Business Travel Association chief Clive Wratten is to help raise the profile of the business visits and events industry to government.
He has joined the working group for advocacy and government relations run by UKEVENTS, the umbrella body for the UK events industry.
The BTA chief executive said that business travel and events go hand in hand.
Wratten added: “Both the Business Travel Association and I understand the importance of cross-industry collaboration and the intrinsic role face-to-face contact plays here – not only to ensure the steady growth of the business travel industry, but to strengthen the prosperity of the wider UK economy.
“I am delighted to join my events colleagues to ensure our government fully understands the power of in-person events and their significant contribution to business, bringing workers from all over the globe together.”
The UKEVENTS group works with partners and allied organisations across different industries to secure greater support for the industry and boost growth in event numbers and attendance.
The organisation’s chair Chris Skeith said: “Over the last three years, UKEVENTS has made tremendous progress in expanding our network in government as we work tirelessly to raise awareness and articulate what the sector can offer.”
The BTA’s latest report based on analysis from CBI Economics found that the business travel industry and its events contribute £27.5 billion in gross added value to the UK in 2022.