GBTA Foundation expands WINiT global reach and backs new traveler safety research

GBTA Foundation used the 2026 WINiT Summit in Fort Worth to spotlight the program’s growth, announce a new women’s traveler safety study with Corporate Travel Management and honor this year’s Top 50 winners. The initiative underscores how the group is expanding mentorship, leadership development and equity efforts across the global business travel industry.

Why it matters: - WINiT is becoming a larger global platform for women in business travel, with new mentorship, networking and leadership resources reaching more members across more regions. - The new research on female traveler safety could shape practical guidance for companies trying to make work travel safer and more equitable for women. - The Summit also tied leadership development to community impact, including a donation drive for women escaping domestic violence.

What happened: - More than 200 business travel professionals, leaders and allies attended the 2026 WINiT Summit on Oct. 26–27 at the American Airlines Robert L. Crandall Campus in Fort Worth, Texas. - The two-day retreat focused on advancing women and gender equity through mentorship, professional development and community building. - The Summit theme was “Rise and Renew.” - GBTA Foundation announced plans to partner with Corporate Travel Management on a new research study examining the challenges women face while traveling for work. - The GBTA Foundation also celebrated the 2026 WINiT Top 50 winners at a special reception.

The details: - WINiT now has more than 1,300 members across five regional chapters, with an Asia Pacific chapter planned to launch soon. - More than 200 active mentors and mentees are engaged worldwide through the program. - WINiT connected more than 1,000 women through 10 global networking events in 2026. - Expanded regional programming and leadership development efforts brought more than 150 participants into focused career conversations, including mini-mentoring sessions. - Delphine Millot, managing director of GBTA Foundation, said WINiT creates pathways for women to build networks, grow as leaders and open doors for those coming behind them. - Bev Heinritz, director of Foundation Programs at GBTA Foundation, said the safety research is meant to help create safer and more equitable business travel experiences and give the industry insights for action. - The study is expected to be released early next year in conjunction with International Women’s Day on March 8. - Attendees explored leadership development, career advancement, mentorship, resilience and well-being, allyship, workplace equity and women’s safety through keynotes, interactive discussions and networking. - Participants came from as far as New Zealand, Hong Kong and Dubai. - Attendees donated new and gently used professional attire to Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, a Dallas-based organization serving women and children escaping domestic violence. - The 2026 WINiT Top 50 honorees span 16 countries and include established leaders, rising talent, allies and corporate champions. - GBTA WINiT is now in its 12th year. - The program provides tools, resources, networks, mentorship and recognition to help women advance in travel-industry careers and support a more equitable leadership pipeline. - More information about GBTA WINiT is available at the program page.

Between the lines: - GBTA Foundation is broadening WINiT from a recognition platform into a year-round global network with measurable member growth and region-specific programming. - The traveler safety study signals a shift from industry discussion to research-backed action on a problem that affects women on the road. - The mix of summit programming and charity support positions WINiT as both a professional development effort and a community-driven initiative.

What's next: - GBTA Foundation and Corporate Travel Management are expected to release the traveler safety study early next year around International Women’s Day. - WINiT’s planned Asia Pacific chapter suggests further international expansion is ahead. - GBTA Foundation will likely use the research findings to build new resources and guidance for the business travel industry.

The bottom line: - WINiT is scaling into a more global, more data-driven effort to advance women in business travel while addressing safety and leadership gaps across the sector.