Elevating the Business of Travel at the GBTA Convention

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:18

Written by Brad Balfour

The 2011 Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention takes the business of travel to new heights in the mile-high city of Denver this Aug 21 - 25, 2011. Held in the Downtown Denver Convention Center, this conference offers thousands of business travel buyers cost-effective solutions to the many industry challenges in this world of shifting economic sands.

The GBTA is the world’s premier business travel and meetings organization. Collectively, GBTA’s 5,000-plus members manage over $340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. It provides its network of 17,000 business and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, with networking events, news, education & professional development, research, and advocacy.

As "The Business Travel Event of the Year" the GBTA provides ample information for professional travel managers and their clients to advance travel programs, including the latest on travel technologies, new sourcing strategies and emerging industry trends.

Of special note is the remarkable line-up of keynote speakers:

• Monday, August 22: Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
• Tuesday, August 23: Meg Whitman
• Wednesday, August 24: Sean Penn

In addition, the GBTA's lineup of highly accomplished speakers will provide insight and advice to enhance a company's bottom line. Learn from company leaders in four separate featured presentations:

• LIVE with GBTA — The World’s Largest Airline and What’s Next in Travel Security
• The Airline CEO Panel
• Travel Value Chain Panel
• The Mavericks of Business CEO Panel

This year, advanced planning tools are available for all attendees to target and communicate with colleagues and prospects more easily, making the Convention experience more efficient and manageable. More than 400 companies can be found on the Expo floor to learn firsthand how this myriad of products and services can help companies achieve their goals.

GBTA’s large trade show offers market choices not available at other industry gatherings. And, for the second year in a row, the Expo floor will feature the Business Traveler Innovation Awards sponsored by The Wall Street Journal, which will honor innovative ideas, products or services that make life on the road easier.

The latest trends on cutting-edge industry topics will be discussed at more than 70 education sessions, divided into tracks to maximize the learning experience. The conference offers professional development opportunities that allow traveler managers to maintain a competitive edge critical to success.

A wide selection of professional development opportunities are offered even before the full Convention begins on Saturday, Aug. 20. Information sessions include a Financial Modeling for Travel Managers and the Travel Procurement Workshop.

The convention also offers planning tools, available to all attendees, to make things more manageable such as a Convention Mobile App that can be can be synched up to your Outlook calendar. With these tools, scheduling -- from seeing exhibitors on the show floor to education sessions and events to attend -- can be more efficient.

Travel management is a specialized business that balances employee needs with corporate goals, financial and otherwise. Good travel management ensures cost tracking and control, facilitates adherence to corporate travel policies, realizes savings through negotiated discounts, and serves as a valuable information center for employees and managers in times when travel is not as smooth and carefree as it used to be.

The economic downturn has allowed travel managers to take a front and center role within their companies and has made travel management, as a profession, an important part of every top executive’s strategic planning. In many cases, travel managers have been asked to lead company-wide efforts to cut travel costs, track those savings and report them back to senior management.  

But travel management is still misunderstood and undervalued by some corporations today. Therefore, the role of business travel within the corporate structure must be placed in proper context so that its value can be measured and appreciated.The annual GBTA Convention is the place to discover all this and more.

For advance registration online go to: http://www.gbta.org/convention/2011/Registration/Pages/default.aspx

To register on site got to Lobby B of the Convention Center.

Onsite registration desk hours are:  

• Saturday, August 20 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Sunday, August 21 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
• Monday, August 22 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Tuesday, August 23 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
• Wednesday, August 24 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
  

Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention
Aug 21 - 25, 2011
Denver Convention Center
700 14th Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 228-8000

IFA 2011 Consumer Electronics Unlimited

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Wednesday, 17 August 2011 05:00

Written by Christopher Lai

IFA in Berlin, Germany is being held on September 2 – 7, 2011. IFA is a global trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances which presents the latest products and innovations in the heart of Europe’s premier regional market.

Attendees will get the latest information first-hand from industry leading companies like Toshiba, Haier, Yamaha, and Nikon, just to name a few.

The 51st IFA is only a few weeks away. It is time to find out about all the attractions on offer at IFA 2011 – events specifically for trade visitors, or the programme for the younger generation: IFA has something to suit everyone.

Read more: IFA 2011 Consumer Electronics...

D23 Expo - The World According to Disney

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 05:00

Written by Film FestivalTraveler Staff

The annual D23 Expo takes place August 19 - 20, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California -- home of the original Magic Kingdom, Disneyland.

"The name "D23" pays homage to the wonder and excitement that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official community for fans in Disney's 88-year history. D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney."

