President's Report

Hello GBTA North Central Members,

The past couple of months have been a special time for my family and me, as we welcomed our second son, Mason, on January 23rd. We’ve been cherishing the time at home together and adjusting to life as a family of four. I appreciate everyone’s support and patience while I’ve been out on paternity leave.

During this time, I want to extend a huge thank you to our President-Elect, Danielle Ladd, who stepped in to support the chapter while I was away. Danielle’s leadership and dedication ensured everything continued running smoothly, and I’m incredibly grateful for her willingness to jump in and keep things moving forward.

Although I wasn’t able to attend the GBTA Leadership Summit in Miami this year, our chapter was well represented. Danielle Ladd, Mitchell Greene, Kelli Hurtig, and Kara Peters attended the summit and brought back great ideas and insights that will help shape our programming and initiatives for the remainder of this year and into next. It’s always encouraging to see our chapter actively engaged with the broader GBTA community and bringing those learnings back to benefit our members.

I’m looking forward to being back in the seat for our April meeting and especially excited for our Annual Education Summit in May, which is shaping up to be another fantastic event. The team has been hard at work behind the scenes planning an engaging day filled with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and meaningful conversations for our community.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of GBTA North Central. I’m excited to reconnect with many of you in the coming weeks and look forward to everything we have planned for the rest of the year.

Warm regards,
Andrew Maki
President, GBTA North Central

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Education Summit

Are you ready to bridge the gap?

• The GBTA | North Central Education Summit is officially on the calendar! This year, we’re diving deep into the theme of "Bridging the Gap," focusing on the connections, technology, and strategies that move our industry forward.

• We are thrilled to welcome our featured experts: 🎤 Keynote Speaker: Eric Perkins formerly of KARE 11 and Perk at Play Productions

• Workshop Facilitator: Justin Morris, GLP® Join us for a morning of professional development, networking, and actionable insights.

• Date: May 14th 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM

• Location: DoubleTree By Hilton Minneapolis Airport

• Registration is now open & Sponsorships are available! https://lnkd.in/ggZGepjA

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Meeting Recaps

Meetings and Events Committee Update

January Virtual Meeting
We kicked off the new year with an inspiring virtual session featuring GBTA’s CEO, Suzanne Neufang, who shared what’s top of mind for Business Travel in 2026. Suzanne’s insights were energizing, forward‑looking, and set a great tone for the year ahead. We truly appreciated her taking the time to speak with our North Central Chapter.

February – 4th Annual “Share the Love of Travel” Event
In February, we gathered at Windows in the IDS Center for the 4th annual Share the Love of Travel event. More than 250 travel and hospitality professionals attended, including 61 GBTA North Central Chapter members and guests. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with networking, meaningful conversations, and strong industry camaraderie. Our GBTA booth drew significant interest from attendees eager to learn more about the chapter. This event continues to grow each year, and it’s exciting to be part of its ongoing success.

HUGE shout-out to The Marquette for donating all the food for the Love of Travel event!
Your incredibly generous contribution made a tremendous impact, and our chapter is beyond grateful. Thank you so much for your support and kindness — it truly means the world to us.

March Chapter Meeting
The Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport graciously hosted our March meeting, where members had the opportunity to hear key takeaways from GBTA’s Leadership Summit. The session sparked valuable discussions about our chapter’s committees, highlighting opportunities for involvement and collaboration. It was an engaging and energizing meeting that reinforced how member participation truly strengthens our chapter.

 We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at Embassy Suites Bloomington (2800 American Blvd W) on April 9^th for a networking breakfast from 7:30-9:30am.

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Member Highlight

GBTA Member Highlight: Celebrating the People Powering Business Travel: Mitchell Greene

Experience: With a degree in strategic communication from the University of Minnesota, I've built a career focused on marrying brand identity with exceptional guest experiences. For over 10 years, I've been immersed in the hospitality industry, a journey that has led me to my current role overseeing business travel sales for three hotels within the HEI Hotels and Resorts family. I currently oversee The Hotel Ivy, The Westin Minneapolis, and The Westin Cleveland Downtown.

Travel Industry / GBTA North Central Chapter Specific:

What made you decide to work in travel?  My journey into the world of travel began with a spontaneous job at the front desk of a hotel during my freshman year of college. What started as a part-time job quickly blossomed into a passion for hospitality and guest service. I discovered an innate love for connecting with people and providing a sense of comfort and ease to those on the go. This passion propelled me to pursue a career where I could make an even greater impact. After graduating, I transitioned into Business Travel Sales, where I've been able to apply my passion for service on a larger scale. In this role, I get to not only welcome guests but also shape the entire corporate travel experience, creating a seamless and stress-free journey for professionals who live on the road.

Why did you join the GBTA North Central Chapter?  GBTA is the leading organization for business travel professionals, and I'm proud to be an active member of the North Central Chapter. My involvement began when a previous employer introduced me to GBTA, and after attending several events, I immediately recognized the immense value of its community.

The networking and educational opportunities have been transformative for my career. Through the chapter, I've had the chance to connect with a diverse group of industry leaders, gain fresh perspectives on the ever-evolving business travel landscape, and access educational resources that keep me at the forefront of the industry. This has not only accelerated my professional growth but also deepened my commitment to the travel sector. I continue to seek out new ways to get involved because I believe the more I contribute, the more I learn, and the more effectively I can serve my clients and my company.

Are you currently on a committee/board within our chapter? I’m an incoming Allied Representative on the board and I’m currently the chairperson for the Education Summit Committee.

How long have you been a member of our organization? I’ve been a member since 2024 but I’ve been attending events since 2023.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working with travel?  My passion is to be a consistent source of comfort in the constantly changing world of corporate travel. For the "road warriors" who spend more time in hotels than their own homes, every detail I handle is an opportunity to improve their experience and transform a routine stay into a truly restorative one. I am here to help them feel at ease, anticipate their needs, and provide a seamless "home away from home," allowing them to focus on what matters most and leave feeling refreshed and ready for their next challenge.

