Global Business Travel Association - GBTA

GBTA | Georgia October 19 Monthly Meeting
2023-10-19 11:00 - 13:15 (America/New_York)
GBTA | Georgia October Monthly Meeting
October 19
Location of Event
Sandy Springs Performing Arts and Conference Ctr. Terrace Room
1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Pricing and Registration
$85.00 Member and GA All Access Ticket
$45.00 Earlybird rate before October 12
$85.00 Guest Ticket
$65.00 Earlybird rate before October 12
For current speaker and program information, please visit www.georgiabta.org

What travel managers and travelers agree (and disagree) on
2023-10-18 13:00 - 14:00
What do business travelers think about the direction of managed business travel programs? What about the perspectives of the travel managers who set these programs?
Join this dynamic session with GBTA and Uber for Business to explore the priorities and challenges of today’s business travelers and travel managers, including:

The business traveler experience and its importance compared to other priorities
Sustainable business travel and what it means to travelers and managers alike
Cost savings in managed travel programs, how it is achieved and what is prioritized
How an uncertain economy could impact business travel

Sign up to gain valuable knowledge, innovative ideas, and actionable strategies to thrive in today’s evolving corporate travel landscape.
Event Speakers
Chris Ely, Research Director | GBTA
Vanessa Snow, Global Strategic Manager | Uber for Business

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Pricing and Registration
Complimentary

International Summit on Sensors and Sensing Technology
2023-10-16 - 2023-10-17
Speaker Registration 849 USD
Student Registration 399 USD
For more information please visit our conference website here

North Central Chapter - October Networking with a Purpose!
2023-10-12 15:00 - 17:30
Register today for our networking event with a presentation by Delta Air Lines at the brand-new Star Bar & Bistro at the Hotel Indigo!
Join industry colleagues to hear from Courtney Swander, Global Sales Consulting, Delta Air Lines and the MSP SAF Coalition to learn about the Minnesota SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) Hub – the first large-scale SAF Hub in the U.S. with unparalleled collaboration among key players across the value chain committed to scaling SAF production to replace conventional jet fuel. Hear about the anchor members who are joined by other leading institutions, including the State of Minnesota, to implement an ambitious shared strategy for aggressively decarbonizing the airline industry.
Continue the discussion by networking with colleagues and be one of the first to experience the new addition to our Minneapolis dining scene. All members and guests will receive 2 drink tickets (wine, beer, soda) and enjoy a nice assortment of appetizers created for our group.
Event Speaker
Courtney Swander, GM Global Sales Consulting, Delta Air Lines
Location of Event
Hotel Indigo, 618 Second Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Pricing and Registration
Guests and Industry Members $90

GBTA Project, Crew and Team Travel Summit 2023
2023-10-11 08:00 - 17:30
Engage with business travel professionals at GBTA’s Project, Crew and Team Summit on October 11th in New Orleans. This one-day summit provides education in travel logistics, risk management, mobility issues, and technology solutions and is ideal for specialized buyers and suppliers in the sports, entertainment, emergency management, non-profit, energy, project, and consultancy sectors. This must-attend, interactive event will show case best practices in managing unique traveler journeys; connect buyers with substantial spend of non-traditional travel services and innovative supplier partners; and uncover new solutions to the many challenges of working in a fragmented ecosystem.
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The Evolution of Ground Transportation for Business Travel: Perspectives from European Business Travellers and Travel Managers
2023-10-11 08:00 - 09:00
As business travel continues its evolution post-Covid, travel programmers must adapt travel policies that meet corporate goals and objectives as well as employee expectations.
GBTA, in partnership with FREENOW for Business, will discuss the results of a recent survey of business travelers and travel managers in Europe.
The study explores corporate mobility in Europe, focusing on seven markets: France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy and Poland.
The study is an update from the 2020 study sponsored by FREENOW for Business and will examine:
– What has changed in the past three years and what the future might hold
– The rise of sustainability in business travel
– The top challenges for business travel managers in 2023
Buyers and suppliers, regardless of where they live, will find this content highly relevant. This webinar will provide insights into the changing landscape of ground transportation, the role of sustainability in the mobility ecosystem and how business travelers and travel managers perceive ground transportation options.
Event Speakers
Chris Ely, Research Director | GBTA
Felix Brand, Chief Strategy Officer | FREENOW
Benjamin Park, Executive Director of Travel and Sustainability

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Pricing and Registration
Complimentary

