Advocacy
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About GBTA Government Relations Committee
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 7,600+ members represent and advocate for the $1.158 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information, visit gbta.org and gbtafoundation.org.
Our focus is to equip our members with the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate the rapidly changing business travel landscape resulting in improved managed travel programs, top line business growth, and exemplary careers. We do this through the following:
Advocacy
Global Reach, Local Focus
With members from across the world, GBTA has the privilege and duty to represent the many varied voices of the global business travel community. As we continue to grow internationally, we aspire to provide the space for learning and debate on the global trends that affect us all, but with the understanding that the impact of these trends and how to address them will vary locally. And when there is clear consensus across the industry, we will advocate for our common interests to represent our members to their regional policymakers.
Current US Initiative (as of June 1, 2023)
Grassroots Advocacy Action Center - GBTA Hub
Support Funding for Preclearance Operations to Boost Our Local Economy
Canadians make up the top visitors to the U.S.; however, during the pandemic, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance operations, which screen passengers in Canada prior to boarding their flights to the U.S., faced cuts and have not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels – for staff numbers, hours, and overtime – despite a growing desire to travel.
Toronto Pearson International Airport is the fourth largest port of entry by air to the U.S., and these cuts have left Toronto Pearson without the resources needed to handle demand for U.S. flights, leading last summer to long wait times and lines for U.S.-bound passengers, as well as fewer flights offered for passengers headed to the U.S. this winter.
GBTA PAC – US Advocacy
Sustainable Airline Fuel:
April, 2022 (passed as part of the Build Back America Bill, Summer 2022)
SAF is of critical importance to the aviation sector, and the SAF blender’s tax credit is an important foundational policy to establish a new domestic SAF industry and create tens of thousands of jobs. It is imperative that we act today to ensure that our energy sources are cleaner, more sustainable, and more secure. Our organizations stand ready to work with Congress to ensure we meet our shared goal of a net zero aviation industry by 2050.
Member Engagement:
Please join GBTA in furthering the legislative goals of the business travel industry by contributing to Business Travel PAC. Your generous contributions will go directly to pro-business travel candidates for federal office. NextGen air traffic control modernization, expanding TSA Precheck and CBP's Global Entry and lower taxes and fees are among the policies GBTA's government relations team is championing for you on Capitol Hill.
Business Travel PAC is the collective voice of the business travel industry. Be a part of the voice and donate today!
Donate to NBTA PAC (donationreport.com)
Questions?
Sharon Fogarty
Co-Chair Government Relations
[email protected]
