GBTA Convention Panel to Examine Future of Travel Distribution Landscape

Best Western’s SVP Dorothy Dowling to Moderate Expert Panel

Alexandria, VA (April 16, 2015) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – today unveiled its first of several panels in an exciting line-up of speakers for the upcoming GBTA Convention 2015, July 25-29 in Orlando, Florida: The Future of Distribution Landscape.

Moderated by 30-year hotel industry veteran Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president, marketing and sales for Best Western, the panel will address head-on the coming changes in the world of distribution in travel. Industry experts will discuss the key forces driving fundamental changes in the structure and business model of travel distribution including changes in consumer behavior, new technology, product differentiation, time to market, a transparent shopping experience and IATA’s NDC Program.

Panelists include:

Scott Alvis, CMO, Amadeus North America
Douglas Anderson, President & CEO, Carlson Wagonlit Travel
David Pavelko, Director, Travel Partnerships, Google

“The pace of both innovation and disruption in travel distribution continues to accelerate,” said Michael W. McCormick executive director and COO of GBTA. “These industry leaders will provide unique insights into the challenges and opportunities in the evolving world of distribution in the business travel industry.”

The 2015 Convention theme, #Sharing, aptly describes today’s business travel environment. There is no other industry where face to face meetings and the concept of sharing is more prevalent than the business travel industry. At Convention, the industry will come together as nearly 7,000 industry professionals will share in a transformative experience. Held at the Orange County Convention Center, GBTA Convention 2015 will bring 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. Register by June 1, 2015 to receive $100 in savings. More info on programs and speakers will be unveiled in the coming months. For the latest developments and more information, please visit gbta.org/convention.

Media registration is complimentary and available online. GBTA will also host its first-ever Media Dayon Sunday, July 26.

CONTACT: Colleen Lerro Gallagher, +1 703-236-1133, cgallagher@gbta.org
Gayle Kansagor, +1 202-295-8775, gayle.kansagor@harbourgrp.com

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.

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 9,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver 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. To learn how business travel drives lasting business growth, gbta.org