Spain’s Guild of European Business Travel Agents (GEBTA) has appointed Jose Padilla as its president for the 2025-26 period.
Padilla, who is managing director of corporate travel and events agencies IAG7 Viajes and Integraiav, takes over from Luis Dupuy de Lôme, VP and general manager for Spain and Italy at American Express Global Business Travel, who held the role for four years. Padilla has been a member of GEBTA’s board since 2022 and involved with the association for more than 15 years.
According to GEBTA, business travel spend in Spain reached €14 billion in 2024, of which €5 billion was directly manged by TMCs.
Despite macroeconomic volatility, the organisation expects business travel spend in the country to increase four per cent in 2025.
“It is essential that our clients have access to the best market conditions so they can continue travelling and generating business, without neglecting aspects related to travel safety and best practices in sustainability," Padella said in a statement, adding that GEBTA will be “closely monitoring” the travel activity of Spanish corporations amid current “geopolitical uncertainty”.
"GEBTA's work, as the trade association for business travel agencies, will focus on ongoing dialogue with travel industry suppliers, with the goal of ensuring transparency and full access to content, as well as reducing inefficiencies in the various processes and stages of travel,” he said.