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Your voice is needed more than ever.

Business travel has an impact of $484 billion to the U.S. economy, making it a key economic driver.

However, this critical sector potentially faces significant challenges:

Policy Uncertainty: Fluctuations in tariffs, travel bans, and visa processing are disrupting business travel and deterring international visitors, with unforeseen economic consequences.
Global Warnings: Nations like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and numerous European countries (including Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom) have all recently warned their travelers to be aware when traveling to the U.S.

At the U.S. Legislative Summit, join GBTA and your fellow industry leaders to engage directly with Congress to:

Champion the Economic Impact: Underscore the indispensable role and value of business travel in the U.S. economy.
Advocate for Streamlined International Travel: Push for policies that enhance the traveler experience and restore confidence in U.S. entry processes.
Promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): The U.S. is embracing a strategy for energy production as “All of the Above”. SAF is a key bipartisan approach to ensure the U.S. is tapping into this critical market.

Your Voice Matters: join the Legislative Summit to discuss bi-partisan issues and drive positive change for the industry.

Regards,
Shane

Shane Downey
Vice President, Government Relations
+1 703 459 7425
[email protected]

Government Relations

2024 Year in Review

This past year has been a key elections year across the globe, with over 1.6 billion ballots cast across 74 national and regional elections. GBTA continued to represent the collective voice of business travel professionals, with direct engagement in Brussels, Washington D.C. and Toronto. Our advocacy work focused on driving the policy agenda for business travel and educating the industry on upcoming new legislations – setting up the business travel industry for success in 2025.

Top 10 Highlights
from GBTA Advocacy efforts in 2024

On behalf of our members and stakeholders, GBTA actively engaged with governments to educate them about the business travel industry, its significance, and our stances on critical legislative issues.

1

Formulating policy priorities for business travel in a major elections year

GBTA released our EU and U.S. policy priorities prior to the elections, to guide the candidates in their re-election bids and to set the stage for the new legislative sessions.

Read our calls to action:
▶ United States
▶ Europe

2

Unpacking new pre-screening and border requirements in Europe

The EU is readying new entry and exit requirements. GBTA hosted a webinar with the European Commission to explain the changes and how travelers should prepare.

Listen to the webinar:
▶ ETIAS/EES webinar

3

Making sure travel credentials are fully interoperable between the EU and US

The EU is considering allowing the use of digital travel documents in place of passports. GBTA obtained guarantees that the new rules won’t negatively impact travelers from outside Europe.

Read our statement:
▶ GBTA statement

4

Recognizing policymakers who champion business travel

A Member of the European Parliament and two Members of Congress were awarded GBTA’s Navigator Award for their legislative support in 2024.

Discover 2024 Awards Recipients:
▶ Europe Navigator Award
▶ United States Navigator Award

5

Reinforcing the trusted traveler program between Canada and the U.S.

GBTA met the Canadian Ambassador and discussed the need for improved passenger travel in the airports and at the borders, with trusted traveler programs and additional staffing.

View our post:
▶ GBTA meets Canadian Ambassador

6

Urging Congress in the U.S. to tackle the visa backlog

During our Legislative Summit in June 2024, members met over 100 Members of Congress to ask for additional staffing for visa processing, and the urgent approval of the FAA re-authorization Bill.

Read the outcome of GBTA Legislative Summit:
▶ GBTA Legislative Summit recap

7

Pushing the EU for more consistency on emissions measurement

GBTA worked with policymakers to ensure faster progress on the CountEmissionsEU proposal, set to harmonize the framework for emissions calculations across all modes of transport.

Read our statement:
▶ GBTA's CountEmissionsEU statement

8

Delivering data on the economic impact of business travel

GBTA published a study that finds business travel contributed $421 billion to the U.S. economy. GBTA distributed this study to members of Congress to show why passage of our priorities are important to the US.

Read the full economic study:
▶ GBTA Research Report

9

Pushing for incentives to scale-up Sustainable Aviation Fuel adoption

GBTA was one of the launch partners for the SAF coalition in the U.S., to rapidly scale investment in the SAF sector and advocate for the incentives and policies necessary to promote U.S. economic competitiveness in the emerging SAF marketplace

10

Calling for improved passenger rights in Europe

GBTA participated in a European Parliament’s hearing to ask for better protection of business travelers' rights as passengers.

Read our position paper:
▶ GBTA Position Paper: EU Passenger Rights Proposals

As 2025 approaches, it is poised to be a consequential year of both change and opportunity. GBTA’s thought leadership, the commitment of our volunteers, and the groundwork laid over the past years have made us well-prepared to collectively navigate the shifts and drive outcomes that shape a beneficial future for the global business travel industry.

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