GBTA Champions Business Travel’s Value and Future on Capitol Hill

More than 100 members and constituents of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), a global business travel and meetings trade organization, converged last week in Washington, D.C. for the GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit 2025 with the collective purpose of advocating for the vital role and value of business travel. Through direct meetings with senators, representatives and congressional staff, members from GBTA’s 38 U.S. chapters shared insights and championed policies to advance business travel’s impact as an economic driver, and to create a more connected and resilient travel ecosystem. Held June 10 through 12, the summit provided industry professionals with the opportunity to network, learn and engage directly with legislators to underscore the value of business travel in the U.S. economy. GBTA also advocated for streamlined international travel, including policies that enhance the traveler experience and restore confidence in U.S. entry processes. GBTA participants also discussed the need to modernize the U.S. air traffic system, support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and improve passenger rail to provide viable travel alternatives. “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. 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,” according to Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA.

Setting the Policy Agenda for Business Travel

Summit attendees heard perspectives directly from members of Congress including Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington), as well as from various experts on critical topics, including air traffic system modernization, the evolution of SAF and improving U.S. passenger rail travel. In close to 150 meetings with legislators, attendees shared GBTA’s policy priorities for U.S. business travel. Based on these priorities, GBTA constituents asked legislators to:

• Support the modernization of the air traffic system
• Improve business travel at U.S. borders
• Support funding for the hiring of 5,000 additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers
• Reject efforts to extend the diversion of the 9/11 Passenger Security Fee
• Support additional resources for CBP’s implementation of the Entry and Exit Program in order to accelerate the safe facilitation of business travelers at the nation’s points of entry
• Support the inclusion of the extension of the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) through 2031
• Support future funding for U.S. rail improvements

Summit attendees also shared with congressional members key takeaways from the “GBTA U.S. Economic Impact Study: Business Travel’s Impact on Jobs and the U.S. Economy” outlining how U.S. business travel contributes $484.4 billion annually, or 1.9% of the U.S. gross domestic product. They also showcased GBTA’s recent poll results reflecting industry concern about the potential negative impact of U.S. government actions on business travel.

GBTA Recognizes U.S. Legislators for Championing Business Travel

The GBTA announced Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington) and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) as the 2025 recipients of its prestigious GBTA Navigator Award. The award is presented to elected officials who have been strong advocates for issues integral to the business travel industry, and recognizes them for championing the needs of business travelers and the broader travel sector. Rep. Larsen is the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and, in his role, he has advocated for safety and efficiency for aviation. Last year, he worked in a bipartisan fashion to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Re-Authorization Bill, which included several GBTA-supported priorities, such as safety improvements to the National Airspace System, studies to improve accessibility concerns, and workforce investments to train more pilots and air traffic controllers. This year, Rep. Larsen has worked with the Department of Transportation to make improvements to our nation’s air traffic control system, strategically enhance the workforce for long-term success and foster innovation to improve aviation safety. Sen. Moran has championed increasing the production of SAF. Late last year, he formed the bipartisan SAF Caucus to find ways to promote technologically innovative solutions to create a sustainable aviation industry and increase U.S. competitiveness in the domestic production of SAF. Sen. Moran is actively involved in promoting aviation safety through legislative efforts and oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He has championed bills to improve aviation safety, including the NOTAM Improvement Act, and has pushed FAA leadership on safety system failures and progress in implementing improvements. The GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit is the only event in the U.S. that advocates for legislation to make the business travel industry better. This year’s summit was made possible by Altour, BWH Hotels, Cornerstone, Delta Airlines, Enterprise Mobility, CIBT, United Airlines and USiLAW.