News to Know

Q&A: GBTA’s Suzanne Neufang on the Evolution of Business Travel
(SOURCE: SMARTBRIEF)

Business travel has been steadily increasing after a pandemic-era downturn, and industry professionals are adapting to meet travelers’ changing needs. In this interview, Global Business Travel Association CEO Suzanne Neufang discusses the business travel forecast, the industry’s growing focus on sustainability and what will be on the agenda for the association’s annual GBTA Convention in August.

How has business travel rebounded since the beginning of the pandemic, and what does GBTA predict for the near future? Have inflation and economic uncertainty had an impact on business travel in recent months?
Business travel has been making a steady comeback from the pandemic over the past 18-24 months. We started seeing a return of domestic trips in 2021, and last year the rebound gained even more momentum. In an April GBTA poll, travel buyers estimated that domestic business travel bookings have reached 72% of pre-pandemic levels, while international bookings have recovered to 63%. Spend is tracking even higher. This positive trend is expected to continue, indicating a strong outlook for business travel.

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Enjoy the United Club.

Schedule a first-time meeting with United at GBTA Convention and earn a one-time United Club pass for your company. Be among the first 10 companies to finalize your travel program by 11/30/2023 and earn five United Club memberships for your company.

No matter how big (or small) your company is, we offer travel solutions made especially for your business travel needs. Schedule time with us at GBTA to find out how we can take your business to new heights.

GBTA Convention 2023
Opportunity to Sign up for Your Global Entry Interview at GBTA Convention, Dallas, TX

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will be at the Global Business Travel Association Convention in Dallas in August 2023, to conduct in-person enrollment interviews for CBP’s Global Entry program. Global Entry allows expedited clearance for preapproved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Participants may enter the U.S. using automated kiosks or touchless portals located at 62 U.S. airports, and 15 preclearance sites.

Global Entry approval also allows U.S. travelers to be eligible to participate in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PrePre✓^® program, which expedites screening through TSA checkpoints at participating airports.

GBTA Europe
Unlocking the Potential of Digital Travel Documents

  A key pillar of GBTA’s global advocacy positions is improved passenger movement across borders. To further global improvements, GBTA commented on the European Commission’s initiative to digitalise travel documents to advance security and ease of movement.

GBTA’s key priorities, include;

• seamless cross-border travel and passenger clearance,
• robust data privacy,
• and standards that support interoperable digital systems for all travellers.

GBTA consulted with the European Advisory Board and committees to craft positions for the EU Consultation to ensure the positions reflected the needs and market experience of the European traveler.

GBTA will continue to push for these considerations in Europe and on a global level to ensure these standard are entrenched as the utilization of digital travel documents grow.

Read the full Position Paper submitted to the European Commission here.