The D23 Expo -- the Ultimate Disney Event -- brings the entire world of Disney under one roof, providing attendees with unprecedented access to Disney films, television and theme parks."  

Marvel Studios makes its debut with D23 Expo this year, presenting its history from "the evolution of the first comic book in 1939 to Marvel's current position as one of the most important creative forces in the world."

Joe Quesada, world-renowned writer and artist, and Marvel‛s Chief Creative Officer, hosts this presentation, which includes a Q&A. "We're thrilled to be a part of the one-of-a-kind show that is Disney's D23," Joe says. "Whether attendees are new to the world of Marvel or longtime fans, they're going to love what we've planned for them!"

Disney film fans also get to go behind the scenes to explore the up-and-coming projects at The Walt Disney Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and Marvel Studios. This special presentation features never-before-seen footage and star appearances.

The Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming film slate includes

• Disney’s The Muppets
• John Carter
  
• Disney•Pixar’s Brave
• Marvel’s The Avengers
• Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie
• Oz The Great and Powerful

Star appearances include:

• Jason Segel, Kermit and Miss Piggy (Disney’s The Muppets)
• Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins and Willem Dafoe (John Carter)
• Kelly Macdonald and Kevin McKidd (Brave)
• Jennifer Garner (The Odd Life of Timothy Green)
• Jack McBrayer and Sarah Silverman (Wreck-It Ralph)
• cast members from Marvel’s The Avengers
• other surprise guests

Disney‛s legendary "Imagineers" will be on hand to discuss how they use storytelling and technology to make Disney magic. Disney Legend Marty Sklar leads a celebration of Imagineering careers and accomplishments. Other Imagineers appearing are Tony Baxter, Joe Lanzisero and Bob Zalk.

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) also hosts exclusive sessions with renowned children's authors, readings of timeless stories, and a "book nook" with a complete library of Disney‛s classic tales and new adventures for a good read.

Authors include:

• Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist Dave Barry
• best-selling author Ridley Pearson
• filmmaker, Academy Award-nominated producer and author Don Hahn
• Don Ballard

On display are DPW‛s latest books and magazines, including:

• the brand-new It's a Small World publishing program
• Phineas and Ferb magazines
• the Captain America special interest publication

along with new learning products, including the School Skills workbooks and the recently launched Cars 2 Read and Race application

It's a Small World Story Time and Pen Pal Program
Visitors can listen to a live reading from the It's a Small World picture book and the Hello World! book, plus a very special opportunity to become pen pals with a Disney English student based in China

In celebration of 25 years of movie making magic, five sessions will be devoted to the artistry and technical wizardry of Pixar including:

A Conversation with the Pixar Creative Team – Enjoy a rare opportunity to spend some time with the key figures responsible for Pixar’s unprecedented success, including

• John Lasseter (chief creative officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios)
• Jim Morris (general manager, Pixar Animation Studios)
• Pete Docter (director, Monsters, Inc., Up)
• Andrew Stanton (director, Finding Nemo, WALL-E)
• Bob Peterson (co-director, Up)
• Lee Unkrich (director, Toy Story 3)
• Mark Andrews (director, Brave)
• Dan Scanlon (director, Monsters University)

Pixar Shorts – This retrospective screening of the animation studio’s legendary short films will be followed by a panel discussion with several of the filmmakers, including:

• Ralph Eggleston (director, For the Birds)
• Andy Jimenez (director, One Man Band)
• Angus MacLane (director, BURN-E)
• Pete Sohn (director, Partly Cloudy)
• Teddy Newton (director, Day & Night)
• Enrico Casarosa (director, La Luna)

Expo attendees also get access to advance screenings of:

• an all-new 3D version of The Lion King, presented by RealD 3D, coming to theaters and homes this fall
• the upcoming ABC holiday special Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice from Walt Disney Animation Studios

Out on the Expo floor, fans can explore the world of The Walt Disney Studios at their leisure with comprehensive exhibits, including:

Walt Disney Studios Animation Pavilion – Experience the art, technology, culture and legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios with filmmaker demonstrations, drawing classes, book signings, meet-and-greets and art exhibits.

Walt Disney Studios In-Home Entertainment Pavilion – Check out cutting-edge home entertainment technology and learn what the future holds for Disney movie fans, with sneak peeks of upcoming films in high-definition Blu-ray 3D™ and more.

Inside Tides: Pirates of the Caribbean Film Prop Collection – Get an up-close look at an exclusive collection of detailed set pieces, props and costumes from the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

For more information, go to http://www.D23Expo.com.

D23 Expo
August 19 - 20, 2011

Anaheim Convention Center
800 W Katella Avenue
Anaheim, California
714-765-8950