The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, today unveiled its first Center Stage panel for the 50th edition of GBTA Convention, held August 11-15, 2018 in San Diego.

Successful Women Leading in Business Travel will feature three senior leaders in business travel as they give their unique perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry today. These executives will highlight success factors and obstacles they experienced throughout their careers, as well as address the challenges they faced as women to get to the level they are at today. This session is made possible by TripActions.

The panel will be moderated by Dorothy Dowling, SVP & CMO of Best Western® Hotels & Resorts on Monday, August 13. Panelists include:

  • Jodi Allen, CMO, Hertz
  • Melissa Maher, SVP, Global Partners, Expedia
  • Traci Mercer, SVP, Lodging, Ground & Sea, Sabre

"Having a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to the success of any organization," said Christle Johnson, GBTA President. "We look forward to these women leaders sharing their experiences along their pathway to success and the problems they faced along the way."

Held at the San Diego Convention Center, GBTA Convention 2018 will bring together over 7,000 business travel professionals from more than 50 countries across the globe. It will feature world-class keynote speakers, more than 100 industry-leading education sessions, the largest business travel expo floor, a wide selection of professional development opportunities and much more, providing attendees the opportunity for professional development and to get business done.

Attendee registration is open now. Register by May 31 for special savings. More info on programs and speakers will be unveiled throughout 2018. For the latest developments and more information, please visit gbta.org/convention.

Media registration is complimentary and available online. GBTA's fourth annual Media Day on August 12, 2018 will feature back-to-back news announcements throughout the morning from top travel companies around the world, giving media an exclusive pass to the latest travel industry news.

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
GBTA