Held 2-4 November at the Austria Center Vienna, the Conference brought together 350 travel buyers, 75 exhibitors and 130 speakers for three days focused on the opportunities, challenges and innovations now and ahead for the industry.
Conference highlights included:
- New regional insights from the 2026 GBTA Business Travel Index: Despite ongoing economic and political challenges, Europe-originating business travel spending is forecast to reach €404 billion ($453.9 billion) in 2026, up 7% from 2025. Europe-based organisations are expected to generate approximately 600 million business trips this year, up 0.7%.
- A record Sustainability Summit: The GBTA Foundation’s 2026 Sustainability Summit brought together more than 800 sustainability, procurement and industry professionals. Results from the 2026 Sustainability Acceleration Challenge showed the average travel program sustainability maturity score rising to 1.5 out of 5, from 1.4 in 2025. Thirty companies were also recognised for sustainability leadership.
- Europe VentureConnect: Made possible by Amadeus Cytric, the program brought together eight travel startups and nine investors and industry professionals for a series of pitches. Following an audience vote, 1-CP, led by founder and CEO Erik-Jan Krausch, was named the Europe VentureConnect winner.
- Industry recognition: Dan Humby received the 2026 Jutta Luoma Award for his leadership and volunteer service to GBTA and the European business travel community.
- Learning and connection: The program featured 33 education sessions, the return of "The Big Idea" in a “The Traitors”-style debate, Braindate sessions for peer-to-peer connection and The Studio@GBTA, which brought 24 industry supplier leaders together to share insights and perspectives, with content rolling out in the coming days.
The GBTA + VDR Europe Conference will return 8-10 November 2027 in Cologne, Germany.
Read the full announcement here
