The Business Travel Show will debate the burning issue of direct connect during one of its four thought-provoking panel debates this year.
The session, called ‘The distribution revolution – good or bad news for travel buyers?’, will take place on Tuesday 7 February at 1450 on the Business Travel Show Centre Stage.
Moderated by specialist business travel writer Amon Cohen, three panellists will contribute to what is likely to be a seriously heated debate: easyJet’s distribution development manager Jerry Dunn; Bill Brindle from HRG and ITM industry affairs chairman Mark Cuschieri.
“Some traditional airlines have started official consultations with TMCs about selling tickets through channels that bypass the GDSs – yet some low-cost carriers are embracing GDSs for the first time,” said David Chapple, Business Travel Show event director. “This unmissable panel debate will investigate what all the changes mean and whether they make corporate clients winners or losers.”
The three additional Business Travel Show panel debates for 2012 are:
Forecasting forum – where is the cost of travel going in 2012? – Tuesday 7 February 2012, 11.10-12.00
Will you be paying more or less for your air, hotel and other travel costs by the end of this year? Come and learn the key supply and demand dynamics shaping travel pricing over the next 12 months.
Speakers:
Prashanth Kuchibhotla, Director, Global Consulting Advisory Services, American Express Business Travel
Sarah Makings, European Category Manager Procurement, KPMG
Jonny Shingles, Managing Director, Egencia
Can your air programme survive airline consolidation? Wednesday 8 February, 11.10-12.00
Mergers, joint-ventures and alliances have radically transformed corporate negotiations with airlines. Critics say there is less choice on many routes, but the carriers reply that the choices which remain are more competitive. Either way, how do travel managers need to re-think the way they put their airline deals together?
Moderator: Amon Cohen, Specialist Business Travel Writer
Speakers:
Richard Tams, Head of UK & Ireland Sales & Marketing, British Airways
Paul Wait, General Manager Sales, Virgin Atlantic Airways
Toni Goth, Head of Global Travel Management, Allianz
Peter Glade, Director of Sales & Market Development, Star Alliance
Is travel policy dead? - Wednesday 8 February, 14.50-15.40
With mobile apps and a new generation of independently minded employees in the workplace, some observers believe traditional travel policies telling travellers who and how to book have no future. Do buyers need to loosen up their policy to reflect the new reality or, in these harsh economic times, is it a good moment to crack down harder than ever?
Moderator: Paul Tilstone, Managing Director GBTA Europe
Speakers:
April Bridgeman, Senior Vice President, BCD Travel
Rob Hughes, EMEA Travel and Expense Program Manager, Salesforce.com
Michael Hill, European Travel Manager, The Coca-Cola Company
To register for a free visitor badge for the Business Travel Show and ensure you don’t miss out on conference sessions, please visit www.businesstravelshow.com.