The Global Business Travel Association is fully embracing its mission to help the business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet at its upcoming GBTA Convention 2022, August 14-17, at the San Diego Convention Center.

During the event, GBTA will unveil its first-ever Sustainability Pavilion as well as a new Sustainability Toolkit delivering insights, tools, and best practices to empower industry professionals to create sustainable business travel programs for their companies and the travelers they serve. Additionally, the Convention itself will be “going greener.” Onsite efforts include reducing waste and facilitating recycling and composting, encouraging climate-friendly transportation options, providing a plant-based lunch for thousands of attendees, and even eliminating 14,600 square yards of carpet.

“In 2021, we launched our GBTA Sustainability Program with the important objective to not only educate and advocate for a greener way forward for business travel, but also to make it a long-term goal and commitment for the association itself. There’s no better place to deliver on that than at the world’s largest gathering of the global business travel industry, the 2022 GBTA Convention,” said Delphine Millot, Senior Vice President-Sustainability, GBTA.

Sustainability on the GBTA Main Stage

Convention Main Stage sessions will feature expert speakers, panelists and discussion on sustainability – for both people and the planet – and what it might mean for business travel.

Monday, August 15

  • 12:15pm-1:45pm PT - Cynthia Marshall, CEO, Dallas Mavericks, will share her strategy for values-based leadership and why putting people first matters most, as well as the difference between diversity and inclusion and why both are important for success.

Tuesday, August 16

  • 9:45am-10:45am PT - Ryan Panchadsaram, Technical Advisor to the Chairman, Kleiner Perkins, co-author of “Speed & Scale, An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now” will explore climate change, efforts to improve sustainability in business travel sector, and everyday changes to contribute to a cleaner planet including in three key areas: buildings, food and transportation.
  • 5:00-6:00pm PT - JoeBen Bevirt, CEO, Joby Aviation will present advances in aerial ridesharing and potential implications for business travel and clean air travel. The session also features research insights and a panel discussion with senior corporate travel buyers who will share their views on industry-specific travel recovery, changing travel needs in an increasingly hybrid environment, and the latest demand for new technology and tools.

GBTA hosts first-ever Sustainability Pavilion at Convention

For four days at the Sustainability Pavilion, convention attendees can learn about sustainable initiatives and meet experts and exhibitors.

  • The Pavilion will host engaging Green Talks and Roundtables on key sustainability topics for travel buyers and suppliers, featuring experts from GBTA’s Sustainability Leadership Council.
  • The Green Village area will feature businesses and non-profit exhibitors showcasing sustainability solutions.
  • No prior knowledge of sustainability is required – any convention attendee can visit the Pavilion, whether they’re just starting their sustainability journey or seeking specific solutions for their existing sustainable business travel programs and policies.

The Pavilion will be centrally located in the Main GBTA Convention Foyer near attendee registration inside the San Diego Convention Center. The Pavilion will be open (Pacific Time): Sunday, August 14, 2:00 PM - 4:45 PM; Monday, August 15, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM; Tuesday, August 16, 2:00 PM - 4:45 PM; Wednesday, August 17, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

GBTA to unveil its new Sustainability Toolkit

A big part of GBTA’s efforts in getting the industry to a greener future is providing business travel industry professionals with needed tools.

  • GBTA will unveil its newly revamped Sustainability Toolkit, making Part A (Modules 1-3) available to the public. These introductory modules will help users better understand sustainability, manage and improve environmental performance and offsetting emissions, and put tracking and reporting into place.
  • Convention attendees can try out the Toolkit in the Green Lounge of the Sustainability Pavilion and learn more at the education session on Tuesday August 16 at 11:15am, Room 11AB: “Sustainability Toolkit Relaunch: A Practical Guide to Sustainability.”The Toolkit rollout will continue in phases, with GBTA launching Modules 4-7 in September, and Modules 8-12 to members only on November 8 at its Sustainability Summit in Brussels
  • The toolkit is a collaborative effort driven by the GBTA Sustainability Committee, GBTA team, and public affairs consultancy, Grayling, with the support and high-level guidance of GBTA’s Sustainability Leadership Council.

