GBTA Reveals Centre Stage Panels at GBTA Conference 2018 Toronto

Toronto, Canada (March 8, 2018) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, today revealed three of its Centre Stage panels at GBTA Conference 2018 Toronto, April 16-18.

Panel Discussion: Cross Border Security

Leading executives will gather to discuss the current state of cross border security, updates to existing procedures, and the future of airport security. The panel will be moderated by Michael W. McCormick, GBTA Executive Director & COO. Panelists include:

Scott Collier, Vice President of Customer and Terminal Services, GTAA
Tina Namiesniowski, Executive Vice President, Canadian Border Service Agency
Michael Saunders, President and CEO, CATSA

Beyond Business: The Impact of Business Travel on the Canadian Economy and Jobs

GBTA Vice of President of Research Jeanne Liu will delve into the economic impact of business travel as it pertains to the Canadian economy on Wednesday morning. Business travel affects more than just a company’s bottom line – it contributes to the creation of jobs, generation of sales and taxes, and more.

Panel Discussion: Today’s Procurement Practitioner

The opening Centre Stage panel will feature procurement executives within leading market companies as they discuss how corporate procurement strategies filter down and intersect into the world of business travel. They will also examine the big picture challenges and opportunities driven from C-Suite decisions, how they manage these expectations, suppliers and employees, while positively contributing to the overall business strategy.

The panel will be moderated by Geoff Parsons, President & CEO of Geopar Consulting. Panelists include:

Andy Bonanno, Vice President of Procurement and Supplier Management, Rogers Communications
Donald (Don) Smith, Vice President of Global Procurement Services, Scotiabank
Joe Waring, Vice President of Strategic Sourcing, Mattamy Homes

“We are truly thrilled to welcome these thought leaders to the stage at our 14th annual conference in Toronto,” said Nancy Tudorache, director of operations for GBTA Canada. “As organizations continue to grow in size and complexity, it’s imperative to stay updated on the latest trends by receiving first-hand input and advice from prominent industry executives.”

Attendee registration is open now. Register by March 22, 2018 for up to $200 CAD in savings. More information on programs and speakers will be unveiled in the near future. For the latest developments, please visit canadaconference.gbta.org.

Media registration is complimentary for qualified media. Please contact Marianne Varkiani at mvarkiani@gbta.org or Colleen Gallagher at cgallagher@gbta.org for more information on media registration.

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, visit www.gbta.org.