Airline CEOs to Discuss Future of Airline Competition

GBTA Convention Panel to Feature CEOs From Etihad Airways, Southwest

Alexandria, VA (April 23, 2015) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – today unveiled another panel in an exciting line-up of speakers for GBTA Convention 2015, July 25-29 in Orlando, Florida.

Future of Airline Competition
Monday, July 27, 8:30 a.m.

Moderator: Charisse Jones, USA Today
Panelists: James Hogan, President and CEO, Etihad Airways

Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Southwest Airlines

“This panel will be all about competition,” said Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO. “We are excited to bring together the CEOs of these two distinctly different airlines to learn how they are each striving to gain market share and what strategies they believe will enable them to be successful in this increasingly competitive marketplace. Attendees will gain unique insight and perspective into the future of airlines from these two industry leaders.”

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 Day on Sunday, July 26.

CONTACT: Colleen Lerro Gallagher, +1 703-236-1133, [email protected]
Gayle Kansagor, +1 202-295-8775, [email protected]

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