Sustainability Pavilion offers education and expert insights

Attendees will hear from sustainability experts from across the business travel industry and beyond in the current programming line-up featuring 15-minute Green Talks and 30-minute Roundtables that will take place at the Green Stage in the Sustainability Pavilion during Convention 2022. The current line-up includes:

Sunday, August 14

2:15-2:30pm PT

Achieving Sustainability Goals in Travel and Hospitality | presented by Salesforce

Green Talk

3:15-3:30pm PT

Keys To Building A Credible Climate Strategy for Business Travel | presented by ClimatePartner

Green Talk

3:45-4:00pm PT

Presented by SemaConnect

Green Talk

Monday, August 15

2:30-3:15pm PT

Aviation’s Flight Path to Net-Zero Future: What’s on the Horizon to Decarbonize | featuring leaders from Alaska Airlines, American Express Global Business Travel, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines

Roundtable

3:30-3:45pm PT

Can Your Travel Program Support an End to Tropical Deforestation? | presented by Emergent

Green Talk

4:00-4:15pm PT

The Value of Climate Action in Business Travel | presented by South Pole

Green Talk

4:30-5:15pm PT

Map Your Sustainability Journey: Real Life Data Example and Gaming Exercise | featuring leaders from Advito, Enterprise, Hertz, and Thrust Carbon

Roundtable

5:30-5:45pm PT

Presented by Shell

Green Talk

Tuesday, August 16

2:00-2:15pm PT

The Right Ingredients and Approach to Accurate
Emissions Calculations | presented by Cirium

Green Talk

2:30-3:15pm PT

Navigating Sustainability Standards in Lodging: How to
Help Travelers Pick Greener Stays | featuring leaders from Hilton, HRS, and Marriott

Roundtable

3:30-4:15pm PT

Offsetting: How to Get it Right? | featuring leaders Emergent, Salesforce, South Pole, and Terrapass

Roundtable

4:30-4:45pm PT

Three Steps to Sustainability | presented by Thrust Carbon

Green Talk

Wednesday, August 17

9:45-10am PT

Presented by Terrapass

Green Talk

How attendees can go greener at GBTA Convention 2022

Attendees can also help make their Convention experience more sustainable. Attendees who commit to reducing their emissions and waste during Convention by taking at least three actions below get a green digital ribbon added to their badge:

  • Walk, bike, scooter, shuttle, or take a FRED
  • Bring their own water bottle
  • Separate their waste thoughtfully and use the correct bins at the Convention Center
  • Take the GREEN GBTA quiz to learn about GBTA’s sustainability efforts at Convention
  • Try an all-vegan or all-vegetarian meal during their San Diego trip

GBTA has worked together with its suppliers, vendors, and partners to make Convention as sustainable as possible. Working with Thrust Carbon, for the first time ever, GBTA will be calculating its emissions related to this annual event as a benchmark for ongoing progress.

Attendees can learn more about this initiative via the GREEN GBTA Quiz while at the event, and four winners will receive prizes, including free registrations to GBTA Convention 2023 and GBTA Sustainability Summit in Brussels (see below).

GBTA is also facilitating donations to Cool Effect, a non-profit organization that is reducing carbon emissions, as part of the annual GBTA 5K Run/Walk.

As a venue, the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) has an innovative, large-scale sustainability program, including center-to-table gardens, food donations, composted food waste, renewable energy resources, building efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling, among other efforts.

More about GBTA’s Sustainability Program

Launched in late 2021, GBTA’s Sustainability Program supports initiatives related to climate action to build a greener future for business travel. Working in tandem with its members and the industry, GBTA’s focus includes policy and advocacy, measures and tracking, C-level engagement and public affairs, and education.

  • The GBTA program is made possible through the support of the GBTA Founding Partners in Sustainability: Accor, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, American Express Global Business Travel, BCD Travel, BWH Hotel Group Italia, Delta Air Lines, Enterprise Holdings, Hertz, Hilton, HRS, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, SAP Concur, Southwest Airlines, Reed & Mackay – a TripActions Company, and United Airlines.
  • In April 2022, GBTA released a comprehensive, landmark study – “The State of Sustainability in the Global Business Travel Sector” – providing data and analysis across travel suppliers, travel buyers, and policy and government stakeholders on the state of sustainability and actions for the business travel industry.
  • On November 8, 2022, GBTA will host its inaugural GBTA Sustainability Summit
    in Brussels, a one-day event where business travel industry and policy leaders will outline concrete solutions to decarbonize the sector in alignment with the Paris Climate Goals.

For more information about the GBTA Sustainability Program, visit www.gbta.org/sustainability or email [email protected].

About the Global Business Travel Association

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information, visit GBTA.org.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information, visit GBTAFoundation.org. 

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