GBTA Convention 2026 Unites the Global Business Travel Industry to Connect, Learn, Innovate and Shape the Sector’s Future
CHICAGO – The Global Business Travel Association ( GBTA ), the world's premier business travel and meetings trade organization, concluded GBTA Convention 2026 yesterday after welcoming more than 5,500 attendees from 47 countries for the industry's largest annual gathering and a week of discussions focused on the future of business travel. Held August 3-5 at McCormick Place, GBTA Convention 2026 convened business travel buyers, suppliers, innovators, policymakers, volunteer leaders and partners to connect, learn and help shape the future of the global business travel industry. This year’s Convention brought together almost 1,200 buyers from 681 companies representing more than $46 billion USD in self-reported annual travel spend. The event also featured nearly 400 exhibitors and over 1,300 first-time attendees, reflecting the continued strength, resilience and evolution of the global business travel community. The Convention also delivered an estimated $18.5 million in economic impact to the local Chicago area. GBTA Convention continues to be where the global business travel industry comes together to understand what's changing, build meaningful connections and shape what's next. This year's gathering reinforced the essential role business travel plays in driving economic growth and cooperation around the world, while helping organizations and professionals adapt, innovate and lead through change. Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA Throughout the three-day event, attendees explored the trends, technologies and workforce dynamics reshaping business travel, while sharing practical strategies for managing programs in an increasingly complex global environment. Centered on the themes of Our Selves, Our Organizations and Our World , GBTA Convention 2026 reflected the association’s commitment to strengthening the industry through community, learning, advocacy, innovation, sustainability and professional development. Education, Insights and Professional Development GBTA Convention 2026 featured almost 90 education sessions across 17 tracks and more than 250 peer-reviewed speakers and presenters, offering practical insights and best practices for business travel professionals across every segment of the industry. Programming highlighted GBTA’s expanding learning pathways and professional development resources, including Advanced Principles of Business Travel Management, Strategic Meetings Management, Sustainable Travel Management and Supplier Essentials. GBTA also showcased its new on-demand GBTA Learning and Community+ digital platforms, both designed to help business travel professionals access education, resources and peer connection throughout the year. Main Stage Programming Explored Industry Outlook, Leadership and Impact Main Stage sessions featured GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang and GBTA Board President Rosemary Maloney, along with keynote speakers and industry leaders including Frances Frei, Anne Morriss, Chef José Andrés, Jia Jiang and executives from across the travel ecosystem. Together, these sessions explored leadership, resilience, innovation, business transformation and social impact, while examining how organizations can navigate change, strengthen travel programs, better understand traveler needs and demonstrate the enduring value of in-person connections. Newly Released GBTA Business Travel Index Points to Continued Growth and Evolving Market Dynamics During Convention, GBTA unveiled the 2026 GBTA Business Travel Index , made possible by Visa. The 18th edition of the report forecasts global business travel spending to reach a record $1.71 trillion USD in 2026, with the number of business trips worldwide expected
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