project consultancies and emergency management organizations have in common? They all have non-standard, complex challenges in their business travel programs and traveler needs. That’s the premise of the 3rd annual GBTA Project, Crew, and Team Travel Summit in Houston, November 18-19. Tackling this specialized sector, travel buyers and suppliers will come together for education and active discussions including use cases regarding unique traveler journeys, travel logistics, risk management, mobility issues and tech innovations. If you’re managing “non-traditional” business travel and its complexities, this event is the place to discover new approaches and build valuable partnerships. Buyers join free – and suppliers are welcome, too! Thanks to our generous sponsors for making this unique event possible.
And there’s so much more ahead! Find us online or in person at any of these upcoming events.
See you soon,
Suzanne
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