Rebuilding Customer Service post-pandemic
2023-10-10 11:30 - 14:00
CT/Westchester Business Travel Association
The pandemic turned the travel industry upside down and what we might have thought was the main in focus in 2019 could have now changed in 2023. Join us for a discussion with Aaron McMillan, United Airlines Managing Director of Hospitality Programs as he takes us on a journey through supply chain issues, rebuilding service to improve the customer experience, and sustainability, and how this new direction will be a game changer for the future.
Location of Event
The Kitchen @ the Stamford Urby Apartments
1 Greyrock Place
Stamford, CT 06901

2023 October FEATURING OLYMPIAN MICHELLE DUSSERRE-FARRELL
2023-10-10 11:00 - 13:00
FEATURING MICHELLE DUSSERRE-FARRELL
Athlete, Curatorial and USOPM Programs, United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum, 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist (Gymnastics)
Michelle Dusserre Farrell has maintained an impressive career within the Olympics and Paralympics for decades, beginning with her time as an Olympian and extending to her work with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.
At only 5 years old, she found herself somersaulting in California gymnasiums, leading to her training with SCATS, a renowned gymnastics club known for cultivating promising talent. Dusserre was no exception, and at the age of 15, she made the Los Angeles 1984 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team, the youngest member of the squad.
Alongside teammates including Hall of Famer Mary Lou Retton, she helped the U.S. win the silver medal in the team event. Dusserre was known for her consistency in competition. This earned her the nickname “tablesetter” because coaches frequently had her perform first, raising the expectations and (hopefully) scores of the judges. This strategy was employed during the 1984 Games and is partially credited for the team’s overall success.
Following her Olympic career, Dusserre studied at Arizona State University and obtained her master’s degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in nutrition. She has remained an active member of the Olympic community, having served on the Athlete’s Advisory Council at the USOC (now the USOPC) and within her current role as the Senior Director of Athlete, Curatorial and Programming at the Museum. She was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center (CSOPTC) is a world-class training venue for Team USA athletes. Facilities include an Olympic-size swimming pool, indoor shooting range, velodrome, multi-purpose gymnasiums/courts, strength and conditioning gym, wrestling gym and boxing gym. From long-term to short term camps, clinics and resident programs, the CSOPTC provides a community that focuses on the full athlete experience, including a performance dining hall that caters to athletes offering a wide range of culinary styles to fuel their training, as well as a sports medicine clinic and science lab.
Join us in Tuesday, October 10th at U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center – Colorado Springs also known as Olympic City USA — the local Olympic Training Center is the flagship center for athletic training in the United States.
This education luncheon will feature a topic in the Olympic Spirit which we all have. Museum Tours available for visitors who want to get a taste of Olympic City USA, the Olympic Training Center and its sprawling 35-acre campus.
Interested in joining the GBTARM board members to car pool?
Contact us at rmbtadenver@msn.com
THANK YOU TO OUR MEETING SPONSOR
HERTZ

Tennessee Chapter - Hospitality InduSTRy: U.S. & Tennessee Market Trends & Outlook - GTP Credit Approved
2023-10-10
Just in time for hotel RFP season, come hear U.S., Tennessee, and Nashville hotel market updates with “Hospitality InduSTRy: US & Tennessee Market Trends & Outlook”. Smith Travel Research (STR) provides a single source of global hotel data covering daily and monthly performance, forecasts, annual profitability, hotel pipeline and hotel census information. Their commitment to confidentiality and accuracy has set the industry standard for over twenty-five years.
STR founded the STR family of companies and is proudly associated with STR Global, STR Analytics, and Hotel News Now.
Event Speaker
Tucker Latture, Sales Associate, STR Global
Location of Event
Courtyard by Marriott Nashville Green Hills
3800 Bedford Avenue
Nashville, TN 37215

Pricing and Registration
$35.00 GBTA-TN Member Registration
$45.00 after 01:00 am October 9
$35.00 GBTA All-Access Registration
$45.00 after 01:00 am October 9
$45.00 Guest Registration
$55.00 after 01:00 am October 9

The Fundamentals of Business Travel Management™
2023-10-06 11:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
October 6, 13, 20, 27
Deadline to Register is September 30
Designed as a comprehensive guide to the key areas of managed travel, GBTA’s Fundamentals curriculum includes a full range of topics including safety, policy, trends, performance, and more. Participants in this course gain a better understanding of business travel management and make themselves indispensable to the business travel needs of their organization. Please note this is a virtual event. GTP holders will earn 14 GTP® Recertification credits.
Pricing
Complimentary to GBTA members, $550 non-members
Learn More

Advanced Principles of Business Travel Management™
2023-10-05 15:00 - 17:30
The Advanced Principles of Business Travel Management™ course builds off of the Fundamentals curriculum to aid business travel professionals in increasing their knowledge of the industry while also expanding on their professional skills. This course is designed for travel buyers overseeing a managed business travel program and suppliers offering travel-related products and services. GTP holders will earn 14 GTP® Recertification credits.
October 5, 12, 19, 26
3:00 PM BST – 5:30 PM BST
Pricing and Registration
$450 member/$550 non-member
Learn More

Advanced Principles of Business Travel Management EMEA/APAC
2023-10-05 15:00 - 17:30
This is the rescheduled date for the June 7th session.
New dates are Oct. 5, 12, 19, & 26 all from 3-5:30 PM British Summer Time.
All other info from the June web page can be used for this one.

