Global Travel Management has become a member of the Business Travel Association (BTA), strengthening the company’s involvement with the organisation that represents the UK business travel industry.
The membership will give Global Travel Management greater opportunities to contribute to industry discussions, access research and insight, participate in specialist working groups and engage with issues affecting business travel in the UK.
For customers, the move will help Global Travel Management remain closely connected to developments across the industry and turn that knowledge into practical advice for businesses and their travellers.
The Business Travel Association represents travel management companies across the UK, with its members responsible for more than 90% of managed business travel booked in the country. It works with government, suppliers and other stakeholders to represent the interests of the business travel sector and the organisations and travellers it supports.
Global Travel Management Managing Director Scott Pawley said:
“Joining the BTA is an important step for Global Travel Management. We have always believed that being closely involved with the wider business travel industry helps us provide a better service to our customers.
“The BTA gives us an opportunity not only to learn from the experience and expertise across the industry, but also to contribute our own perspective as an independent travel management company.
“Most importantly, we want to use that involvement to benefit our customers – whether that means keeping them better informed about changes affecting business travel, contributing to discussions about the future of the industry or bringing new ideas back into the way we support their travel programmes.”
The BTA’s work encompasses many of the issues that affect businesses when their employees travel, including aviation, rail and ground transport, accommodation, meetings and events, technology, sustainability and people and talent.
Its activities include engagement with government and policymakers, industry research and thought leadership, events and conferences, as well as specialist working groups through which members can share expertise and contribute to the development of the sector.
For Global Travel Management, membership will also provide another source of insight that can be shared with customers through the company’s regular business travel communications.
Scott Pawley added:
“Business travel changes constantly. New technology, regulation, sustainability requirements, airline and rail developments and geopolitical events can all affect the way companies manage travel.
“Being part of the BTA puts us even closer to those conversations. Our job is then to take that knowledge and make it useful for the businesses and travellers we look after.”
Global Travel Management plans to take an active role in the association, including exploring opportunities to participate in relevant BTA working groups and events.
The membership complements Global Travel Management’s existing industry relationships and reinforces its commitment to providing customers with informed, independent and expert business travel management.