GBTA Global Advocacy Newsletter – June 2026

Leading up to June, even though it's been a busy year, I have felt like the Fugazzi song Waiting Room I knew June was going to be packed and boy it didn't disappoint!

In the span of a few weeks, we released a landmark economic study, brought more than 100 members to Capitol Hill and met 140+ Congressional offices in a day! We watched energy markets react to developments in the Middle East, followed European passenger rights negotiations that have lasted long enough to qualify for a loyalty program, and somehow still found time to explain to policymakers why business travel is, in fact, a good thing.

And the numbers back us up.

Our new U.S. Economic Impact Study found that business travel generated $538.5 billion in spending, supported 6.7 million jobs, contributed nearly $624 billion to GDP, and generated almost $149 billion in tax revenue. Not bad for an industry that some people still think is just collecting hotel points and arguing over whose turn it is to buy drinks at the airport lounge.

Advocacy-wise, June was a month to be proud of. More than 100 GBTA members-including 54 first-time attendees-joined us in Washington for the 2026 Legislative Summit. Together, we met with lawmakers and staff to push for sustainable aviation fuel incentives, protections for aviation operations during government shutdowns, clarity on visa and ESTA policies, and legislation to spare us all from listening to someone conduct a quarterly earnings call from Seat 14B. Some causes are bigger than ourselves.

Meanwhile, on the global stage, a temporary easing of tensions in the Middle East provided some welcome relief to energy markets. That's good news, although anyone who has worked in travel long enough knows that predicting fuel prices is only slightly easier than predicting the TSA line at Orlando on a holiday weekend. Geopolitical uncertainty remains real, and the ripple effects on travel costs are never far away.

Across Europe, GBTA continues to engage policymakers on aviation strategy, sustainable aviation fuel, multimodal travel, tourism competitiveness, and the modernization of passenger rights. After more than a decade of discussions, Europe finally appears close to updating its passenger rights framework. Which just goes to show that while frequent travelers value speed, policymakers occasionally prefer the scenic route.

Through it all, one thing continues to impress me: our members. Advocacy works because you make it work. Whether you joined us in Washington, engaged with policymakers in Brussels or Ottawa, or simply shared your experiences and expertise, you strengthened our voice and reinforced a message that deserves to be heard.

Business travel isn't a luxury. It isn't a perk. And it certainly isn't just about earning status upgrades. It's a $624 billion contributor to the U.S. economy, a driver of growth and innovation around the world, and an industry worth fighting for.

Thanks for everything you do. Now, as we turn the calendar to July, I'd like to request just one thing from the universe: maybe let's keep the geopolitical surprises, regulatory overhauls, and oil market drama to a minimum. There is a GBTA Convention happening in August after all and we need to prepare for the Legislative Advisory Council Tuesday discussion with special guest U.S. House of Representative Sean Casten (D-IL)

I'm not optimistic, but I'm hopeful. Stop by the Advocacy table near Registration on Sunday and Monday or the GBTA zone during Expo Hours and say hi!