GBTA Conference 2023 Milano
2023-10-05 09:00 - 16:30
Torna la Conferenza Annuale di GBTA Italia, il punto d’incontro della community del Business Travel e del MICE!
Speaker d’eccezione, Travel Manager, Event Manager e Supplier della catena del valore del Business Travel e del MICE si incontreranno, si confronteranno sugli argomenti di attualità e condivideranno best practice nell’appuntamento annuale dei viaggi d’affari e degli eventi.
Per approfondimenti: https://gbta.org/gbta-conference-2023-milano

LATAM Business Travel Forums Bogotá
2023-10-05 08:30 - 12:30
Bogotá | 5 de Oct
Fecha: jueves – 5 de octubre, 2023
Hora: 8.30am – 12.30pm
Sede: Novotel Parque 93
More information

Carrefour des Experts Travel & MICE par GBTA
2023-10-04 14:00 - 18:00
Le Carrefour des Experts Travel & MICE par GBTA France du 4 octobre se tiendra au sein du salon IFTM – Top Résa. Il réunira des acheteurs, Travel Managers et fournisseurs, représentant la chaîne de valeur Travel et MICE. Une opportunité de bénéficier du retour d’expérience de nos experts sur des thématiques d’actualité et de rencontrer vos pairs. The Carrefour des Experts Travel & MICE by GBTA France on 4 October will be held as part of the IFTM – Top Résa exhibition. It will bring together buyers, travel managers and suppliers representing the travel and MICE value chain. An opportunity to benefit from our experts’ best practices on current issues and to meet your peers.
Location of Event
IFTM Top-Résa – Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles Hall 1
1, Place de la Porte de Versailles 75015 Paris
Pricing and Registration
Supplier members : €45
Supplier non members : €265 Buyers: free to attend

Central and Northern Florida Chapter - All Florida Day of Education & Networking - GTP Credit Approved
2023-09-29 10:00 - 19:00
Join all the Florida Chapters at a day of education with an agenda filled with exciting topics and great speakers at the unique venue of The Kennedy Space Center.
Educational Sessions include

Sustainability Panel
Travel Security & Risk Management
TMC Sourcing 2.0
NDC 2.0 Deep Dive Think

Special Surprise Guest Speaker
Location of Event
Kennedy Space Center Complex
Pricing and Registration
$120.00

GBTA Michigan Chapter - Annual Meeting & Tradeshow
2023-09-28 08:00 - 15:30
Mark your calendar for the Annual Meeting & Tradeshow! Get ready for compelling education sessions, expo tables, a Direct Member benchmarking session, and a networking reception the night before! Educational Topics include “The Problems and Solutions to Corporate Travel “Leakage” and “How to NDC-Proof Your Program”
Event Speaker
Justin Morris – Director of Sales, Traxo
Suzanne Boyan – Travel & Meetings Manager, ZS Associates
Location of Event
Embassy Suites Detroit – Livonia/Novi
19525 Victor Pkwy
Livonia, MI 48152
Thank you to Platinum sponsors

2023 Education Day
2023-09-27 08:30 - 16:30
GBTA | Georgia Chapter Annual Education Day at the Delta Flight Museum
BCD Travel is our Premier Sponsor for what will be an amazing day with discussions on NDC and DEI. The GBTA Convention is in Atlanta in 2024 and we are looking forward to learning more about getting ready for it and future city-wides. There will be Government Advocacy, the ever popular Buyers Panel, and more on how to work with your buyers and suppliers.
Trade Show Tables and Support Sponsorships are available by contacting Rick George at rick@partnershiptc.com
Learn More and Register here

DC GBTA 7th Annual Golf Event & Inaugural Pickleball Clinic & Tournament!
2023-09-25
Sponsored by Delta Air Lines, this year will be our 7th Annual Golf Event – featuring fun and competitive challenges and prizes and ample networking opportunities!
To add to the excitement, we will host our very first PickleBall Clinic and Tournament!
Come join us! The day will begin with Continental Breakfast at registration as we send the Golfers out to the course. We anticipate PickleBall to begin at 10am with a Pro Clinic, then Tournament play until 1pm.
For those who prefer not to “play,” we are pleased to offer Wine Tasting at 11am. In the afternoon, we will feature a delicious buffet meal, with awards and presentations by our sponsors and leadership team.
Check back for more details, but be sure to register to attend as we will be limited in space for golf (120) and pickleball (20)!
See you there!

