New Research Exhibits Ongoing Obstacles to Women’s Advancement in Business Travel – Global Business Travel Association

Study offered on the annual WINiT Summit examines gender gaps in management, satisfaction and security

Women are nearly all of professionals in key enterprise journey business roles – comprising 74% of journey patrons and over half of journey provider (62%) and journey administration firm (TMC) workers (55%) – but stay underrepresented in senior management and report decrease satisfaction with profession progress, compensation and work-life stability.

That’s in accordance with new analysis from the GBTA Foundation, the cause-related arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and carried out for WINiT (“Women in Travel”), a program devoted to serving to girls thrive of their journey business careers. Conducted with WINiT companion Corporate Travel Management (CTM) and unveiled at present on the annual GBTA WINiT Summit at Civic Hall in New York City, the report − titled “Breaking Boundaries: Women and Advancement in Business Travel” − underscores the necessity for extra management growth packages and inclusive insurance policies to shut persistent gender gaps within the business.

“Talent and innovation thrive when everyone has access to leadership pathways, supportive policies and inclusive cultures. Showcasing research like this allows the GBTA Foundation to drive that change by helping organizations create environments where all professionals can grow, lead and contribute to a stronger industry,” stated Delphine Millot, Managing Director for the GBTA Foundation.

“It’s time to turn representation into real opportunity,” stated Anita Salvatore, CEO North America, at CTM. “Fostering an environment where women can rise to leadership roles is not just the right thing to do—it’s a strategic advantage for our industry. By prioritizing inclusive policies and supporting professional development, the business travel industry has the chance to drive meaningful change.”

Key takeaways from the examine, which surveyed over 650 international business professionals, embrace:

A Paradox in Representation

Women are prevalent within the enterprise journey business, with the aforementioned 74% of journey patrons, 62% of provider professionals and 55% of TMC workers figuring out as girls within the survey.

But in terms of senior management, illustration doesn’t translate equally into management roles. While 85% of lower-level purchaser roles (supervisor and under) are held by girls, solely 68% of senior-level purchaser positions (director and above) are crammed by them.

A Hidden Gap in Career Outlook

Although girls make up a good portion of the enterprise journey business, the report discovered that they had been much less probably than males to really feel fulfilled of their careers.

For instance, when requested whether or not they agreed or disagreed on questions associated to subjects like profession progress, compensation and work-life stability, solely 28% of girls journey patrons “strongly agree” they’ve an excellent work-life stability in comparison with 43% of males, and simply 23% of girls agree they’re “happy” with their compensation, versus 57% of males.

Among suppliers and TMC professionals, 44% of girls really feel valued by their firm, in comparison with 57% of males, and solely 24% of girls are glad with their firm’s parental depart coverage, in comparison with 40% of males.

Unmet Safety Needs for Women Travelers

Among all journey patrons, 62% consider girls face better danger than males whereas touring for enterprise, but solely 27% say their firm’s journey insurance policies particularly handle feminine traveler security.

Additionally, solely 55% of journey managers really feel girls’s voices are adequately represented in shaping journey packages, whereas 23% say they don’t seem to be, and one other 23% are uncertain.

Equity Initiatives: Progress and Setbacks

While 39% of suppliers and 34% of TMCs report having formal packages to develop girls and minority leaders, solely about 25% have hiring or appointment targets for girls or minority executives. On a constructive be aware, 43% of provider/TMC corporations assist neighborhood initiatives centered on girls and women, reflecting a broader dedication to social accountability.

“It’s clear that while women have made remarkable strides in shaping and strengthening the business travel industry, our work is far from finished,” stated Bev Heinritz, Director, Foundation Programs on the GBTA Foundation. “That’s why WINiT’s mission—to close advancement gaps and champion true gender equity—has never been more vital. Real progress demands more than intention; it requires bold investment, collective action and a shared commitment to lasting change.”

The examine was carried out as a part of the GBTA Foundation’s Path to Parity initiative devoted to accelerating gender fairness within the enterprise journey business by figuring out obstacles, selling inclusive management, and driving systemic change via analysis, advocacy and actionable options.

The full report is obtainable for obtain on the GBTA Foundation web page here. GBTA members may also entry the complete report within the GBTA Member Hub.

Research Methodology

The findings are based mostly on a world on-line survey of 654 international journey professionals representing 42 nations that was carried out in September 2025. Of the respondents, 67% recognized as feminine and 33% male. Additionally, 11% of all respondents categorised themselves as an underrepresented minority.