Check-In with Suzanne:

“Learning” Is Our Middle Name at GBTA

One of our guiding tenets at GBTA is providing meaningful learning opportunities for industry professionals throughout their career. That’s why you’ll find “Learning” among the trio of priority pillars of GBTA’s new brand. But most importantly, it is also our promise to you, our industry and how we’ll build the road to our collective future.

Every year, the GBTA Convention presents the largest, most impactful opportunity where commerce and learning come together all in one place for the business travel industry. And every year, we need your ideas, perspectives and “many voices” to deliver the best learning programming for our community. Yesterday we announced the opening of our Call for Proposals for Convention 2023.

New this year, we’ve streamlined the proposal process with more time to deliver your submissions. As in prior years, proposals will be peer-reviewed by a group of unsung heroes – volunteer business travel practitioners representing every sector of our association, who give generously of their time in evaluating and selecting sessions based on key considerations such as relevance, learning outcomes, and format. Get started on your Convention proposals – all the details are here and January 13, 2023, is the deadline.

I am also a big proponent of learning by listening and engaging with each other whenever we get together. While in Washington D.C. last week, I connected with our DC-based GBTA team and as a global team, we did a deep dive on the recent GBTA Recovery Poll learnings. I also had the opportunity to meet with Kerry Cosover of the NFL and Tony Bonanno of Marriott, chairs of our GBTA Sports, Media and Entertainment Committee to discuss their feedback on how GBTA can continue support them and other committees along their volunteer journeys. (Thanks, Kerry and Tony, for your time and passion to make GBTA better.)

Finally – I’d like to give a shout-out to the insights and learning from a lively panel during last week’s ATPCO Elevate event, discussing the “Corporate Travel State of Play.” Our GBTA Business Travel Index and recent polling results set the mood for the discussion amongst panelists Glenn Hollister of United Airlines, Nick Vournakis of CWT, and moderator Donna Airoldi of The BTN Group. Glenn shared that in the course of the first day at GBTA’s recent Convention, United Airlines quickly became oversubscribed on the amount of SAF they have been able to procure for 2023, indicating strong corporate demand for SAF. Nick shared that TMC services have become even more strategic in making travel with intent an actuality for companies returning their employees to “the road” while balancing sustainability concerns. And Donna guided our discussion into balancing economic and pricing headwinds with the need to convene.

I know you are sharing insights and best practices with each other regularly, as well. Thank you to all for making this such a collaborative community for learning, building careers, and creating meaning within the business travel industry.

Suzanne

Industry Spotlight

PATA - GBTA APAC Travel Summit
Day 1 | Main Stage Sessions Announced

Don’t miss this two day education and tradeshow event December 8-9 in Bangkok at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) Bangkok, Thailand.

Main stage sessions are now confirmed, Day one on main stage will have discussions on Blended Travel and Getting back to Business Travel, Tourism and MICE.

Blended Travel
With the rise in work from anywhere and the flexibility that brings, there is a renewed interest in blending business and leisure travel and activities. Furthermore, today’s travelers are thinking more about how they spend their time at home and on the road, and their impacts they have on their environment and local communities. Explore the impacts of this shift in mindset and the potential positive effect that travel can have on a local ecosystem.

Sustainability and its impact on the current and future of travel (Leisure, MICE, Business)
Climate change and efforts to improve sustainability practices continue to be relevant throughout the travel industry, particularly as travelers are making more socially conscious decisions in their travel planning. Together, let’s take a look at what’s happening today, what’s on the horizon and how we can reduce the environmental impact of travel to contribute to positive change.

Speaker announcements coming shortly, register now and secure your space.

GBTA Sustainability Summit | Brussels, 8 November 2022
Driving Action to Net Zero Business Travel

Announcing Think Tank Session at the Summit
“Turning ambition into action – what’s next to green business travel?”

Join Chris Elmitt, CEO of LIVVE, for this Interactive session to develop a climate action plan for our sector. This two part think tank session will be held on main stage at GBTA’s first ever Global Sustainability Summit on 8 November 2022 in Brussels, focusing on Driving Action to Net Zero Business Travel. Learn More

Register for the Conference and Sustainability Summit together and save €100! Just add to your Conference registration

Resources

Crisis24 Intelligence Brief

Asia - Typhoon Nesat tracking west-southwestward in the South China Sea Oct. 17; close approach to the Paracel Islands forecast Oct. 18-19.

Belgium - Security staff blocking access to Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Belgium, Oct. 18; airport access and flight disruptions ongoing.

Brazil - Severe weather forecast across parts of northern and western Brazil through Oct. 21. Flooding, landslides, and disruptions possible.

Switzerland - Swiss International Air Lines pilots in Switzerland have postponed a possible Oct. 17 strike; future strikes possible. United States - Adverse winter weather forecast across parts of the Upper Midwest, US, through at least Oct. 18. Hazardous travel conditions likely.

More Information