Puget Sound Chapter - The Problems and Solutions to Corporate Travel “Leakage”
2023-09-21
Ever since technology was introduced into the corporate travel landscape, the ability for travelers to have a plethora of options in their bookings has led to multiple challenges for both corporate travel suppliers and managers. The primary challenge that arises from these options is that travelers choose them, which means they are not staying within the confines of the corporate travel program. This booking “leakage” presents multiple gaps in an organization’s travel program, including gaps in duty of care, compliance oversight, savings management, and more. Now more than ever this has become an area of focus with the changes happening around NDC. How did we get here, what have we done to solve this challenge, and what technologies have emerged to help bridge these gaps? Join us as Justin Morris from Traxo discusses the history, challenges, and potential solutions.
Event Speaker
Justin Morris | Has been in corporate travel for a little over a decade. He spent four years with Avis Budget Group, where he led the mid-market team and advanced to be one of the first business development leaders with a 14-state territory. After his time with Avis Budget Group, he spent four years at CWT, contributing to their small, small-to-medium, and mid-market sectors in the Midwest before joining Direct Travel for a year. Now, Justin works as the Director of Sales for Traxo, leads the organization’s TMC partnership initiative, and hosts the Traxo Office Hours webinar series. Justin is very involved in GBTA. He’s currently a member of five BTA chapters, is the VP of Education for the Wisconsin BTA chapter, a member of Ladders, and sits on the Technology Committee. Outside of corporate travel, Justin spends most of his time with his wife and children in their foster care ministry, and when he has downtime, he enjoys a good game of tennis.
Location of Event
Sheraton Grand Seattle
1400 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
http://www.marriott.com/seasi
Pricing and Registration
$60.00 Members
$85.00 after 11:00 pm September 16
$75.00 Non-Members
$100.00 after 11:00 pm September 16
$10.00 Bingo – 3 tickets for $10
$60.00 All Access GBTA Member Ticket
$85.00 after 11:00 pm September 16

Power Panel: Women in Travel Leadership from STEM and Financial Backgrounds
2023-09-20 13:00 - 14:00
STEM and financial services have historically been disproportionately male dominated fields, and not typical feeders into the travel industry. As more women follow this career path, however, we look to three leaders who have set their own trajectories in the corporate travel industry, leveraging their strategic and technical backgrounds.
Speakers

Session Moderator
Hansini Sharma | Travel Practice Lead, Acquis

Panelist
Robyn Grassanovits | Vice President Emerging Business, Cirium

Panelist
Charity Romery | Chief Revenue Officer, HQ

Panelist
Alexandra Brooks | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Hertz Corporation

Pricing and Registration
Complimentary
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GBTA APAC Conference 2023 – Singapore
2023-09-19 11:00 - 2023-09-20 16:00
The GBTA APAC Conference 2023 – Singapore will bring together the business travel community to network, learn from industry experts and benefit from peer-to- peer education. Tapping into the global insights of GBTA and curated by regional thought leaders this event will focus on the key issues and opportunities facing the business travel industry today.
Join us to connect with peers; expand your network; be inspired by innovative content and gain insights and knowledge to enhance your understanding of industry issues and accelerate your career.
For the first time, this event will be co-located with the Worldwide ERC® APAC Regional Summit Singapore offering all delegates the valuable opportunity to benefit from learning and networking opportunities provided by both organizations.

Register today for this important gathering of the global business travel industry and be a part of the journey.

GBTA-Rocky Mountain Chapter - 2023 Golf, Paint & Sip and Auction
2023-09-19 07:00 - 15:00
GBTA-RMC is excited to introduce an intuitive and easy-to-use online & mobile bidding silent auction.
We have created a simple auction online where donating AND bidding can take place as soon as today.
Simply sign up Under settings, add a credit card.
Once your credit card information has been added, BID or DONATE.
The auction will end with a click of a button, at our lunch on September 19th.
When you have the winning bid, you press pay.
It’s literally that easy.
Location of Event
The Inverness Denver, a Hilton Golf & Spa Resort
200 Inverness Dr W Suite 100, Englewood, CO 80112
Pricing and Registration
Starts at $80

GBTA Philadelphia - 2023 Education Day
2023-09-19
Educational Sessions Include

Fleet Management 101
Globalizing a Regional Policy & Safety
Corporate Card
NDC 2.0 Deep Dive Panel

