The Global Business Travel Association’s (GBTA) Global Equity Program (GEP) will benefit an initial cohort of 20 industry professionals in emerging markets by funding the cost of their membership for a year.
The initiative and sponsorship drive, which was announced at the first GBTA APAC Conference in Singapore last year, named Marriott International as its first sponsor at the second APAC conference, which returned to the city recently.
Once accepted, GEP participants have access to all the benefits of GBTA membership such as global networking, on-demand GBTA Hub content, industry research, professional development opportunities and discounts to GBTA events.
GBTA’s regional director APAC, Elle Ng-Darmawan, told TTGmice: “Expanding global presence and fostering a diverse, multi-generational membership are two vital goals at GBTA. We are excited to pilot the programme, which is designed to help make this vision a reality.
“Made possible through the support of sponsors like Marriott who share the vision of an inclusive industry, GEP will open doors for industry professionals and is open to travel professionals worldwide who reside in countries identified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as low- to upper-middle income areas.”
GBTA, she added, is supporting the APAC Advisory Board committees and volunteers to help spread the word.
Space in GEP is limited and once spots are filled, eligible applicants will be added to a waitlist.
Preference is given to travel buyers and travel managers, but any business travel professional who resides in a country identified by the OECD as low- to upper-middle income is welcome to apply. This list will be reviewed by the GBTA Membership Team quarterly.
Ng-Darmawan continued: “For this initial cohort, the application process will open in June and close in July. Applicants will be notified of their status by the end of August. GBTA will release full details soon.”
On the education front, GBTA is launching The Fundamentals of Business Travel Management. The course, which has two starting dates in September or October, is designed for business travel buyers and sellers who want a deeper understanding of the foundational elements of a corporate travel policy. Classes will mostly be virtual, but there will be in-person classes weekly.
“They will be led by highly experienced instructors Koreen Barbara (McDonald’s global travel manager), Kenji Soh (FCM Travel Asia’s general manager, South-east Asia) and Simone Buckley (ISON Travel’s strategic adviser),” she said.
