GBTA Announces Delta CEO Richard Anderson as Featured Speaker at GBTA Convention 2014

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry –

today announced Richard H. Anderson, chief executive officer of Delta Air Lines, will be a featured speaker at Center Stage at the GBTA Convention 2014 to be held July 26-30 in Los Angeles, Calif.

"GBTA is pleased to welcome Richard as a featured speaker for this year's convention." said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO, GBTA "Richard is an industry leader and one of the most influential people in travel today. He joins an impressive slate of speakers that will give our attendees unique insight and perspective on the business travel industry."

Richard Anderson is Delta's chief executive officer and a member of the company's Board of Directors. Through the vision of Richard's leadership team, Delta is a values-based company that is strategically and creatively reengineering the airline business model. Under Richard's leadership, the airline is reducing debt, strengthening revenues and thinking differently about cost control to build a flexible, stable and more durable business. In 2014, 2013 and 2011, Delta topped Fortune's Most Admired Airlines list, a worldwide ranking based on people management, quality of management, innovation, long-term investment, social responsibility, quality of product and services and global competitiveness.

Richard's more than 25 years of aviation experience began in 1987 at Continental Airlines. Richard currently serves as chairman of the International Air Transport Association Board of Governors as well as a director on the Boards of Medtronic Inc. and Cargill.

Other Center Stage industry keynoters at the GBTA Convention 2014 include U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of United Airlines Jeffery A. Smisek.

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 keynote speakers, more than 70 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 open now. New programs and speakers will be unveiled throughout 2014. For the latest developments and more information, please visit gbta.org/convention.
Media registration is complimentary and available online.

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 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.

Colleen Lerro Gallagher
+1 703 236 1133
GBTA