Why I Joined CTAN: A Place to Be Open, Curious, and Learn Together

Donna McGovern, Director, US Travel at ITV Studios America

What I’ve loved about CTAN is seeing how other travel buyers are applying AI and thinking about how it can be used in their work. It’s expanded my knowledge, exposed me to new ideas, and given me different ways to think about what could be possible in my own travel program.

I can see how someone uses AI during a CTAN AI Skills session and immediately start exploring how that same approach, or a completely new one, could work for my travel program. To me, that’s the best kind of hands-on learning: learning from people who are doing the same kind of work I am and figuring it out together.

One of the biggest bonuses of participating in CTAN has been the relationships I’m building and strengthening.

When you’re surrounded by other travel buyers in a safe space, there’s an openness that allows you to really share. You feel comfortable talking about what’s happening in your program, working through ideas, asking questions without judgment, and learning from each other. There is such a wealth of experience and knowledge within this group, and tapping into that collective thinking is one of the many things that makes CTAN so valuable.

I’ve reconnected with people and built new relationships through CTAN that have continued to grow well beyond the group. That’s the ripple effect! One conversation can spark a new idea, deepen a relationship, or completely change how you think about something in your program or your life.

What makes CTAN unique for me is how all of those pieces come together. It’s a hands-on, safe community where travel buyers can be open, share their knowledge and experience, learn and grow together, build authentic relationships, and push each other to think differently about what’s possible.