GBTA’s New Board President on Championing Connection, Empowerment and Progress

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 GBTA Board President Rosemary Maloney, Senior Director, Corporate Travel at The Freeman Company.

I can't begin to express how honored I feel to step into this role as GBTA Board President. The truth is, I'm experiencing a mix of emotions: excited, grateful, and a little overwhelmed. But more than anything, I feel ready.

What excites me most is the chance to listen, learn, and collaborate. Back when I was running for President, I said community was the heart of GBTA and I believe differences are our greatest strength when we come together towards our common goal. I still believe that.

Regardless of whether you're a buyer or supplier, or where you are in the world, your experience can make GBTA richer. I am also grateful to partner with the different regions as we work to strengthen the future of business travel. Later this month, I'll be attending the GBTA LATAM Conference in Mexico City. It will be my first time attending and I can't wait to meet our members there.

I also want to make sure government officials hear our industry's voice. Whether we encourage government representatives to support measures that make travel easier and safer, or help members to champion sustainable travel practices in their own companies, the advocacy and information GBTA provides are essential to ensure the longevity of our industry and planet. That's why it's so important to participate in this year's Sustainability Acceleration Challenge so we can continue to benchmark how our industry is doing to reduce emissions from business travel.

There are many other ways to become involved in GBTA, and two that I hold especially close are chapter service and Ladders. I have been fortunate to serve on GBTA's NYC Chapter Board and believe leading at the chapter level gives you the opportunity to connect with your local community. It also forces you to be organized to ensure you stay on top of all the meeting logistics and your day job!  

Ladders also helped prepare me for my Board Presidency. I've been lucky to be a mentee, alumni advisor, committee member, part of the leadership team, and now on the advisory board. Through Ladders I understood how the different verticals of our industry look at a challenge while also building a global network. Applications for next season are currently open, and I encourage members to apply.

So yes, I'm excited to serve as Board President. I'm overwhelmed (in the best way). And I'm ready to dive in, shoulder to shoulder with all of you. Thank you for the trust you've placed in me to lead for the next two years, it means the world to me.