Alexandria, VA - The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, today unveiled another Center Stage panel in an exciting line-up of compelling content for GBTA Convention 2019, held August 3-7 in Chicago. The session is made possible by Choice Hotels.

The panel, Travel + Meetings: Big Opportunities Revealed, will explore the continued integration of meetings and travel across procurement, technology, duty of care and the traveler experience. The session will highlight the power of meetings from both an impact and spend perspective looking at where this integration will head and how forward-thinking buyers and suppliers are accelerating the change to benefit their programs.

The panel will be moderated by Tony Wagner, Vice President, Americas & South Pacific Regions, CWT Meetings & Events, on Tuesday August 6 at 12:15 PM. Panelists include:

  • Karen Hutchings, Global Head of Travel, Meetings & Events and Brand Marketing Procurement EY
  • Shawn Parker, Executive Director, Corporate Group Sales, Hilton Worldwide
  • Ron Shah, CEO, Bizly

"As the meetings and travel worlds continue to integrate, panelists on this Center Stage session will share best practices, lessons learned and insights to lead your travel and meetings program into the future," said Christle Johnson, GBTA President.

Held at the McCormick Place in Chicago, GBTA Convention 2019 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 175 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 remains open. More info on programs and speakers will be unveiled throughout the coming weeks. For the latest developments and more information, please visit gbta.org/convention.

Media registration is complimentary and available online. GBTA's fifth annual Media Day on August 4, 2019 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