Full Agenda Coming Soon!
Event Sponsor
Singapore Airlines
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE!
Location of Event
Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, 900 Packer Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Parking Information
Free parking at Live! Hotel & Casino
Pricing and Registration
Last chance to register is Wednesday, September 13 at 5pm

North Central Chapter - How to build your Travel Business Case—Winning Over Internal and External Stakeholders
2023-09-15 11:00 - 13:30
How to build your Travel Business Case—Winning Over Internal and External Stakeholders: In a changing market, how can you best understand and capture a business travel partner’s drivers and present a mutual benefit? And how do you sell these benefits to your internal teams?
Event Speaker
Hear from three travel industry experts from diverse businesses on what they find compelling.
Location of Event
Hotel Venue TBA, Bloomington MN 55425
Pricing and Registration
$90 for guests

GBTA Oregon & Puget Sound Education Day 2023
2023-09-14 07:00 - 18:00
Agenda
7:00 AM Registration Opens
7:30AM Breakfast Buffet Opens
8:15AM “Creating a Culture of Belonging” – Diana S. Cutaia, Coaching Peace
It’s proven that fostering a culture of belonging improves employee satisfaction, employee retention and productivity. In this session, the focus will be on the five domains of belonging in the workplace and how a sense of belonging benefits both customers and those colleagues who we serve.
Event Speaker
Diana Cutaia, Founder & CEO | Coaching Peace Consulting
Diana is a professional trainer, coach and strategist. She has a background in education, coaching, and corporate human resources with a focus on equity, leadership, and team building. She’s worked with over 50 colleges and K-12 schools, national and local non-profits such as the US Soccer Foundation, Girls Scouts, Women’s Sports Foundation, and corporations including Nike, Adidas, Portland Trail Blazers, Timbers FC and Orange Theory Fitness.
9:45AM Breakout Sessions:
Overview of Market – Forecast 2024 — Steve Cohen, Travel Portland
Description : Travel Portland is committed to generating travel demand that drives economic impact for Portland. The team at Travel Portland does this by promoting the destination in bold, innovative and collaborative ways that harness Portland’s personality and values that connect visitors to authentic experiences. In this session, you’ll hear from Travel Portland’s Director of Research and Insights on the status of Portland’s tourism industry and market forecasts for 2024.
Steve Cohen is the Director of Research and Insights for Travel Portland. Steve’s leads the organization’s research program to increase internal and external understanding of convention and meeting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for Portland. He also provides a research-focused, quantitative approach to the citywide sales process, ensuring current market conditions, industry pricing standards, and sales practices are optimized.
​Prior to Travel Portland, Steve lead research efforts at MMGY Global, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Marriott Vacation Club International, The Ritz-Carlton Club and the AAA National office.
Social Media: What you need to know right now! — Kara Campuzano, KC Creative
Description:
Session 1: Social Media: what you need to know right now!
Session 2: Let’s Get Reel: Reels 101
Kara Campuzano is the CEO and Founder of KC Creative. After 16 years of working in hospitality sales and marketing leadership, she ventured out on her own and founded KC in August of 2020.
KC Creative is a hands-on boutique social media and digital marketing agency that strives to keep its clients visible through brand exposure and awareness.
Kara is an award-winning hospitality veteran that brings her passion for making a difference, to her community and clients. Kara is actively involved as a board member with the following organizations: JDRF Oregon/SW Washington, Chemeketa Community College’s Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Committee, and the Miss Oregon Volunteer America Pageant.
Kara also owns Co.W a shared office and event space in downtown Salem, Oregon. When not working you will see Kara spending time with her two kids, Brody 14, and Isabella 9!
Revenue Management 101: — Jonathan Becker, InnVentures
11:00AM Breakout Sessions:
There is No Self-Care without a Community of Care — Diana Cutaia, Coaching Peace
Micro adventures and Chocolate — Meagan McGuire & Angie Archuleta, Explore Seattle Southside
Discover the curiously wonderful and join Explore Seattle Southside for a micro microadventure. What is a microadventure? Experience one for yourself with a simulated tour of the Seattle Chocolate factory in Tukwila, Washington. Complete with tastings, of course!
ArchuletaMeagan McGuire
Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness — Amanda Swanson, Oregon Department of Justice, Cassie Trahan, A Village for One
11:45AM Lunch Buffet Opens
12:15PM Keynote: The Realities of NDC, Panel Discussion
Traxo, SAP Concur, Spotnana, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Direct Travel
The way in which airline content gets distributed is at a crossroads. Airlines are looking to reduce costs by bypassing traditional booking channels. But how does this affect your business travel program? There are many unanswered questions surrounding service delivery, reporting, access to low fares and much more. In this session you’ll hear our panel of industry experts discuss the ways in which their businesses are working through the many challenges of NDC.
Moderator: Aash Shravah, Vice President of Sales & Client Success at Traxo
