Building on the success of their strategic portfolio partnership with the Association for Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), GIBTM is set to deliver a series of educational sessions focused on driving the global business travel sector forward in the region.
“Education is vital to raising industry standards, and we are delighted to be working with the ACTE again this year to further enhance business travel across the region,” said Lois Hall, GIBTM exhibition manager, Reed Travel Exhibitions. “As the largest gathering of meetings- and events-industry professionals in the Middle East, we must encourage learning and development not only to enhance participants’ knowledge and development but to ensure meetings professionals can apply what they learn in order to grow in the industry.”
During the course of the show, which will take place in the ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, from March 25-27, the following sessions are scheduled in conjunction with the ACTE:
Hear from the author – Optimizing Business Travel in the Middle East, Mar 25 from 4 p.m. to 5 in the Knowledge Hub. Chris Pouney, director of Severnside Consulting and author of research paper “Optimizing Business Travel in the Middle East” will uncover the ways in which international and local corporations leverage their managed-travel spend. The seminar also will provide an insight and overview of supply-chain dynamics, connectivity and opportunities.
An interactive panel discussion entitled “How to maximize your Middle East travel-management program” is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mar 26 in the Knowledge Hub. A panel discussion hosted by Danny Barranger, vice president of global sales at Etihad Airways, and Thomas Grundner, vice president of sales at the Jumeirah Group, will highlight critical success factors that enable local and international business travel-buyers and suppliers, to maximize managed-travel program output in the Middle East.
Unearthing Savings: Consolidating Business Travel Management, Meetings & Conferences is scheduled from 1 p.m. until 2 in the Knowledge Hub on March 26. Business Travel expert Thomas Grundner will explore strategies in which business travel and meetings managers can collaborate to leverage consolidated spend, in order to create significant time and process efficiencies in addition to cost savings.
More information on GIBTM 2013, exhibitors, hosted buyers’ required qualifications, partners, networking and educational opportunities is available online at www.gibtm.com.
