Monday, June 17, 2024
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Last week in Washington D.C., over 100 members of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) gathered for the 2024 GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit. This event saw business travel advocates engaging directly with members of Congress and their staffs, promoting data-driven insights and seeking support for policies that underpin a sustainable business travel sector.
Since 2007, the GBTA, a leading global trade association, has organized these summits to bridge communication with U.S. lawmakers, champion critical industry issues, and enhance the travel experience for professionals.
Policy Discussions Set the Stage for Strategic Advocacy
Before their discussions with legislators, summit attendees were briefed by several Congress members including Representative Brad Schneider and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, as well as experts discussing issues like visa processing and the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
During nearly 150 meetings on June 12th, attendees discussed findings from the “GBTA U.S. Economic Impact Study,” which demonstrates that U.S. business travel annually contributes $484.4 billion, equating to 1.9% of the GDP. The report highlights that every dollar spent in this sector generates approximately $1.15 in GDP.
The advocacy focused on key 2024-2025 policy priorities for U.S. business travel:
- Enhancing passenger facilitation both domestically and internationally to elevate the travel experience while safeguarding traveler rights.
- Advancing sustainable practices within the business travel sector to transition to cleaner fuel and more environmentally friendly solutions, significantly reducing carbon emissions.
- Upgrading both physical and digital travel infrastructures, including a push for the modernization of air traffic control systems to enhance safety and minimize disruptions, as well as improvements in intercity rail infrastructure and laws facilitating cross-border travel and bookings.
The participants urged support for the Farm to Fly Act, recognizing SAF as an advanced biofuel, and the Visa Processing Improvement Act, both critical for advancing these goals.
GBTA honored Senator Jacky Rosen and Representative Sam Graves with the “GBTA Navigator Award” for their dedication to the business travel community. Senator Rosen, notably, has played a pivotal role in reviving the travel sector post-pandemic and spearheaded the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act, establishing a new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to create a unified national tourism strategy.
Representative Graves has been a staunch advocate for business travel, focusing on the long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enhance national airspace safety and efficiency.
The 2024 GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit, supported by United Airlines, BWH Hotels, Enterprise Mobility, and Cornerstone Information Systems, remains a unique platform for advocating legislative support to improve and innovate the U.S. business travel landscape.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) stands as the leading global organization for business travel and meetings, based in the Washington, D.C. area, with a presence across six continents. With over 9,000 members, GBTA oversees more than $345 billion in annual expenditures worldwide for business travel and meetings.
