GBTA Foundation Hosts 2025 WINiT Summit & Awards in New York

• The GBTA Foundation hosted the 2025 WINiT Summit, Awards and Gala at Civic Hall in New York City
• This event was the 11th anniversary of GBTA WINIT ("Women in Travel")
• WINiT serves as a platform to support women in the travel industry

The 2025 WINiT Summit, Awards & Gala was held at Civic Hall in New York City, honoring its 11th year as the dedicated, purposeful, international community "Women in Travel," (GBTA WINiT).

WINiT is committed to progress for women in the business travel sector by way of mentorship, professional development, research, and by removing barriers to career advancement.

This year's Summit theme was "The Power of Possibility" and roughly 170 colleagues, leaders and supporters of the travel industry were in attendance from across the globe.

The purpose of this Summit was to honor progress, learning from the past year, and all aimed at advancing gender equality in business travel.

There were panels, workshops, and opportunities to talk about mentorship, incidents of workplace camaraderie and expanding pathways for women in the travel business.

The most memorable moment was a fireside chat conversation between Anna Falth, Head of the Women's Empowerment Principles Secretariat at UN Women and Bev Heinritz, Director of Foundation Programs at GBTA Foundation.

The backdrop of their conversation focused on ways to mobilizing gender equality inside organizations and unpacked the WINiT Path to Parity

The Foundation also published new research that Corporate Travel Management (CTM) funded, which focused on gender gaps today and emphasized leadership development programs as well as inclusive workplace practices and programs that further the role of women in the industry.

The night concluded with the WINiT gala and awards, which had 220+ who attended the event to recognize individuals and organizations that support gender equity in travel.

Award winners were Lauri Reishus (ARC) for Outstanding Woman of the Year, Michele Shepard (Emburse) for Most Innovative Trailblazer, and Tammy Routh (Marriott International) for Lifetime Achievement Award.

Awards also recognized excellence in mentorship, diversity leadership, and organizational achievements as they relate to women's growth and advancement.

They also highlighted the Top 50 Women in Travel, innovators, advocates, and leaders advancing our industry.

Through the annual Summit, its research and study initiatives, its mentorship efforts, and its awards and recognition tract, GBTA WINiT remains an essential partner in advocating and creating gender equity in the workplace engaged in travel for business and the related sectors.

At the 2025 event, the impact of mentorship, leadership, and inclusive behaviors were highlighted as well as the ongoing focus on equity and diversity in the future for women in travel and the related sectors.