Women are the majority of professionals in key business travel industry roles — comprising 74% of travel buyers and over half of travel suppliers (62%) and TMC staff (55%) — yet remain underrepresented in senior leadership and report lower satisfaction with career growth, compensation and work-life balance.
That’s according to new research from the GBTA Foundation, the cause-related arm of GBTA and carried out for WINiT (Women in Travel), a program dedicated to helping women thrive in their travel industry careers. The research was unveiled at the annual GBTA WINiT Summit in New York. The report is titled “Breaking Boundaries: Women and Advancement in Business Travel.”
Delphine Millot, managing director for the GBTA Foundation, said, “Talent and innovation thrive when everyone has access to leadership pathways, supportive policies and inclusive cultures.” Showcasing research like this, she said, “allows the GBTA Foundation to drive that change by helping organizations create environments where all professionals can grow, lead and contribute to a stronger industry.”
Although women make up a significant portion of the business travel industry, the report found they are less likely than men to feel fulfilled in their careers. For example, when asked whether they agree or disagree on questions related to topics like career growth, compensation and work-life balance, only 28% of women travel buyers “strongly agree” they have a good work-life balance, compared with 43% of men; and just 23% of women agree they are “happy” with their compensation, versus 57% of men.
Among suppliers and TMC professionals, 44% of women feel valued by their company, compared with 57% of men; and only 24% of women are satisfied with their company’s parental leave policy, compared with 40% of men.
Among all travel buyers, 62% believe women face greater risk than men while traveling for business, yet only 27% say their company’s travel policies specifically address female traveler safety.
Additionally, only 55% of travel managers feel women’s voices are adequately represented in shaping travel programs, while 23% say they are not, and another 23% are unsure.
While 39% of suppliers and 34% of TMCs report having formal programs to develop women and minority leaders, only about 25% have hiring or appointment targets for women or minority executives. On a positive note, 43% of supplier/TMC companies support community initiatives focused on women and girls, reflecting a broader commitment to social responsibility.
The findings are based on a global online survey of 654 global travel professionals representing 42 countries that was conducted in September 2025. Of the respondents, 67% identified as female and 33% male. Additionally, 11% of all respondents classified themselves as an underrepresented minority.
