Ben Park
The Global Business Travel Association has appointed Ben
Park as the new chair of the GBTA Europe Advisory Board, replacing current
chair Mark Cuschieri who has been named vice chair of the GBTA Global Board.
Park, who is senior director of procurement and travel at
Parexel, was chosen “following an extensive application process including a
quorum of representatives from GBTA committees, GBTA France and GBTA Italy”,
according to the association. He will serve a three-year term.
His appointment is supported by a newly restructured
European Advisory Board, including representation from GBTA France vice president
Stephane Vallegeas and GBTA Italy president Roberta Bille.
Following his election in July, Jens Liltorp will serve a
three-year term as the European regional representative on the GBTA Global Board.
Park commented: “After a challenging couple of years for our industry, I am delighted to take on the role, to lead the European advisory board and help our members and partners throughout the region navigate a return to a new kind of business travel – considered, strategic and sustainable.”
In addition, GBTA Europe has renewed exclusive partnerships
with regional buyer associations, including the ITM in the UK and Ireland; SBTA
in Sweden; NBTA in Norway; DBTA in Denmark; FBTA in Finland; NATM in the
Netherlands; and VDR in Germany.
GBTA’s advocacy efforts in Europe will continue with the
support of Grayling and will be expanded to include the UK.
GBTA Europe has confirmed that its conference in partnership with VDR, which was postponed earlier this month following the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and new travel and meetings restrictions, has been rescheduled to take place in Berlin from 28 February to 2 March 2022.