The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) - the voice of the global business travel industry—today announced Bill Glenn, President and CEO of the new American Express Global Business Travel joint venture, will be a featured speaker at the GBTA Convention 2014, July 26-30, in Los Angeles.

"We are pleased to welcome Bill Glenn as a featured speaker for this year's Convention," said Michael W. McCormick executive director and COO of GBTA. "As the leader of the newly announced American Express Global Business Travel joint venture that is scheduled to close right before Convention, Bill is sure to provide unique insight for attendees navigating the business travel industry. The joint venture marks the largest single investment made in a travel management company, and will fund meaningful advances in technology, analytics and service excellence."

Bill Glenn will serve as President and CEO for the newly formed American Express Global Business Travel joint venture with an investor group led by Certares, resulting in an unprecedented $900 million capital infusion.

Glenn was formerly President of Global Commercial Services at American Express. He originally joined American Express in 2002 leading the merchant business in North America. He is a highly accomplished leader with experience running major business units during his distinguished career at American Express, and he has built strong customer relationships throughout the global corporate sector.

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; and Concur CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors Steve Singh.

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 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 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 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 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