Just for fun:

What is currently occupying your personal life?  Outside of my professional life, I have a deep appreciation for the art of hospitality and community—qualities I also value in my career.

I'm a devoted foodie who loves exploring the Twin Cities' vibrant culinary scene, whether it's discovering a new hidden gem or revisiting a favorite spot. I have a particular passion for sushi and creative mocktails, seeking out places that elevate non-alcoholic drinks to the same level as their cocktails. It's an experience that combines flavor, artistry, and creativity.

Beyond food, music is a big part of my life. I'm a singing member of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, a truly incredible organization that uses music to create a sense of belonging and community. My involvement extends beyond the stage as I volunteer my time to help with their fundraisers and member retreats, contributing to a cause I deeply believe in.

To balance the fast pace of city life, I frequently retreat to my family's cabin in McGregor, Minnesota. Whether it's for holidays or long weekends, this a place where I can recharge and connect with family, surrounded by the natural beauty of northern Minnesota.

If you had to live somewhere other than Minnesota, where would you move to? Minnesota has always been home. It’s hard to imagine living somewhere else. I’ve enjoyed spending time in Cleveland for work. That feels like home. And the people there are so kind and welcoming.

Favorite trip you’ve taken: Going to concerts for my favorite artist Zee Machine. I’ve been to Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Waterloo just to see him perform and every show has created core memories.

Favorite pastime hobby or leisure activity: Anything involving music or singing.

Favorite food: Sushi

Where do you live: Shoreview, Minnesota

Favorite sport: Pole Vaulting

Favorite color: Red

Favorite drink: White Monster Energy Drinks or Iced Blonde Lattes from Starbucks

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Dates to Remember

GBTA North Central: Spring Networking Breakfast

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Location: Embassy Suites Bloomington

Time: 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Join us for the GBTA Networking Breakfast on April 9th featuring special guest speaker Brian Peters from the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). Brian will provide insights into the recent government shutdowns and their impact on airport operations, as well as share timely updates from the MAC. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry peers and gain valuable perspective on current issues affecting our travel community.

Why Attend?

• Premium Networking: Start your day with dedicated networking time over a full breakfast buffet at the beautiful Embassy Suites Bloomington.

• Industry Connection: Engage in meaningful dialogue with peers about the current landscape of business travel in the North Central region.

• Hot Breakfast Bar!
  

Event Schedule

• 7:30 AM: Registration & Coffee Service Opens

• 7:30 AM: Breakfast Buffet & Open Networking

• 8:30AM: Announcement & Sponsor Update

• 9:30 AM: Event Conclusion

Parking: Complimentary on-site parking is included for all attendees.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the heart of the North Central travel community. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Sponsor Highlight

Sponsorship Message – Thanking our sponsors

We are grateful to our incredible sponsors for their support and sponsorship of our events. Because of your partnership, we were able to advance our education, networking and build our North Central travel community.  

Thank you for being a vital part of our GBTA North Central community!

Sponsorship Committee update

Education Summit Sponsorship packages are now available on our website. Tap into this opportunity designed to increase your marketing exposure at our premier event of the year. It is a great way to connect with key travel leaders in our North Central Chapter.

 Annual Sponsorship opportunities are still available. If you have any questions, please connect with [email protected]

https://gbta-northcentral.starchapter.com/catalog.php

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Welcome New Members

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Committee Highlights

GBTA Business Travel PAC

What is the business travel PAC?

Business Travel PAC is the bipartisan GBTA political action committee and is the ONLY federally recognized PAC representing the business travel industry, giving the industry another voice in the political process. GBTA’s Business Travel PAC is bi-partisan and supports members of Congress who champion travel issues.

A PAC is a vehicle through which associations and other types of nonprofits can support federal candidates who agree with their positions on critical issues. Through a PAC, an association can contribute funds to the campaign committees of federal candidates. Without a PAC, associations are prohibited from contributing money to a federal candidate.

The goal of the Business Travel PAC is to introduce the Business Travel industry to elected officials, raise and advocate on issues of concern to elected officials and bring the issues home to the Congressional District.

As part of the PAC, our chapter participates in the Chapter Challenge, helping to raise funds to contribute to these important initiatives. The goals of the chapter challenge are:

Call to Action!

Make your $10 count today—help us finish the Chapter Challenge.

The Business Travel PAC is the only federally recognized, bipartisan PAC for our industry, ensuring our voice is heard on the issues that affect our travelers, clients, and jobs. We’ve already completed 3 of 5 Chapter Challenge goals—now we need your help to meet the fundraising and participation targets.

Donate $10 (or more) to the Business Travel PAC to help us reach our $950 goal with at least 30% member participation. Please reach out to Lori Reid or Gina Zappa at any monthly meeting to donate. We will also have a QR code available in the near future so you can donate directly.

Take 60 seconds to email your elected officials via the GBTA website and select GBTA North Central Chapter. 

Every contribution and every email matters.

Please take action today—your support directly strengthens our industry’s voice in Washington.

Thank you for stepping up!

Update | We raised $325 in PAC donations at the March Meeting. Thank you to those who's donated!

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Advocacy

Championing Inclusion and Culture in Travel

North Central GBTA is dedicated to fostering a culture and inclusive travel industry where every professional feels valued and empowered. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, we support organizations in building inclusive workplace cultures and travel experiences.

Creating meaningful change starts with understanding the impact of culture and inclusion, raising awareness, setting clear goals, and fostering open conversations. By working together, we can make a lasting impact on the industry.

For more details or to get involved, visit GBTA North Central.

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