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GBTA Foundation Pursues Gender Parity in Business Travel at WINiT Summit – Image Credit GBTA
The WINiT Summit and Gala, organized by GBTA WINiT (“Women in Travel”), celebrated its 10th anniversary by focusing on the advancement of women within the global business travel industry. The event occurred at the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York City.
The summit’s 2024 theme, “Journey Forward,” facilitated discussions on leadership, innovation, mentorship, and allyship within the industry. It brought together professionals from all levels in the business travel sector, including WINiT members, mentors, mentees, alumni, advisors, committee volunteers, and board members.
A key announcement during the summit was the “GBTA WINiT Path to Gender Parity: Advocating for 50/50 Leadership by 2035” initiative. This aims to achieve gender equity in the business travel industry over the next decade. Attendees participated in an interactive workshop to strategize across five key areas: inspiring change, shaping future leaders, engaging at every level, motivating change, and recognizing achievement.
The GBTA Foundation also announced its pledge to the United Nation’s Women Empowerment Principles (WEP), joining over 10,000 other signatories. This commitment involves promoting business practices that empower women, including equal pay for equal work, gender-responsive supply chain practices, and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
In addition, the GBTA Foundation shared new survey results titled “How Women are Shaping the Future of Business Travel.” The survey revealed a significant gender disparity in senior executive roles despite women making up the majority of professionals in the business travel industry. Only 39% of vice presidents or executives at travel suppliers and travel management companies are women, while women hold 66% of director-level roles.
The WINiT Awards Ceremony and Gala recognized individuals and organizations that have shown commitment and progress in advancing women in the business travel industry. The award recipients included Doreen Burse of United Airlines, Axita Bhalsod of Egencia/AmexGBT, and Kristin Shovlin, who retired from Delta Air Lines.
The event also saw a new scholarship fund launch to support the GBTA Foundation’s mission of building and retaining a diverse talent pool in the business travel industry.
