Chicago, IL, United States — August 01, 2026 — With 5,400 registered attendees from 50 countries at its 2024 convention, The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is set to open its 2026 event on August 3 in Chicago, IL, United States, continuing its role as the world's largest business travel gathering. The convention will be held at McCormick Place, located at 2301 S Martin Luther King Dr.
Exhibition Overview: Global Business Travel Network Gathers
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the event's organizer, will host this premier global event for the business travel industry. The 2026 convention will focus on critical areas for network optimization and operational planning: technology innovation, traveler experience, sustainability, data-driven decision-making, and operational efficiency. This emphasis reflects the evolving demands on corporate travel programs, aligning with broader logistics and mobility strategies.
Past Editions: Scaling the Business Travel Ecosystem
The event consistently draws a substantial international presence, demonstrating its role in connecting global business travel networks. The 2025 edition saw 5,375 business travel professionals from 52 countries, supported by 372 travel industry exhibitors. In 2024, 5,400 registered attendees from 50 countries engaged with 310 travel supplier exhibitors. The 2023 convention attracted more than 5,200 registered participants from 58 different countries, alongside more than 300 exhibitors. Earlier editions also underscore this scale: 2022 recorded more than 4,600 registered attendees, including 1,020 travel buyers, from over 50 countries, with 250+ exhibitors. Pre-pandemic, the 2019 event drew more than 7,175 attendees, including over 1,400 buyers, and well over 400 exhibitors from more than 50 countries. Both 2017 and 2016 editions saw nearly 7,000 travel professionals from more than 50 countries, with over 400 exhibitors each.
Target Audience and Concurrent Events: Operational Focus and Program Pathways
The convention's target audience includes logistics directors, urban planners, transport engineers, travel managers, procurement leaders, and Travel Management Companies (TMCs). These professionals will engage with a comprehensive program designed to enhance operational frameworks. Concurrent events scheduled for 2026 include Keynote speeches, Engaging panel discussions, an Extensive exhibition, Educational sessions, and Main Stage Sessions. Specific programs like Innovation Row, the GBTA Foundation Gala 2026, and Advanced Principals of Business Travel Management (In-Person at Convention) (2026) are planned. The GBTA Annual Business Meeting 2026 will be held virtually. Past concurrent events have included VentureConnect (2025) and the WINiT by GBTA Summit (2023).
Registration for GBTA Convention 2026 is currently open, with opportunities for event sponsorship and exhibition detailed at http://convention.gbta.org/.