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Los Angeles — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) held its annual convention from July 26-30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California. This year’s event boasted guest speakers from industry experts to entertainers, an expo floor featuring the latest in travel technology and products from more than 400 companies, dozens of educational sessions catering to all ranges of knowledge and all facets of the business-travel industry, and a record-breaking attendance of 6,679 convention-goers.
Recurring themes punctuated the five-day event, as shaped by recent events and popular trends alike. According to GBTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Michael McCormick, the impact of a sharing economy, the necessity of re-evaluating traditional approaches to travel safety, and the globalization of businesses were among the hottest issues of the 2014 convention.
“It’s no secret that the industry is becoming an increasingly global world. It is not just flights from New York to Los Angeles or Chicago in today’s world; it is fights to Shanghai and Dubai,” McCormick says. “To be competitive and grow, businesses need to be everywhere.”
McCormick cited the recent attack on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as “a wake-up call” for businesses that send people to all corners of the world, urging corporations to take responsibility for the safety of its travelers. “Duty of care and risk management is a vital component of today’s business travel,” he says.
Some of the convention’s speakers added a dose of levity to the seriousness of business, with actors Kevin Spacey and Jason Alexander offering their audiences entertainment, anecdotes, and advice. Other speakers included Twitter’s co-founder and co-inventor Biz Stone, American Express Global Business Travel’s president Bill Glenn, Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole, and Google’s Director of Travel Partnerships David Pavelko.
The GBTA Foundation, the educational and research arm of the association, announced its new initiative, The Gift of Knowledge, on the event’s final day. The Gift of Knowledge aims to implement a program that will develop travel management as a viable occupation in China, and will be partnering with China’s Fudan University to create an educational curriculum to train future travel professionals.
The 2015 GBTA Convention is scheduled for July 25-29 in Orlando, Fla.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
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Terry Cox, Coastal Car Worldwide Director of Operations Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Coastal Car Worldwide is proud to announce that Terry “Bubba” Cox is its new Director of Operations. Terry has more than 13 years of experience within the transportation industry, working for companies such as Dav El, Carey, and Yellow Transportation.
“I am excited to be joining the Coastal team,” says Cox. “This opportunity provides me the ability to bring my knowledge and experience to a well-rounded company with eye on the service industry’s future.”
Cox was most recently the Vice President of Worldwide Services for Sunny’s Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation. He was successful in establishing the worldwide department and contributed to rapid growth in their Manhattan and Washington, D.C. markets.
He was also the Director of Operations for the Aston Group, where he was responsible for the company’s investment portfolio, overseeing operations within each investment, and driving profits for resale purposes.
In his role as an ordained minister for 13 years, Cox was in charge of both raising capital and the completion of special projects, and also served as a motivational speaker.
“Terry’s skills, knowledge, and experience combined with our advances in technology are a great match and will allow us to quickly scale our organization,” says JC Carey, president of Coastal Car Worldwide.
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With less than three weeks to go, time is running out to register for the Canadian Summit, being held at the InterContinental Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, this August 10-11.
Don’t get the word “Canadian” fool you; the summit is open to anyone who wants a mini working vacation, targeted networking, and in-depth education with immediate takeaway value in a relaxed setting. You’ll see a lot of familiar faces, but you’ll also meet new friends and potential affiliates over the two-day summit. Can’t afford more than a day or two away from your business this summer, but you crave new ideas and networking with like-minded operators? This show is definitely for you. The event is being produced by Chauffeur Driven and the Ontario Limousine Owners Association (OLOA), and thanks to sponsors Cowan Insurance Group and Northbridge Insurance.
We kick off the summit with an opening cocktail reception on Sunday night where you can mingle with over 100 other operators from all over North America. The following morning, after a hearty breakfast, we get down to business with three sessions presented by some of our industry’s most respected professionals (we’ll feed you lunch, too). Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect from these interactive workshops.
Presented by Kyara Kahakauwila of LA Limousines and Mike Zappone of All Transportation Network
Explore ways to keep your customers loyal despite the changing landscape, using proven strategies that work within the chauffeured ground transportation industry. Learn how to exceed even their expectations as the competition heats up.
Workshop 2: Employee Motivation & Retention: Creating a Happy and Healthy Environment that Increases Productivity
Presented by Kristen Carroll of Grace Limousine and The LMC Group
This session will examine increasing productivity and rewarding your best employees so that your company runs like a well-oiled machine. The costs of turnover and when it’s actually beneficial to a company will also be discussed.
Workshop 3: Are You As an Owner Demanding Enough of Your Business?
Presented by Andi Gray of Strategy Leaders
Stop settling for just enough or OK when you can be a great company. Learn how to work on the business not in it, and get on track to double profits and triple revenue in the repetitive cycles.
To close the day, join us for our exclusive and private dinner cruise aboard the Captain Matthew Flinders, sponsored by Grech Motors. You’ll enjoy a beautiful evening of great food and entertainment as you sail on Lake Ontario, flanked by the Toronto night skyline.
To register for the summit, visit chauffeurdrivenshow.com/Toronto or call 856.334.1988.
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