GBTA Ladders is GBTA’s team-based mentorship program. It provides an opportunity for people to develop professionally, network and share knowledge within the business travel community. The Ladders competition is an annual challenge to identify and solve a problem in the business travel industry.

Over nearly eight months, emerging leaders in the business travel sector collaborate on a project, ultimately gaining insights and broadening their knowledge about the evolving landscape of corporate travel. This year’s project theme was Shaping The Future of Travel Through Radical Collaborations and Partnerships.

Williams’ group, dubbed Team Trusted Travel, proposed the product Pathfinder, which aims to simplify international travel for 1.3 billion travelers by addressing the complexities of travel documentation and requirements. Powered by generative AI, Pathfinder would minimize guesswork and risks by offering personalized, real-time documentation support, including entry restrictions, passport and visa requirements, health advisories and other considerations. Travelers would receive a comprehensive checklist of alerts and red flags ahead of their trips.

Pathfinder would also provide a free resource hub for travelers and a business model for additional support for travelers and travel programs. Pathfinder can partner with travel agencies, air carriers and online booking tools for an in-line purchase module. Plus, travelers can create a personal travel history log for easier document reapplication. 

Ladders teams are made up of up to six mentees, one alumni advisor and one mentor. Sixteen teams participated this season. After presenting at a May summit, the 16 teams were whittled down to four. Finalists included Williams and Ross Paterson from BCD and Julie Stuckey from Advito. Stuckey was the alumni adviser for Team Trusted Travel. Last year, she was a mentee and Ladders finalist.

In total, BCD had 11 participants in various roles across four countries:

• Mentee: Sena Williams, Client Success Manager, Adelman (Team: Trusted Travel)
• Alumni advisors/Committee leaders:
  • Julie Dion, Senior Manager, Supplier Relations
  • Louisa Kamer, Director, Client Retention
  • Jamie Meek, Director, Client Retention
  • Ross Paterson, Senior Director, Global Program Management (Team: Venture Voyagers)
  • Julie Stuckey, Managing Consultant for Advito (Team: Trusted Travel)
  • Greg Sweeney, Vice President, Sales
• Mentors:
  • Kathy Bedell, Senior Vice President
  • Anja Turner Schulz, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
• Leadership Co-chair:
  • Ali Prejean Smith, Director, Marketing and Communications
• Future Leadership Co-chair:
  • Katherine Tomasi, Director, Sales

Thriving startups

Paterson was the Alumni Advisor for Team Venture Voyagers. Their vision was to provide mentorship, guidance, and networking opportunities to help startups grow and thrive in the industry. They proposed to establish a vibrant and inclusive community that serves startup companies seeking entry into the dynamic and competitive business travel industry. According to a McKinsey analysis of PhocusWright and Pitchbook data, in the past 15 years, only about 1% of startup funding across industries has flowed into travel and tourism. 

The venture network would offer:

1. A Mentor Network – Experienced Founders pair up with start-up innovators to guide and mentor them as their start up sets sail.
2. A Partner Network – Corporate Advisors from various sectors in the business travel industry build connections for startups that are ready to go-to-market.
3. An Idea Network – A directory for startups to promote their products and services to our partner network and for partners to identify potential joint venture partners.

Celebrating a 10-year milestone

GBTA Ladders also awarded current season participants and those who have contributed to the program’s growth throughout the years. 

• Julie Stuckey picked up the Season 10 Outstanding Achievement award. She led the events committee, organizing in-person and virtual meet ups throughout the year. She was also an alumni advisor for her team, helping both the team and their mentor throughout the season. 
• Ali Prejean Smith, director of Marketing Communications at BCD, was recognized for her involvement as a Ladders Leadership Co-chair and received a Leadership Excellence award. Prejean Smith co-chaired the program through seasons 9 and 10. Her leadership team navigated the growth of the program to its largest ever seasons (18+ teams, 16+ countries). They also aligned the program with GBTA foundation initiatives, adding longevity and a path forward for some of the team ideas generated in Ladders. She was a Ladders finalist in 2016 and won Outstanding Contribution in 2020.
• Katherine Tomasi has been appointed co-chair of the program starting in August. Tomasi, director of Sales at BCD, won Mentee of the Year in 2021 and was a Ladders finalist in 2022. 

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