As a business travel expert with over 20+ years of experience in the business travel industry, Aash Shravah has worked in many aspects of the industry. His expertise ranges from travel technology, new business acquisitions and partnerships. Aash has always believed that to understand business travel, one has to look at it from the lens of the traveler. To that point, he has traveled more than 3 million miles and to over 100 countries. In his current role as Vice President of Sales & Client Success at Traxo, he helps companies eliminate blind spend and gain complete visibility into all employee travel bookings regardless of source.
The Panel
Ray Pazerekas is Regional Vice President, Concur Travel Suppliers, Americas at SAP Concur. He is responsible for airline, hotel and car relationships and content strategy. He has worked in the travel technology space for over 20 years. Ray began his career at United Airlines where he held various Sales, Marketing and Strategy positions. After United he joined GetThere.com and helped grow the company into the leading corporate online booking tool. After being acquired by Sabre Holdings, he focused on driving strategy for Sabre’s online/OTA segment. Ray has been with SAP Concur for over 10 years, focused on partnering with Suppliers on Concur Travel, Concur TripLink and TripIt Pro.
With nearly 30 years of experience in business travel management, Ted Cullen has seen his share of evolving technologies, service configurations and financial models. He is recognized for creating award winning travel programs for Fortune 100 companies and has been featured in Fortune, T&E Magazine and the Oregonian. Ted has served on corporate advisory boards of United, Delta, Alaska, Northwest, Port of Portland, GetThere/ITN, and Apollo/Galileo. He was awarded Visionary of the Year Award by GetThere, Compass Award Winner for the Port of Portland and President’s Award by Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Ted is currently the Global Travel Manager for Bio-Rad Laboratories and co-founder of Method Verification, a company dedicated to raising the voice of the business traveler.
Johnny Thorsen is the “VP of Strategy and Partnerships” for Spotnana based in Silicon Valley, California – he joined Spotnana in June 2021 after being a strategic advisor for the founders in the early stage of Spotnana being founded in 2019
Prior to joining Spotnana, Johnny was “VP of Strategy and Innovation” for American Express Digital Labs after they acquired Mezi, in January 2018 where he was the head of strategy and partnerships since May 2017
Prior to joining Mezi in 2017 Johnny was the co-founder and CEO of conTgo, a UK-based startup founded in 2007 and acquired by Concur in March 2013, and he held senior positions with companies such as Travelport, Sabre, GetThere, HRG and CWT before founding conTgo in 2007
Edgar Santiago, Global Corporate Account Manager, has been with Direct Travel for 16 years and with 28 years of Travel Industry experience in the greater Pacific Northwest. Edgar has an extensive background in supporting Travel Management program services for varying company types and sizes with a focus on data analytics, service delivery and traveler. In his spare time, Edgar is a musician, writer, enjoys a good book, and walks along the Oregon coastal beaches with his wife and dogs.
1:30PM Breakout Sessions
Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness — Amanda Swanson, Oregon Department of Justice, Cassie Trahan, A Village for One
DEI: Trans 101 — Mikki Gillette, Basic Rights Oregon
Description: Traveling can be stressful or uncomfortable for most of us from time-to-time. But those anxieties can be increased for transgender people who may experience challenges surrounding cultural norms, harassment, discrimination and more. This session will focus on key considerations for transgender travelers.
An avowed Portlander, Mikki Gillette (she/her) has been on the Basic Rights Oregon (BRO) staff for over seven years. As the Major Gifts Officer, she loves meeting with, and learning about, Basic Rights’ amazing supporters and connecting them with our important work. In addition to heading up BRO’s Major Gifts efforts, Mikki is on the grant writing team and oversees the Planned Giving program. A trans woman, Mikki earned her B.A. from UCLA and M.Ed from the U of O. Her hobbies include meditating, listening to too many podcasts and eating anything Buffalo-flavored. Mikki is also a playwright whose work chronicles the trans experience. She was named one of the “25 People Shaping the Arts in Portland” by Willamette Week in 2022.
Tech in Travel: Airlines — Reed Forrester, Delta Air Lines
Description: In this session we’ll explore ways to leverage current and emerging technologies to enable the smooth efficient use of time while on the road. Protecting road warriors time and providing them with solutions for enhanced productivity while traveling for business.
Reed Forrester is the General Manager-Sales, Pacific Northwest for Delta Air Lines based in Seattle. Prior to this role, he served as the Regional Sales Manager for Salt Lake City and the surrounding Inter-Mountain West region for Delta. Previous roles include District Sales Manager for Delta in New York City. He began his Travel Industry career with American Airlines in New York City and held various roles in his 12 years with American. Reed served as the Technology Chair for the UBTA (Utah Business Travel Association) for the last 3 years and is proud to continue his affiliation with GBTA-Oregon and Puget Sound’s Education Day.
2:30PM Breakout Sessions
Let’s Get Reel: Reels 101 — Kara Campuzano, KC Creative
Duty of Care in a Post Pandemic World — Tyler Hosford, Regional Security Manager, International SOS
Maximize your GBTA Membership — Angela Swoveland, Mailene Cline, GBTA
Description: The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 7,600+ members represent and advocate for the $1.158 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. In this session, you’ll hear about the many benefits, resources and tools available to GBTA members.
