GBTA 2025: Business Travel’s Impact on Africa
The Global Business Travel Association’s 2025 Convention recently concluded in Denver, offering valuable insights for African travel professionals. The event drew 5,375 attendees from 52 countries, emphasizing the global nature of business travel and its increasing importance for the African market.
GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang highlighted the industry’s resilience and adaptability, emphasizing a vision for collaborative, innovative, and purpose-driven growth. With participating companies representing at least \$77.8 billion in annual business travel spending, the convention underscored the sector’s substantial economic impact.
The newly released 2025 GBTA Business Travel Index (BTI) provides key data points for African travel agents. Global business travel spending is projected to reach \$1.57 trillion in 2025, with a projected rebound to over \$2 trillion by 2029. While global growth is moderating at 6.6% this year, the African travel and tourism market is expected to grow by 7.49%, presenting significant opportunities for regional agents.
The BTI report further reveals that traveler sentiment towards business travel remains positive, with 86% of respondents rating trips as worthwhile. This positive outlook, coupled with increased average trip spending, suggests a healthy demand for business travel services, which African agents can leverage.
The convention also showcased emerging trends relevant to the African market. The inaugural VentureConnect event highlighted innovative travel technologies, including the award-winning emPath Travel & Expense platform. Such advancements in travel management tools can empower African travel businesses to enhance efficiency and client service.
The convention’s educational program featured 95 sessions across 16 tracks, including new tracks on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Workforce. These topics are particularly relevant for African travel agents seeking to integrate new technologies and adapt to evolving workforce dynamics.
Discussions on sustainability, traveler experience, and risk management were central to the convention’s main stage sessions. These themes resonate strongly with the African travel landscape, where sustainable tourism practices and enhanced traveler experiences are increasingly important.
The GBTA Convention also served as a platform for recognizing outstanding contributions to the business travel industry. While the main awards focused on North American and Asia-Pacific regions, the event highlighted the global reach of the GBTA network, which includes an active Southern Africa chapter.
The convention’s emphasis on community and well-being, reflected in wellness programs and networking events, underscores a broader industry trend towards prioritizing traveler well-being. This focus aligns with the growing demand for wellness tourism in Africa, offering opportunities for agents to specialize in this niche market.
Looking ahead, the GBTA will continue to support the business travel community through regional events, including the upcoming GBTA LATAM Conference in Mexico City and the GBTA + VDR Europe Conference in Hamburg. These events provide further networking and learning opportunities for African travel professionals seeking to expand their global reach.
The 2025 GBTA Convention provided a wealth of information and insights for African travel agents. By staying informed about global trends, adopting new technologies, and prioritizing sustainability and traveler well-being, African travel businesses can position themselves for success in the dynamic and evolving world of business travel.
