The Global Business Travel Association announced April 12 that it has postponed its annual conference from July 17-21 to November 17-19. The location will remain the same: the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

The association made the decision after regularly surveying members on their preferences for GBTA Convention 2021 and getting feedback from them via email and through CEO Suzanne Neufang's listening tour, Neufang said in a video statement on GBTA's website. She was named CEO of the Alexandria, Va.-based association in February.

"What we learned is that timing is everything and that July would just simply be too early—too far ahead of office re-openings, too far ahead of travel policies relaxing and too far ahead of international borders expecting to be reopened, which you told us you expect in or around September," Neufang said in the statement, addressing GBTA members.

"In doing so, we are listening to buyers, to sponsors, to global partners, to our board and to medical experts and policymakers."

The 2021 convention will be the group's first large gathering since 2019.

"It will be different in what we intend to cover: everything you, your HR, sustainability and risk-related peers need to know to be prepared for travel and meetings to return post-pandemic," she said in the video to members.

For people unable to travel to Orlando in November, GBTA will provide "specific sessions in a virtual hybrid format," Neufang said.

GBTA is also planning a July 20 virtual event that will include a business meeting, education sessions and the announcement of new board members.

The association has more than 9,000 members, according to its website.

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