Angela Swoveland’s passion for GBTA has been cultivated through her Chapter experience serving on the Membership Committee, as Treasurer and as President for the Baltimore Washington Chapter. During her Chairmanship, she led the taskforce to combine the Northern Virginia and Baltimore Washington Chapters into what is now the Greater DC Metro Chapter. She also served as Secretary/Treasurer of GBTA’s Chapter President’s Council. Angela now assists aspiring GBTA Leaders in her role at GBTA as Manager, Volunteer Relations and Strategy.
My journey in the hospitality industry has been nothing short of extraordinary. With a rich tapestry of experiences spanning 25+ years, I’ve had the privilege of working with renowned brands such as Four Seasons, Fairmont Hotels, Staypineapple Hotels, and Boeing. These ventures have paved the way for my current role as the Director of Business Development for the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). My passion for fostering strategic partnerships and accelerating organizational growth is unwavering, and I am honored to be a part of a team that is wholeheartedly committed to excellence.
3:45PM Macro Trends in Travel, Panel Discussion:
Festive Road, adidas, MGM/Amazon Studios, Slalom, Smartsheet, Hudson River Trading
The GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook Report shows that business travel is coming back faster than first predicted. Coupled with macro trends impacting the travel sector, it’s no surprise managing travel looks different. Hear the 9 major trends impacting travel programs, the drivers of acceleration and what an esteemed panel of travel managers is doing in response.
Moderator: Katie Virtue, Principal of Supplier Consulting, Festive Road
At FESTIVE ROAD, the consultancy on a mission to #createbetter travel and meetings management, Katie is a purpose driven leader focused on inspiring people and programs to grow. She applies learnings from her 30 years of competitive ice hockey to provide playbooks, strategies and personal development approaches and is a frequent speaker on growth by #findingspace and on different business travel topics. She is a GBTA Ladders mentor and a member of the GBTA Technology Committee.
The Panel
Sara Satterlee is Global Travel Manager at Slalom, a Seattle-based consulting firm doing business in nine countries. Before working at Slalom, Sara was the Travel Manager at an architecture firm and now has more than eight years in travel program management. Previously, she worked in Operations, Human Resources Staffing and Project and Account Management. This year, Sara joined the GBTA Puget Sound board as Treasurer and loves the partnership shared with the GBTA Oregon chapter!
Lee Palmer Taylor served his country as a naval aviator, to seventeen years as a commercial airline pilot, to building a well-deserved and successful reputation in corporate travel management for companies that have included the National Basketball Association, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. Currently Lee is taking on the new and exciting challenge of initiating and developing a travel centric subsidiary engagement program for Amazon. Lee currently serves as Chairperson of the GBTA Los Angeles Chapter and is a past President. He was honored to serve as a WINiT committee member and a member of their Male Allyship committee in 2022 and in his own words, “It was one of the highlights of my travel career to appear on the GBTA Mainstage during last year’s conference in front of my respected colleagues and friends.”
Joe Taus is the Global Travel& Expense Manager at Hudson River Trading. He has over twenty years in the travel industry, beginning as an account manager with United Airlines. Today, Joe oversees over $50M in global travel spend. His responsibilities encompass a complete end-to-end travel/expense offering. While Joe sits in HR, he is very actively involved with the procurement, events, and accounting teams. He has managed travel at fast-growing start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. Joe has presented at numerous industry functions including Business Travel News and Global Business Travel Association conferences. He has served on the GBTA Aviation Committee and the Portland International Air Service Committee. Although Joe has resided in the Pacific Northwest for over 30 years, he still proudly maintains his New Jersey accent!
Michelle Amos began her career in the corporate travel industry over 10 years ago as an Account Manager with Egencia.
In March 2020 (the 23rd to be exact – the day most corporate travel halted), Michelle joined Smartsheet as their Global Travel Manager – what a time to start with a new company! During the travel hiatus, she supported the Marketing, Events and Product Marketing teams from a Procurement perspective. Michelle also created and implemented a contingent and temporary workforce program.
She is actively involved with the GBTA Puget Sound Chapter. Michelle served two terms as Secretary, one term as Vice President and is the current President. In addition to her involvement with GBTA, Michelle has spoken at ProcureCon Travel and participated in several BTN Whitepapers.
4:45PM Silent Auction and Raffle Prizes
5:00PM Supplier Showcase Reception
6:00PM Conclusion of Education Day
Pricing and Registration
$175.00 Member Registration Fee
$225.00 after 12:00 am September 6
$150.00 Earlybird rate before July 20
$175.00 Guest Registration Fee – not at member of an affiliated Business Travel Association
$225.00 after 12:00 am September 6
$150.00 Earlybird rate before July 20
$175.00 Guest Registration Fee – Affilate Member of GBTA, PSBTA, INBTA or other BTA
$225.00 after 12:00 am September 6
$150.00 Earlybird rate before July 20

