The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the business travel industry, today announced Ed Rendell, former Governor of Pennsylvania, author and NBC News Analyst, will be joining GBTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Michael W. McCormick for a one-on-one conversation at the opening session of the annual 2012 GBTA Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. The Welcome Session: GBTA's Sunday Night Live, sponsored by J.P. Morgan | AirPlus, will be held Sunday night from 5:00 – 6:00 pm ET on July 22, 2012.

Rendell will discuss America's need to rebuild and reinvest in its infrastructure, the importance of courageous leaders in today's political landscape, and the ways America can embrace alternative energy for efficiency and cost savings. He will also share lessons learned in his 34 years of public service as District Attorney, Mayor of Philadelphia and Governor.

"We are thrilled to have Former Governor Ed Rendell join our Sunday Night Live Session line-up. His no-nonsense approach to governing and blunt speaking style made him one of this country's truly unique elected officials," said GBTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Michael W. McCormick. Gov. Rendell's dedication to developing our infrastructure speaks directly to one of GBTA's core public policy goals, the full implementation of the NextGen program to modernize the American aviation industry. Gov. Rendell understands how important infrastructure development is to advancing our economy."

Ed Rendell served two terms as Governor of Pennsylvania (2003-2011), and two terms as Mayor of Philadelphia (1992-2000). Through his unprecedented strategic investments as Governor, he revitalized the region and energized the state's economy. As Mayor of Philadelphia, he eliminated a crippling deficit, balanced the city's budget and generated five consecutive budget surpluses.

Rendell is a proponent of green and alternative energy and committed to making America a cleaner, more efficient place for economic growth. He serves on several Boards of Directors and also campaigns regularly for government efficiency. He recently published a memoir, "A Nation of Wusses," to widespread acclaim and appears regularly as a political analyst on NBC. He is also currently teaching government and politics courses at the University of Pennsylvania.

About the Global Business Travel Association Convention The GBTA Convention, with more than 6,000 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 65 industry-leading education sessions organized into 15+ 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 trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA's members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy.

Meghan Henning
+1 571 309 3961
GBTA

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