The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) — the voice of the global business travel industry — today announced the preliminary details of its leadership panel at the GBTA Europe Conference 2013, being held in Prague, Czech Republic on 23rd-25th September 2013.

The leadership panel discussion, entitled "The Battle for Your Distribution Spend", will feature industry association leaders from core sectors within the business travel distribution chain.

  • Michael W. McCormick, Executive Director and COO, GBTA will represent the travel buying community.
  • Paul Wait, CEO, Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) will represent the TMC community.
  • Christoph Klenner, Secretary General for the European Technology & Travel Services Association (ETTSA) will represent the electronic distribution community.
  • Aleks Popovich, Senior Vice President, Industry Distribution and Financial Services, International Air Transport Association (IATA) will represent the airline community.

The session will take a deep dive into key distribution issues facing the industry – including IATA's New Distribution Capability (NDC) programme and the distribution of ancillary services. The audience will hear each stakeholder's perspective and be able to put their questions to the panelists.

Catherine McGavock, GBTA's Regional Director for Europe said:

'GBTA Europe industry panels get to the heart of the topical issues concerning our sector. There is a huge degree of speculation around distribution related topics at the moment – NDC in particular. This session will provide our audience an opportunity to hear all perspectives first hand – from the airlines; GDSs; TMCs and of course the buyer community – then make up their own mind from an informed position.'

For more information about the GBTA Europe Conference 2013 go to http://www.gbta.org/europeconference

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.

Catherine McGavock
Regional Director - EMEA GBTA
+44 1494 590 958
GBTA