Utah Chapter - Monthly Meeting and Luncheon - GTP Credit Approved
2023-09-14
Transportation Security Administration Update – TSA improvements and how this affects the business traveler and “best practice” when travelling through TSA checkpoints
Location of Event
Airport Board Room, Third Level – Directly behind the Southwest Ticket Counter
Parking
Please park in the garage and bring in your ticket for validation
Event Speakers
Our speakers will be representatives from the TSA at Salt Lake City Airport
Latoya Maestas – Transportation Security Manager
Ryan “Matt” Davis – Federal Security Director
Pricing and Registration
35.00

Wisconsin BTA - Bridging the Buyer/Supplier Gap - GTP Credit Approved
2023-09-13 10:45 - 16:00
This event’s highlight is a breakout session like no other, designed to bridge the gap between suppliers and buyers. During the session, suppliers and buyers will meet separately to candidly discuss the challenges they encounter when working together.
This open dialogue will foster a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved in the business travel ecosystem. After the breakouts, all participants will have the invaluable opportunity to collaborate on finding practical solutions, led by the expertise of Thomas Lynn, Vice President and Chief Counsel for Caesars Palace.
This event is a must-attend for professionals in the business travel sector looking to stay ahead of the curve, build lasting connections, and drive positive change.
Event Speaker
Thomas Lynn, Vice President & Chief Counsel, Property Transactions, Caesars|Harrah’s|Horsehoe, Las Vegas
Location of Event
Hilton Garden Inn Brookfield
325 S. Moorland Road Brookfield
Brookfield WI
Pricing and Registration
$70 for Allied/Direct Member ($80 after Sept. 6)
$70 Guest

Tennessee Chapter - The Generational Divide: What Does Sustainability Mean to You?
2023-09-13
What does sustainability mean to you? Come hear from a generational panel who will share their wisdom, experience, energy and ideas on how we can be sustainably active in our roles at work, travel programs, and at home to help create a cleaner environment for future generations.
Panel Moderator
Annie Potts | Travel Manager, AllianceBernstein
Panel
Boomer: Scarlett Coffman | Director of Sales, Hilton Garden Inn – Nashville/Franklin/Cool Springs
Gen X: Nicole Bensing | Director of Sales & Marketing, Courtyard by Marriott Nashville Green Hills
Millennial: Caroline Bennett | Director of Corporate Responsibility and Jordi Tornatore | Sr Sales Manager, The Mint House
Location of Event
The Hutton Hotel
1808 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203

Pricing and Registration
$45.00 Guest Registration
$55.00 after 1:00 am September 11
$35.00 GBTA All-Access Registration
$45.00 after 1:00 am September 11
$35.00 GBTA-TN Member Registration
$45.00 after 1:00 am September 11

GBTA Convention 2023
2023-08-13 09:00 - 2023-08-15 18:00
From serving the ongoing needs of business travel professionals to looking ahead to what’s needed most now by travel buyers, suppliers, business travelers and others, GBTA Convention returns for its 54th year as the global business travel event of the year.
– In-person networking, business, and connection opportunities alongside thousands of peers and partners from across the global business travel community
– Curated topics, insightful speakers, and leading experts on what matters most for the times we’re in but also for our future
– An unparalleled offering of sessions for education, learning, training and professional development for professionals of all levels and interests
– Tools, research and resources you need, from the latest forecasts and data, to best practices and technologies to help you navigate the road ahead for your business travelers, organizations, and teams
Interested in exhibiting? Learn more about expo opportunities.
Location of Event
Dallas, TX
Venue Information
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, 650 S Griffin St, Dallas, TX 75202
