Five years ago this month, the world was just beginning to realize the seriousness of what would become a many-months-long global pandemic.

At this time in 2020, I was stuck between New York and Germany because of COVID-19. What we thought would be a two-week pause ultimately brought our industry and so many others to a standstill for much longer. There was so much uncertainty and change on a daily basis. Everything felt broken.

The pandemic impacted nearly every aspect of how we work, live, and move forward. For our industry, it certainly reaffirmed the deep human need to connect in person. It also proved our resilience—no challenge is too great to overcome together. And it brought to the forefront the idea of “essential travel,” which both then and now, essentially means “travel for work.”

Today, business travel has largely rebounded, with global spending projected to reach a record $1.63 trillion USD in 2025. Yet challenges remain – and new ones appear regularly. History shows that every disruption leads to transformation, and our industry has emerged smarter and more intentional. We’re making every business trip count, leveraging innovation to shape the future, prioritizing resilience in travel, and adapting to shifting workplace – and workforce – dynamics.

If the past five years have taught us anything, it’s that business travel is more adaptable than ever. Experiencing a world at a standstill underscores its value—as a driver of economies, business, careers, and human connection. Even amidst uncertainty, we find balance and move forward.

Business travel’s recovery is thanks to the commitment and collaboration of industry professionals – and companies who have re-prioritized the need to meet in person. At GBTA, we know firsthand how leadership shapes the future—and now, we’re looking for the next generation of industry leaders. Your voice matters.

The 2025 GBTA Board of Directors election season is underway, with the call for candidate nominations open now through April 25. Board members play a critical role in guiding GBTA’s strategic direction and ensuring our industry’s voice is heard.

Seven seats are open in this election: President, Vice President, two Director At Large (Allied), and Canada, APAC and LATAM region positions (Direct). Nominate a peer—or yourself. Only active GBTA members can submit nominations. (You’ll receive a personalized link via email from “Election Services.” Contact ECS at gbtahelp@electionsservicescorp.com if you have any questions.) Candidates will be vetted to ensure qualifications are met and then announced on May 21, and members will be asked to vote June 2-24.

We celebrate our industry’s many voices working to achieve GBTA’s one core purpose: to shape the future of business travel together. Resilience, reinvention and collaboration – that will be the way forward to ensuring business travel remains a vital force for global connection and growth.

www.gbta.org