Plan Your Trip to GBTA Canada Conference 2024 – Toronto
Make the most of your time and ensure that you attend the sessions and events that are most relevant and beneficial to you and block out time for any one-on-one meetings or networking opportunities that you may have planned with other attendees or exhibitors. You can also plan your time at the conference so that you can have time to explore Toronto.
Looking for even more information? Want to review all the education sessions? Check out the Detailed Agenda
Monday, May 15
Opening Main Stage & Reception
Join GBTA at the main stage to welcome you to GBTA Canada Conference 2023 – Toronto on the Main Stage. Then join your fellow attendees in Expo Hall afterward for the opening reception.
Explore the Current State of the Travel Industry with GBTA’s CEO Suzanne Neufang to present new 2023 global data from the annual Business Travel Index.
Canadian Advisory Board Member Patrick Doyle will then moderate a session exploring What’s the Current State of the Canadian Travel Industry. The panel of experts from key Canadian Travel Associations will discuss a series of questions about the current state of the Canadian Travel Business Industry from each association’s perspective.
Education Sessions
Education Sessions are a staple at GBTA Conferences. They provide attendees with the opportunity to learn about new developments, best practices, and industry trends in their field. The conference will have twelve total education sessions spread across each day during the Conference. View the education sessions in the full agenda.
Connect First
Are you a first-time attendee, a young professional, who recently transitioned into the business travel sector or returning professional? Get the most out of your Conference experience with the Connect First program.
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Tuesday, May 16
Morning Main Stage
Kick off day two of the conference with Laura Dawson presenting Traveler Evolution: The Passenger Journey Through Our Canadian Airports speaking on the consistency of the passenger experience, technology for modernization, and more. She will then be joined by other industry professionals for a fireside chat on the passenger experience through Canadian airports.
Expo
At GBTA Conference 2023 | Toronto, exhibitors will reconnect and showcase new services and products with business travel professionals in the Expo Hall. Buyers and suppliers continue to rely on valuable face-to-face meetings to maintain industry relationships and discover new business opportunities.
Check out the expo floor map to see who’s exhibiting.
Afternoon Main Stage & Lunch
The Tuesday afternoon Main Stage will start with a plated, sit-down lunch. The Volunteer Inspiration Awards will be presented by Nancy Tudorache and Sue Spear to highlight this year’s BTSA Award Winner and announce the GBTA Volunteer Award winner.
Next, Fanny Everard, Sustainability Program Manager with GBTA Foundation, will present Travel Industry on Sustainability Journey, highlighting best practices & key milestones in sustainability
Finally, Jeffery Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame, will present the session keynote, Proudly Canadian, No Apology Necessary, highlighting some of our greatest Canadians with video and stories – some we know well – and the stars you may not know – we have so many extraordinary achievers from coast-to-coast.
Big Night Out
The Big Night Out is the highly anticipated networking event of the conference! Join your fellow attendees off-site for an after-hours event to relax, have fun, and hang out! Keep an eye out, theme to be announced soon!
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Wednesday, May 17
Direct Talk Breakfast Session
Join this Buyer Only session to exchange ideas, share perspectives and best practices, and ask questions or seek guidance about your travel program in a safe environment. This session will be focused on sustainability, disruptors, as well as top priorities and challenges for 2023
Main Stage
The final Main Stage on Wednesday will be a sit-down, plated lunch and will feature discussions centered on The View from the Top in Canadian Business.
The session will begin with Global Economist: Issues and Trends Impacting Canadian Businesses where the issues and trends impacting Canadian businesses are discussed through a global economic lens.
Next, Elizabeth Oliviera, will moderate a session on Forces Working Against Managed Travel Programs. The buyer-only panel discussion to explore impacts on travel programs like travel ecosystem disruptions, low-cost carriers, open booking, economic pressure on travel budgets, and more.
Finally, Richard Bartrem, will close the Conference by delivering an insightful and engaging keynote on brand trust titled Trust Me. He will share why brand trust matters in a post-pandemic world and why you should do something about it.