A Reflective Farewell from the Outgoing GBTA Board President- Alone We Can Do So Little; Together We Can Do So Much

In this feature series, GBTA’s Board of Directors share their views on topics that matter most to members, the industry and the way forward for business travel. Today’s guest author is Board President Mark Cuschieri, Executive Director, Global Head of Travel at UBS.

As my tenure draws to a close at the end of our Convention in Denver later this month, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared over the past two years. It’s hard to believe how quickly they’ve gone by!

Having served as Chair of the European Advisory Board, Vice President of GBTA, and now President, it has truly been an honour to represent you and our industry. Working with GBTA’s CEO Suzanne Neufang, her leadership team and the Board has shown me that we’re on track to drive meaningful progress in our industry. It’s been a process of listening, learning, and evolving, both with GBTA and more importantly, you, our travel community.

With your support we’ve cultivated a diverse Board, representing the ‘many voices’ and ‘one purpose’ from each region, ensuring that every GBTA member feels heard and represented, enriching our discussions and decisions. We prioritised design thinking and co-creation, enabling our Board to support Suzanne and her team in managing industry complexities collaboratively. Together, we’ve laid the groundwork for some exciting projects that will come to fruition in the future.

The dedication of our volunteers, Advisory Boards, and Committees has been nothing short of inspiring. I’ve had the privilege of attending numerous Regional Conferences and Chapter meetings, where I witnessed firsthand the incredible work our Chapters are doing. These gatherings have not only connected us but highlighted the unique challenges and opportunities facing our industry at a local level. Your commitment and passion truly make GBTA thrive.

It’s been incredibly rewarding to oversee the re-launch of our GBTA Foundation, as it continues to emphasize our commitment to a “People first, planet always” philosophy. It’s essential that we continue this journey together, ensuring that our initiatives prioritize both our people and our planet.

We continue to build on our core People programs – we’ve expanded WINiT globally and launched our Ladders NextGen, a new workforce initiative and scholarship program. We must continue to shout about the incredible opportunities within our sector that can inspire the next generation. Each of us has a part to play in promoting our vibrant industry.

Our Foundation’s Planet initiatives demonstrated continued growth by presenting a Transition Pathway aimed at advancing industry sustainability at the 4th GBTA Sustainability Summit last month. It supports organizations in advancing sustainable travel practices and helps companies in the GBTA Sustainability Acceleration Challenge enhance their travel program’s sustainability through 2030.

As my tenure comes to an end, I’m filled with pride for our collective accomplishments and excited for the future of GBTA. Let’s continue to challenge the status quo, support one another and push our industry forward – “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”