GBTA announced new panel to be featured on center stage at the GBTA Convention 2014, July 26-30, in Los Angeles

Executives to Share Views on Today’s Distribution Landscape

Alexandria, VA, 2014-6-20 — /Travel PR News/ — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the global business travel industry—today announced a new panel to be featured on Center Stage at the GBTA Convention 2014, July 26-30, in Los Angeles: Executive Leadership Panel: A View Across The Distribution Landscape.

Moderated by Michelle (Mick) Lee, Founder & CEO, WINiT-WomenInTravel, Managing Director, Global Head of General Services & Travel, Citi, the panel will feature prominent industry executive leaders sharing their views on the challenges and opportunities facing the travel distribution landscape today. Panelists include:

  • Donna Kelliher, President and CEO, GBTA; Director, Travel and Corporate Services, Dominion
  • Pam Codispoti, Executive Vice President and GM, American Express
  • Cindy Allen, Vice President, TMC Services, Concur
  • Leslie Hunziker, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Hertz Global Holdings
  • Dorothy Dowling, Senior Vice President, Best Western

“We are pleased to welcome this diverse, experienced and talented group of leaders to this year’s Convention,” said Michael W. McCormick executive director and COO of GBTA. “The panelists cover the gamut of the business travel industry representing associations, a travel management company, payment, travel technology, ground transportation and hotels. The panelists are sure to provide valuable insight for attendees navigating the world of business travel as they discuss their respective paths to leadership, the obstacles they have overcome and offer advice for tomorrow’s leaders.”

Other Center Stage industry speakers at the GBTA Convention 2014 include U. S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole; Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of United Airlines Jeffery A. Smisek; Delta CEO Richard Anderson; Concur CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors Steve Singh; and American Express Global Business Travel President and CEO Bill Glenn.

The 2014 Convention theme, Business in Motion, aptly describes how the event will unfold as nearly 7,000 attendees from all facets of the business travel industry come together for five days of continuous motion at the business travel event of the year. GBTA will broadcast LIVE from the LA Convention Center, bringing you world-class featured speakers, more than 80 industry-leading education sessions, the largest business travel expo floor, a wide selection of professional development opportunities and much more providing attendees the opportunity to build their careers and get business done.

Attendee registration is still available. For the agenda and a list of the many exciting programs and featured speakers, please visit gbta.org/convention. Media registration is complimentary and available online.

CONTACT: 
Colleen Lerro, +1 703-236-1133, clerro@gbta.org
Gayle Kansagor, +1 202-295-8775, gayle.kansagor@harbourgrp.com

About GBTA Convention
The GBTA Convention, with nearly 7,000 attendees, is the largest, most comprehensive annual gathering of business travel and meetings managers, meeting planners, procurement professionals and suppliers anywhere in the world. The Business Travel Event of the Year ®  features: more than 80 industry-leading education sessions organized into 20+ specialized tracks geared to specific levels of experience and a variety of disciplines; a 400+ company Exposition showcasing market choices not available at other industry gatherings; sessions featuring world-renowned speakers and industry leaders; a wide selection of professional development opportunities; and, much more. For more information on the GBTA Convention, visit gbta.org/convention.

About the Global Business Travel Association
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings organization. Collectively, GBTA’s 6,000-plus members manage over $340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA provides its network of 21,000 business and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, with networking events, news, education & professional development, research, and advocacy. For more information, visit gbta.org