Airline CEO Panel and Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Jewel Brings Insight and Entertainment To GBTA Convention Attendees

GBTA Reveals Findings on Global Spend and Honors GBTA Award Winners

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) —the voice of the global business travel industry — continued to host insightful panel discussions and entertainment for attendees while also breaking news on the opening day of the 2013 GBTA Convention. GBTA Executive Director and COO, Michael W. McCormick revealed the latest findings on global spend from the GBTA Business Travel Index (BTI)™ on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" program, revealing that business travel spending continues to grow globally while economic shifts are fundamentally reshaping the business travel landscape.

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Monday's Convention opened with GBTA's signature Airline CEO Panel made possible by the Boeing Company. The panel included Glenn Johnson, president, Horizon Air; Craig Kreeger, chief executive officer, Virginia Atlantic Airways; Derek L. DeCross, vice president, Global Sales, American Airlines; Dave Hilfman, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales, United Airlines and Steve Sear, senior vice president, Global Sales, Delta Air Lines, and was moderated by Hudson Crossing Analyst Henry H. Harteveldt. The session was lively and informative, as the executives shared their views on airline consolidation, customer service and the importance of the customer experience.

Glenn Johnson, president, Horizon Air, in a discussion on how airlines are trying to innovate said, "The possibility of innovation is everywhere. Creating an experience that is predictable, manageable and hassle free is the goal."  Johnson continued by saying that everything they do comes back to the customer experience.

The later part of the panel featured a historic first with the sales executives of the three major airlines taking the stage together. The panel discussed IATA's New Distribution Capabilities proposal, the benefits of consolidation and what to expect from each of their airlines this year. All three executives were in agreement that consolidation benefits the consumer and also allows supply to match demand.

The afternoon continued with the general session sponsored by Sabre Travel Network, GetThere & Travelocity Business. Scott Solombrino, GBTA president of the Allied Leadership Council and president and CEO of Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network, presented the Allied member of the Year award to every member of the 2013 Allied Leadership Council. The GBTA Direct Member of the Year Award was given to Fernando Montes, travel manager for Telefonica Argentina.

Monday's general session keynote featured acclaimed singer/songwriter Jewel who entertained attendees with her humorous stories of her past interspersed with performing her some of her greatest hits like  "Hands," "Who Will Save Your Soul" and "You Were Meant For Me."

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 70 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 5,700-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. 

SOURCE Global Business Travel Association