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Check-In with Suzanne
The Power of Leadership, Collaboration and People
Last week I was honored to represent GBTA at the spring Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) CEO Summit in London – a project chaired by Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and begun four years ago by then-Prince Charles to get the private sector working together on faster progress regarding climate-related issues. With key topics ranging from financing to developing economies to energy innovation, SMI also covers many different verticals, from agriculture to aviation and the construction industry. GBTA sits on the Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism Taskforce, newly formed in 2023, and I was able to highlight in the London meeting GBTA’s own recently launched Sustainable Procurement Standards for Aviation. If you’re interested in learning more, SMI just released its 2023 Annual Report. It’s an impressive effort focused on doing – and proving the way forward.
Similarly, here at GBTA, I continue to be impressed and grateful for our many members and volunteers who generously help each other and our industry in so many ways including education. Education sessions at the GBTA Convention enable unmatched learning for attendees and a big part of making that happen is the extensive review process of the Peer Review Council (PRC). Ninety PRC volunteers (the most ever in past years) completed a thorough two-and-a-half month, double-blinded review process, pouring over 366 proposals received by GBTA for this year’s annual Convention. The PRC is made up of industry buyers, suppliers, and volunteer leaders from across our membership. I’d like to extend a very big thank you to these volunteers for their efforts to ensure GBTA delivers the highest quality educational programming at Convention. Proposal status notifications will be sent by month’s end and session development kicks off in April. (Last year, we accepted 18% of submitted proposals, so it is a very rigorous selection process!)
Bringing more to our members and industry, globally and locally, continues as we welcome new regional and country leaders to the GBTA Team. Recently joining GBTA are Elle Ng-Darmawan as Regional Director for APAC; Janette Acosta Sanchez as Country Director for Canada; and Nancy Goychochea as Country Manager for Mexico. They will help GBTA continue its mission of bringing community, learning and advocacy opportunities to our members on a national and internationally connected basis. You can meet Nancy at the upcoming GBTA Mexico City Conference and Janette at the GBTA Canada Conference in April, and Elle at the GBTA APAC Conference in May.
There are only a few days until the March 26th deadline to submit candidate nominations for six open seats in the GBTA Board of Directors Elections. Find out more about being a Board member and look for the nomination link in your email. Make sure you use your “voice” to help shape the future of global business travel.
Suzanne
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