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Traffic was high on the sold-out show floor that featured more than 400 vendors
Chicago — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, wrapped up its 51st annual Convention this week in Chicago. Technology and the future of business travel management were the predominant themes throughout the five-day industry gathering that brought together more than 7,000 travel professionals and industry leaders. CD Publisher Chris Weiss and numerous representatives from the luxury ground transportation were among them.
GBTA held its second annual Awareness 5K Run & Walk to raise awareness and funding to stop human trafficking on Sunday morning of Convention with more than 500 registered participants. Proceeds totaled $20,000 and will benefit ECPAT-USA and its efforts to end child exploitation and trafficking.
CD Publisher Chris Weiss (second from left) with some familiar faces at the Commonwealth Worldwide booth
GBTA Convention 2019 featured top industry leaders on Center Stage focused on business travel's most pressing issues. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz and President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation Mark Hoplamazian joined newly elected GBTA President Bhart Sarin of Ingredion Incorporated on stage to discuss customer experience, loyalty and recruiting and retaining top talent in today's competitive world. Both CEOs agreed that as things are constantly evolving that the focus must always remain on customer needs.
Cvent CEO Reggie Aggarwal led a lively and insightful panel focusing on disruptive technology. The panelists discussed what circumstances promote a need for new technology, and how organizations are using solution-based technology to approach various business challenges. Aggarwal concluded by saying that being innovative is a matter of survival.
New GBTA COO/Executive Director Scott Solombrino and GBTA President Christle Johnson
The ABCs of NDC panel kicked off Tuesday talking one of the hottest topics in the business travel industry today. Various stakeholders discussed NDC's impact today and in the future.
Dorothy Dowling of Best Western Hotels led a session of top female business travel executives sharing their insights on the unique challenges they faced as women arriving in leadership positions within their companies. Although their personal leadership journeys differed, their advice for women in the business travel industry coalesced around a few core themes: taking risks, thriving through failure, and talking the talk.
Center Stage wrapped up with a panel discussing how travel and meetings management continues to integrate across the various travel channels. Panelists shared best practices, lessons they learned along the way, and their insights.
The A1A Airport & Limousine Service team was among those representing luxury ground transportation at the event
The keynote stage at Convention Arena featured Jon Taffer, Hospitality Expert and Host of Paramount Network's Bar Rescue; Bob Costas, award-winning sportscaster, broadcaster and best-selling author; Andy Cohen, host and executive producer of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live; and Ashley Judd, actress, activist and social justice humanitarian. Monday's keynote also featured a one-on-one interview with GBTA's new COO and Executive Director Scott Solombrino and The Boeing Company's CEO Dennis Muilenburg. Muilenburg told the packed room that Boeing is working on software updates to the 737 Max jet planes. He also discussed training and the importance of engaging employees.
Tom Fischer (left) and David Abrams manned the Windy City Limousine & Bus booth
More than 170 education sessions gave travel professionals of all levels more opportunities than ever before for education to help them advance their careers and improve their travel programs. Topics covered top travel industry issues including duty of care, technology and innovation, procurement, sustainability, and more. Attendees can access all of these sessions with GBTA Convention 2019 On Demand.
The sold-out Expo Floor featuring more than 400 exhibitors showcased the latest and greatest in business travel products and services including the exciting Innovation Row. GBTA held its Innovation Series Finale with Sleepbox taking home the title. Innovation Row returned for its third year featuring mostly first-time exhibitors who are looking to become the business travel industry's most impactful innovators. Nearly 30 companies, including SAP Concur, Sabre, Fox World Travel, Southwest Airlines, RoomIt by CWT and more, also participated in GBTA's fifth annual media day sharing their breaking news announcements.
GBTA concluded the event with more than 7,175 attendees, including more than 1,400 buyers, making this the largest GBTA Convention in history and one of the largest gatherings of travel professionals in the world. Next year's Convention will be in Denver, Colo., from July 25-29, 2020.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[CD0819]
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ADMEI President-Elect Alaina Tobar of PRA Northern California
Bastrop, Texas—The Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) recently announced that its Board has appointed Alaina Tobar to the vacant position of President-Elect.
