GBTA Puts The Future On Show In Toronto
The future is here and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is celebrating it with news at its annual Canada Conference in Toronto this week that business travel in Canada is poised for a strong, evolving future.
GBTA welcomed Canadian business travel professionals and companies to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the annual regional event, with over 685 registered business travel buyers, suppliers and other attendees and 58 exhibiting companies coming together for main stage presentations, panel discussions, and education sessions along with Canada volunteer recognition and the conference’s signature “Big Night Out” networking event.
Nancy Tudorache, Regional Vice President-Americas, GBTA, said that: “Bringing together GBTA’s business travel community for insights, learning, and face-to-face connection time are all key to navigating and growing the sector in Canada.”
Tudorache continued: “This event engages industry professionals and organizations in better understanding and preparing for the future of business travel while also enabling them to engage and learn in an incredible peer-to-peer environment.”
Conference topics focused on critical priorities and opportunities in the Canadian business travel sector including:
- Travel manager needs of the future
- Traveller evolution and the passenger journey
- Insights on the roll-out of New Distribution Capability (NDC)
- Sustainability in business travel
- Rebuilding the industry workforce
The conference also featured numerous buyer and supplier sessions, networking opportunities and a special welcome event for new and returning industry professionals.
As for the outlook for business travel in Canada, the news is good, and Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA, presented Canada-specific forecasts from GBTA’s Business Travel Index (BTI) Outlook report as well as overall insights and trends ahead for the industry.
Highlights included:
- With most global business travel on the rebound post-pandemic, based on the last GBTA BTI, in 2022 Canada was projected to have year-on-year growth of 47%.
- At that pace, Canada is among the top 15 markets worldwide for business travel spending with $15.2 billion USD for 2022.
- In 2023, the forecast for spending growth is 32%, or a total of $20.1 billion USD.
- Based on current forecasts, Canada is expected to be back at pre-pandemic levels in 2025 with an annual business travel spend of $26.1 billion USD, or over $35 billion CAD.
The association also announced Shelly Lewchuk as this year’s winner of the GBTA Volunteer Inspiration Award, and also recognized Jodi Francks and Marayka Wilson as the Business Travel Service Award (BTSA) winners for Canada.
GBTA also announced at the event that Sharlene Ketwaroo-Nanoo has stepped down from the GBTA Board of Directors and will now join the association as its Regional Director for Canada.
Ketwaroo-Nanoo’s new role is effective immediately. The Canada Regional Direct Board member position will remain vacant until the 2023 GBTA Elections in August. This is aligned with GBTA bylaws as this position ran uncontested in the previous election.
