Leslie draws upon over 20 years of expertise in all facets of the Hospitality Industry and Higher Education. She has been asked to serve in various leadership capacities from leading travel programs to Academic Dean for an International school. Currently, Leslie is Director of Travel Category for JLL, as well as an ad hoc Professional…
Business travel is on the road to recovery, as evidenced by the forecasts, insights and turnout at the Global Business Travel Association’s 2021 Convention held last week in Orlando, FL. After navigating months of pandemic-related planning, the event—the world’s largest business travel expo annually—attracted over 3,500 registered professionals from more than 20 countries, and featured 170+ travel industry and expert speakers, 50 education sessions and 200+ exhibitors. The state of the industry, the future…
Fresh from the GBTA Convention in Orlando last week, I am still processing many of the amazing moments. Coming back together truly reinforces the power and value of meeting in person. Feedback that kept coming up in discussions with Convention attendees last week centered around quality. Quality of the content featuring important topics for our industry right now. Quality in the education programs offered across all levels. And quality in the meetings held on the Expo floor and in the hallways. Many education sessions…
What do you value? What do you worry about? We’re listening. Recently over 500 members made their voices heard in a survey about in-person attendance at the GBTA Convention next month. Many shared their enthusiasm: “I need to connect with my prospects and partners in person and drive business along.” “Getting back to travel and seeing what the breakout sessions will offer as we work to find our…
Through the twists and turns that have marked the past 19 months, we’ve all continued to navigate to what’s next. For GBTA, that includes how to host an annual convention that re-connects the global business travel industry, safely and responsibly, after a break of over two years amid a lingering pandemic. Last week we all got some positive news. The Biden Administration announced the lifting of COVID-19-related travel restrictions beginning November 8 for fully…
Education, learning and professional development sometimes don’t get the credit they deserve for how much they do to inform, inspire, engage and advance us. But at GBTA, they are not unsung heroes–they are the stars. When it comes to volume, breadth and relevancy, GBTA takes deep pride in leading the industry in year-round learning and…
As Sr. Director, Global Client Group, Mary leads a global client team, providing global integrated solutions both on-line and off-line to help Fortune 500 companies manage and optimize their travel investment through consultation on process and purchasing savings, innovative solutions and traveler experience. Mary possesses thirty years of successful management in employee, customer and supplier…
Back after a July hiatus, the WINiTIn45 webinar series delivered a powerful and timely session this week: WINiT at Work + Home, featuring Patti Huska, Chief People Officer at Amex GBT, and Mary Ellen Hess, Executive Vice of Business Development for CTM. Both women are also WINiT Strategic Advisory Board members and were just named…
We spend a lot of time these days talking about and advocating for the return of business travel. From boarding planes to get from Point A to B, to going back to hotel nights and ground transportation options. And we’re all considering the overall implications to the industry’s bottom-line. But there’s another critical aspect of…
Alexandria, VA – WINiT by GBTA announced today new appointments to its Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) as well as the debut of a new Glass Breakers initiative, all designed to advance WINiT’s continued growth, program development and volunteer impact. Working in partnership with the Global Business Travel Association, WINiT is a global network of women and…
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