It is with anticipation at GBTA that, in a matter of days, we’ll again welcome the largest annual gathering of global business travel professionals to the GBTA Convention 2024 in Atlanta.

It’s always an exciting and productive few days when we get together to learn, connect and look ahead within and beyond our industry. (If you haven’t registered – there's of course still time to do so!)

Convention is a once-a-year event, but it represents the culmination of our year-round purpose at GBTA. Our strategic mission is to bring the business travel community together throughout the year for commerce, networking, career development and advocacy. Creating an industry community – just like fostering your own professional network − happens when we connect during Convention in the U.S., as well as the other 362 days of the year and around the world.

For our Annual Business Meeting last month, we looked at GBTA’s efforts “by the numbers” which show the scope and milestones across our global member community. Last year, GBTA membership grew to over 8,200 travel buyers, suppliers and industry professionals across 70 countries. GBTA has attracted new members, increased retention rates of current members, and grew our overall membership substantially in regions outside the U.S.

With learning as a key pillar of our mission, members have access annually to dozens of virtual and in-person events, webinars and GBTA Academy sessions around the world. Last year GBTA delivered over 430 hours of these learning activities and touched over 26,000 industry professionals. From templates to toolkits to benchmarking, members have access to a library of nearly 2,000 individual business travel resources including insightful research, industry surveys, on-demand webinars and more. And members will exclusively have access to the full 2024 GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook (BTI™) that we’ll unveil during Convention which outlines the five-year forecast for our industry.

The GBTA Member Hub which connects our member community online, saw over 64,000 interactions last year – from asking general questions, to helping industry peers with specific challenges, to accessing valuable resources. Members can also lend their voice, and help to lead the direction of business travel through GBTA’s advocacy efforts with national and regional policymakers.

GBTA members have many opportunities to shape and direct the future of our industry and profession. We hope you’re taking advantage of all the benefits of GBTA membership. If you’ll be at Convention, stop by the GBTA Zone on the Expo Floor to learn about membership, volunteer opportunities, research, advocacy, events, and the GBTA Foundation, and take part in some fun and charitable activities.

Thank you to all who continue to be a part of – and bring your voices to – our GBTA community and for making it what it is -- at Convention and every day.

I hope to see you in Atlanta!

Suzanne