Last week was a fitting example as I joined GBTA members and staff in Washington, D.C., not for just one meeting, but for several, which we scheduled concurrently. Internal staff “kick-off” workshops fit well with the GBTA U.S. Government Affairs (USGA) Committee working session, along with a local mixer – all made possible with just one plane or train ride. Multi-intent trips that combine productivity, people and planet will be a trend we’ll see – and practice more of – in 2023.
I want to give a shout-out to our USGA Committee (pictured) for their important work at last week’s meeting. Along with GBTA’s DC-based advocacy firm, Cornerstone Government Affairs, GBTA’s Shane Downey and the Committee members led by member Tricia Alsop discussed and narrowed the list of potential top US policy concerns on which GBTA will add its “voice” this year. Advocacy at GBTA is one of our top three pillars. As the USGA Committee works on its US Legislative Summit agenda for June, GBTA’s advocacy efforts will be front and center. You’ll hear more from us on that as well as efforts in Brussels, Ottawa, and other world capitals throughout 2023.
While GBTA is a global association, we know bringing professionals together on a local and national level is equally important. This week, 180+ attendees from our 36 U.S. chapters are gathered in Los Angeles for the GBTA U.S. Chapter Leadership Summit. They’ll cover topics such as industry forecasts and trends, U.S. legislative outlook, chapter best practices, and learning updates including on GBTA Academy. A big thank you to these chapter leaders and participants for your volunteerism and support of GBTA.
We are also grateful for your participation in GBTA’s research efforts which provide critical insights on the collective state of business travel. Please take a few minutes by Thursday to respond to our latest GBTA Business Travel Outlook Poll as we continue to track industry recovery and other important topics.
Suzanne
