CNBC’s Larry Kudlow, Sabre's Sam Gilliland and Carlson Wagonlit Travel's Hubert Joly to be Featured
Caleb Tiller , +1 703-684-0836, ext. 138
Courtney Leigh Beisel , +1 703-684-0836, ext. 133
Alexandria, VA (January 29, 2007) – The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is pleased to announce speakers for the inaugural NBTA Business Travel Financial Forum: A Wall Street Look at the Business of Business Travel, hosted March 26 in New York City. The event will bring together executives for in-depth discussions on the business travel industry, including the economic outlook for the air and hotel sectors, and the future of travel services.
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| Kudlow |
Larry Kudlow, host of CNBC’s Kudlow & Company and CEO of Kudlow & Co., LLC, an economic and investment firm, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event. Kudlow, a trusted advisor to many of the nation's top decision-makers, is widely recognized as one of the premier and most accurate economic forecasters in the United States. During his presentation, he is expected to discuss the supply-side economic policies that have transformed the United States into the greatest economy in the world, and to provide an update on where the market’s been, plus a forecast on how the market will behave in the months ahead.
NBTA is also pleased to welcome Sabre Holdings CEO Sam Gilliland and Carlson Wagonlit Travel CEO Hubert Joly as presenters on a panel titled “The View from the Executive Suite – The Future of Global Travel Services.” This presentation will cover the recent developments in the global distribution landscape and the evolution the marketplace may undergo in the near future. Topics of discussion will include industry consolidation, technological changes and the continued downward pressure to reduce costs. The executives participating on this panel are expected to share their unique perspectives on what the future may hold for the corporate travel industry.
NBTA President and CEO Suzanne Fletcher commented, “NBTA is pleased to bring together such a diverse, knowledgeable and respected group of panelists for the first-ever Business Travel Financial Forum. Corporate travel professionals attending the event are sure to gain critical insight into the industry to help them make tactical, strategic decisions for their corporate travel programs in 2007 and beyond.”
Additional travel industry and business thought leaders scheduled to speak at the event on topics including the economic outlook for the hotel and air industries, and a macro-economic forecast of American and global marketplaces include:
- Phillip A. Baggeley - Managing Director, Corporate Ratings; Standard & Poors
- Bobby Bowers - Senior Vice President; Smith Travel Research
- Amanda Bryant - Vice President, Lodging Group; Merrill Lynch
- Ken Goldstein - Economist; The Conference Board
- Darryl Jenkins - Airline Analyst; former Director of the Aviation Institute at George Washington University
- David Lee - Director, Economic Research; Air Transport Association of America
- Arnie Weissmann - Editor in Chief; Travel Weekly
For additional information please visit www.nbta.org/financialforum. Early-bird rates for the event expire February 2.
Members of the media are eligible to receive complimentary registration to the NBTA Business Travel Financial Forum. All complimentary media registrations are subject to review by NBTA. To register, please use media registration form (MS Word, PDF) or contact pr@nbta.org.
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,700 corporate and government travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.
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