GBTA announces keynote speakers and agenda for 2014 China Conference

SHANGHAI - The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) — the voice of the global business travel industry — announced keynote speakers for their second conference to be held in Shanghai March 31 – April 2. GBTA President Donna Kelliher’s keynote speech centers on the important question, “Can Business Travel Management be truly global?” She will discuss this with GBTA China Board Chairman Victor Lim.

In support of this growing region, the 2014 GBTA China Conference will be attended by the GBTA U.S. Board of Directors who will be joined by senior representatives of leading U.S. corporations and associations. Both Executive Director, Michael W. McCormick and President & CEO, Donna Kelliher will be speaking as part of the extensive agenda crafted by the China Advisory Board.

“GBTA’s forecasts predict China will be the world’s top business travel market by 2016, so we are proud to be hosting this second annual conference in this growing region,” said Michael W. McCormick, Executive Director and COO of GBTA. “Over the past few years, GBTA has expanded its presence across the globe and bringing this conference back to China is a great opportunity to discuss doing business in China from both a local and expatriate viewpoint.”
The second keynote will be given by Dr. Wang Yonggang of Fudan University and is titled, "Top level design, technology innovations and growth of China's Business Travel Industry."

The GBTA China Conference is designed for those involved in all aspects of business travel procurement in China and across the globe. After a very successful first event in April 2013, this conference is going to be more exciting and substantial in educational content.

The conference will be held in Mandarin with simultaneous translation into English and is designed to deliver relevant and educational information to the broader audience.

Talking about the event, Welf Ebeling, Vice President, Operations for Asia Pacific said: “The program of this year’s event has been designed by a panel of local travel managers and industry experts, focusing on the needs of China’s fast growing business travel industry. At the same time, having the entire GBTA USA Board of Director’s participating adds a global perspective and vast international expertise that will benefit all conference attendees.”

Another key component of the China event is GBTA Executive Director Michael W. McCormick’s presentation of the 2014 H1 GBTA Business Travel Index report for China, sponsored by VISA.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews