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Check-In with Suzanne
The Next Era of Business Travel and Why 2025 Is Full of Promise
As we approach the end of 2024, there are many signs that point to a strong year ahead for business travel. Global business travel spending is projected to hit an all-time high of $1.63 trillion in 2025, underscoring the sector’s resilience and progress. Our most recent GBTA poll reflects an industry looking to the new year with optimism. Two-thirds of industry professionals reported a positive outlook, and over half of travel programs are unlikely to limit business travel next year. This confidence is fueled by easing travel costs, reduced inflation, an improving economy, rising traveler confidence, and increased demand for business travel.
But if you’ve worked in this industry for more than a minute, you know change and challenge are always in play.
That’s why GBTA’s mission of community, learning, and advocacy will be more relevant than ever as we move into the new year and the next era for business travel. So, how can you, as members and stakeholders, take advantage of this collective opportunity?
GBTA’s mission is squarely focused on growing, serving and collaborating with our unparalleled global community of industry professionals and partner leads. You can take advantage of the many ways to connect through GBTA, whether in-person or online, with your industry peers – including at events, conferences and webinars and via the member-exclusive GBTA Hub.
Education and professional development are also key to success in 2025. You can start the year strong with the “Fundamentals of Business Travel” course in January and the “Global Leadership Professional ® (GLP) Program” or Sustainable Travel Management courses kicking off in February and March. (Enrollment is now open.) And if you have year-end downtime now, why not get up to speed with actionable insights from GBTA research and conference sessions you may have missed.
Advocacy also remains at the heart of what we do. As governments transition and the geopolitical landscape evolves, GBTA continues to engage with policymakers to showcase the essential role and value of business travel. Meetings in Brussels and Washington, D.C., and today’s webinar on the U.S. election and its potential impact on business travel (similar to our previous EU elections webinar) are just a few examples of our efforts to amplify the value of our industry and its impact on economies, businesses and travelers worldwide. Keep up with business travel policy priorities and initiatives by signing up for GBTA’s U.S. and European advocacy newsletters.
As my last Check-In for 2024, on behalf of all of us at GBTA, I want to express sincere gratitude to our members, partners and the entire business travel community. It is the many voices of our industry that continue to propel it, and GBTA, forward. At the center of our mission and purpose is you.
In so many ways this was a year of progress. Together, we achieved a lot and set an optimistic, productive, more sustainable course for the future of our industry. The next era of global business travel is here − and we’re excited for what’s ahead. The journey is full of promise, and we’re excited to continue it with you. Here’s to a successful and prosperous 2025 for all!
Suzanne
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