I can’t believe this year was the fourth time I have attended the Global Business Travel Association conference — time flies. It was, however, my first time in Georgia, as the convention was held at Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. My colleague Carrie Cox and I represented Global Traveler at the conference. We both agreed they really did a good job driving home the theme with chicken and waffles and peach pie at just about every turn.

After some travel delays from the “Tech Update” that interrupted companies everywhere, I finally arrived in Atlanta after a 6:30 a.m. flight out of Philadelphia. I flew Delta Air Lines. I stayed at The Westin Peachtree Plaza for the evening between two long days walking the expo floor, seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

The booths at this year’s convention were very impressive, notably, the Marriott Bonvoy booth, which was two floors, and, of course, The Parking Spot with one of its shuttle buses on display. I also enjoyed the Air India booth with virtual reality goggles that transported you on to its aircraft to check out the business class cabin and seats. You could actually interact with the seat’s features, like opening and closing the window using your finger.

Carrie and I enjoyed dinner at The Ritz-Carlton’s restaurant, AG Steakhouse, where we both enjoyed filet mignon cooked to perfection, before our evening plans.

My overall takeaway from this year’s conference was the importance of communication within and between travel organizations and employees, as well as how to navigate the current state of the industry. I also particularly enjoyed the conversations around tech in the industry and how AI impacts travel for industry professionals and consumers. Looking forward to the convention in Denver next summer!

— Haley Fogarty, vice president of sales