Michelle Crosby was required to step down as President-Elect earlier this year when she was named General Manager of Hosts Texas, a new start-up destination management company. ADMEI Bylaws require that a board-member’s organization be a company member; while Hosts Texas meets all Provisional member criteria, it lacks being in business for three years or more to qualify for full company membership.
“It’s an exciting time to be in destination management, and opening Hosts Texas has been an exhilarating experience. Although I’m sad to cut my five-year board tenure short as I transition my career in a new direction, I look forward to remaining active within ADMEI. I anticipate that the current leadership has wonderful things in store for the organization,” says Crosby.
“We all celebrate Michelle’s exciting career advancement and are thrilled to learn of Hosts Texas inception. Unfortunately, however, that means our board temporarily loses an amazing officer and member of the Executive Committee,” adds ADMEI’s Executive Vice President Val Delaney. “We are so thankful that Michelle continues to serve as a volunteer leader and mentor, and we look forward to her rejoining the board in the future!”
Tobar, Regional General Manager of PRA Northern California and the ADMEI Board’s Vice President of Administration, was tapped to succeed Crosby and complete her term as President-Elect. Tobar joined PRA in 2011 and was instrumental in successfully opening the PRA Hawaii office in 2013. Shortly after returning to the mainland, she was tasked to serve as General Manager, heading up the PRA Northern California team. Over the years, Tobar worked her way from the ground up, gaining firsthand experience in the various roles within a business events management firm. She has served as ADMEI’s Conference Chair and currently chairs ADMEI’s Emergency Preparedness Certificate Program (EPCP).
“I am confident that Alaina Tobar is a wonderful choice for President-Elect based on her unwavering commitment to ADMEI initiatives from her first day on the Board; and her outstanding vision and organizational skills for our recent 2019 ADMEI conference and the EPCP. I am looking forward to working with Alaina in her new role,” says ADMEI Board President Robert Lee of Spaintacular.
“We will miss Michelle’s leadership, and we wish her the absolute best as General Manager of Hosts Texas,” said Tobar. “All circumstances considered, I look forward to moving into the position of President-Elect, while continuing to promote the value of ADMEI. My experiences through this organization have always been so rewarding from the educational opportunities to networking with DMC colleagues from around the world. I’m eager to dive in and continue to push ADMEI and our industry forward.”
A ballot will be distributed to ADMEI voting members to approve the new President-Elect, which allows for her to succeed to the office of President at the end of the existing term.
Visit admei.org for more information about ADMEI, an international association serving destination management companies.
[CD0719]
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LANJ President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide
Livingston, N.J.—The Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) is pleased to announce a brand-new benefit program for all of its operator, affiliate, and supplier members: the Options Plus Plan, which offers discounted pricing on dental, vision, veterinary, telemedicine, and legal services for members, their families, and their employees.
The Options Plus Plan is not insurance. Rather, it is a savings program that can be used as a primary benefit for those without coverage or as a supplement to existing coverage to help fill coverage gaps.
There are five benefit combinations from which to choose, and plans range from $16/month to $26/month—and include family members at no additional cost. Members may also choose to simply promote the Options Plus Plan to their employees for their own sign-up or provide the Options Plus Plan for your employees as a company benefit.
LANJ invites all interested parties to a special briefing about the Options Plus Plan and a discussion regarding the full details on each benefit’s entitlements, sample savings, cost, and instructions on how to enroll members, their families (including spouses, domestic partners, and children up to 26 years old), and employees and their families.
The briefing, which will include lunch, is complimentary and will be held at Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant August 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 105 East Mt. Pleasant Ave, Livingston, N.J. 07039. Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m.
Additionally, for companies with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees, a briefing on Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) Plans also will be presented at the August 7 briefing. MEC Plans are employer-sponsored health insurance coverage that limits a company’s exposure to penalties under the Affordable Care Act. Employers who meet that size requirement MUST offer a qualifying health insurance plan.
To register for the August 7 Options Plus briefing and/or the MEC briefing, simply send an email to info@lanj.org, confirm your company and attendee name(s), and say "I'll/We'll be there!"
For more information about Options Plus, visit optionsplusplan.com/LANJ, send an email to info@optionsplusplan.com, or call 877.783.0235.
Visit lanj.org for more information about the association itself.
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