UP FRONT SPEAKING OUT
THE POWER OF CONNECTION
A CHANGED WORLD Life is starting to feel more familiar, says the GBTA’s Suzanne Neufang, but will it ever be the same?
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— but also different. It was energising to feel the buzz, to see so many people networking, learning and collaborating, while event organisers prioritised health and safety for all. But the reality is there are still some detours on the road back to business travel. Government restrictions and lockdowns have made it difficult for businesses to plan a return to travel, especially across borders. This summer I was able to visit my husband, who is spending time in Germany, but I couldn’t travel to the UK for the industry Day of Action – a reminder that we still need to keep up our advocacy efforts for a consistent approach across nations. There have been upsides too. The pause in business travel gave the GBTA the opportunity to reset and implement changes. I’ve made it my top priority to listen and speak to members, buyers,
SUZANNE NEUFANG Suzanne Neufang was appointed Chief Executive of the GBTA in February 2021. She was previously Senior VP Americas for HRS Global Hotel Solutions and before that held roles at Sabre Travel Network, GetThere and Travelocity.
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hen you take a new role in the midst of a pandemic you’re not quite sure what to expect, but in the six months since I joined GBTA I continue to know one thing for sure: there’s an important task ahead in navigating the challenges and fostering recovery in the business travel industry and the travel ecosystem. In normal years, my role would involve lots of business travel, conferences, and events, but like so many of you I’ve found myself working almost solely remotely, with only my laptop and virtual meeting tools as a way of connecting with our members, teams, and industry colleagues. A big step forward came in early August when I was delighted to attend my first in-person conference since the outset of the pandemic. Walking into a convention centre with 1,000-plus other attendees felt familiar
suppliers, partners, staff, and volunteers across each of the regions. This will enable us to transform as an association fit for purpose, to ensure a solid foundation to see us through the pandemic and support members through education, networking, and of course advocacy efforts, to aid the recovery of the industry. We’ve also increased global representation with the recent GBTA Board of Directors elections, welcoming a UK-based VicePresident as well as regional board members to represent Canada and Europe. Even though there are challenges, our industry has and will always be resilient. We know that GBTA members are also keen to get out on the road again. In our most recent Covid-19 poll, most respondents reported they’ve been vaccinated with their vaccine passport at the ready. We are optimistic for a future where in-person events will be the norm again, even if a little different. The power of meeting, collaborating and connecting in person cannot be underestimated nor replaced. GBTA is committed to hosting several in-person events during the final quarter of 2021, with events in Paris, Orlando, Canada and Berlin. I very much look forward seeing many of you there.
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