How does GBTA support hospitality and business travel in 2025?
MORE THAN 100 members and constituents of the Global Business Travel Association gathered in Washington, D.C., for the GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit 2025 to advocate for the role of business travel. Members from GBTA’s 38 U.S. chapters met with senators, representatives and congressional staff to advance business travel’s economic impact and improve the travel ecosystem.
The summit, held June 10 to 12, gave industry professionals an opportunity to network, learn and meet with legislators to highlight business travel’s role in the U.S. economy, GBTA said in a statement.
“For more than two decades, GBTA has hosted legislative fly-ins to connect business travel experts with U.S. policymakers to foster understanding, advocate for priority issues and facilitate a better experience for business travelers,” said Suzanne Neufang, GBTA’s CEO. “By promoting the strategic role of business travel in driving economies, innovation, jobs and strategic collaboration, we foster a more resilient future for business travelers and those who support them.”
The association advocated for streamlined international travel, including policies to improve traveler experience and restore confidence in U.S. entry processes. Participants also addressed the need to modernize the U.S. air traffic system, support sustainable aviation fuel and expand passenger rail as a travel alternative.
Attendees heard directly from members of Congress, including Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington, and from experts on topics such as air traffic system modernization, the evolution of SAF and U.S. passenger rail travel, the statement said.
In nearly 150 meetings with legislators, attendees shared GBTA’s policy priorities for U.S. business travel. They called on lawmakers to support modernization of the air traffic system; improve travel at U.S. borders; fund the hiring of 5,000 additional Customs and Border Protection officers; reject any extension of the diversion of the 9/11 Passenger Security Fee; provide resources for CBP’s implementation of the Entry and Exit Program to accelerate processing at points of entry; extend the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) through 2031; and fund improvements to the U.S. rail system.
Attendees also shared findings from the “GBTA U.S. Economic Impact Study: Business Travel’s Impact on Jobs and the U.S. Economy,” which shows business travel contributes $484.4 billion annually, or 1.9 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. They also presented GBTA poll results reflecting industry concern about the impact of U.S. government actions on business travel.
Last July, a GBTA study projected global business travel spending would reach $1.48 trillion by the end of 2024, surpassing the 2019 record of $1.43 trillion.
