Global Business Travel Association Launches Global Equity Program to Support Professionals in Emerging Markets

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The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) launches the Global Equity Program, offering sponsored memberships to business travel professionals in emerging markets.

Today, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), a leading organization representing the business travel sector worldwide, initiated its Global Equity Program (GEP). This program aims to empower professionals in the business travel industry from emerging markets by offering them a fully sponsored one-year membership to GBTA. This membership grants access to exclusive educational resources, networking opportunities, and paths for professional growth.

Eligibility for the GEP requires candidates to be employed in the business travel industry within a country classified by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as low to upper-middle income. Additionally, applicants must hold a salaried role and work for an organization that does not cover the cost of GBTA membership.

The application portal for the GEP is currently open. Marriott International has committed as the GEP’s exclusive Founding Sponsor, providing funding for the annual memberships of the first 20 successful candidates.

“GBTA is committed to improving access to ever-expanding set of professional resources while continuing to foster a growing network of members in underserved countries,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO at GBTA. “Thanks to the generosity of Marriott, we’re excited to make this vision a reality by providing underrepresented business travel professionals with opportunities to excel in their careers and contribute to their company’s success. We also look forward to welcoming more program sponsors and to the contributions of new and diverse voices in the GBTA community.”

Applications are being accepted until July 18th or until the current openings are filled; subsequent applicants will be placed on a waiting list for future opportunities. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out in August. GBTA plans to launch additional groups periodically throughout the year as more sponsors join the program.

“We are thrilled to see GBTA launch the Global Equity Program. We were honored when they invited us to become involved − we didn’t even question it,” said Tammy Routh, President, Allied Leadership Council, GBTA and Senior Vice President, Global Sales Organization at Marriott International. “If we let cost get in the way of someone contributing to our industry and accessing all the tools, education and opportunities GBTA has to offer, that means our industry’s representation is not inclusive of all its best thinkers. We see our support of GBTA’s GEP as doing what’s right to welcome diverse voices that are poised to move the global business travel industry forward.”

The acceptance of participants will depend on the sequence of received applications. Those selected in August will have their memberships activated within about two weeks, allowing them immediate access to a wealth of resources. These include a private network of industry professionals, educational workshops, professional development programs, exclusive industry insights, RFP templates, webinars, and a library of on-demand content.

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) stands as the leading global entity for business travel and meetings, based near Washington, D.C., and operating across six continents. With over 9,000 members, GBTA oversees the management of annual expenditures exceeding $345 billion in the global business travel and meetings sector.