Progress in business travel doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it’s something we build together and when people cross sectors and industries with common purpose, that is when real change happens.

That’s evident from where I am today, sharing the stage with leaders from the European Parliament, European Commission, regional tourism ministers, as well as other stakeholders, at the international Tourism 365 Conference in Opatija, Croatia.

GBTA and the business travel sector have a strong voice to help drive pragmatic sustainable tourism strategy – as our travel sector is at the leading edge of transformation with $1.57 trillion in organized, annual spend.

And as GBTA continues building transition pathways to decarbonize travel and establishing standards for sustainable choices, we ensure our industry has a seat at the table globally. We couldn’t do this without your support.

We saw that spirit in action last week during Climate Week NYC, where GBTA and industry partners hosted the “Connection for Action” think tank reception. The event brought together key stakeholders for fast-paced, interactive discussions on driving meaningful solutions for sustainability across our industry.

The event featured guest speakers, U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (FL) and Sean Casten (IL), who emphasized the importance of industry signals in shaping climate policy. Their presence, along with over 100 global constituents, reinforced the value of bringing together public/private leaders for climate action in business travel.

Related to this, GBTA’s SAF Corporate Connect launched last week. This new hub is designed to help corporate travel professionals accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—a critical piece of the sustainability puzzle. (Also don’t miss our October 29th webinar: SAF Playbook: Lessons from Corporate Sustainability and Travel Teams.)

Finally, multi-purpose travel is another pragmatic aspect of becoming more sustainable. So, to maximize my trip’s purpose this week, I will be in Vienna Thursday, presenting our latest industry insights at the Business Travel Day hosted by the Austria Business Travel Association. ABTA is one of nine valued partner organizations we collaborate with across Europe to make business travel better and our global voice stronger.

The journey of business travel is ongoing and it’s through your engagement and contributions that we continue to shape the path ahead. GBTA and our partners offer many volunteer opportunities to work alongside fellow professionals and tackle real industry challenges. Explore more here—and bring your voice to the table.

Together, we’re building a business travel ecosystem that’s purpose-driven, sustainable, and connected. Let’s keep moving forward.

By Suzanne Neufang