GBTA Announces Academy Award Winner Kevin Spacey to be Featured Speaker at 2014 GBTA Convention

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Apr 07, 2014, 09:00 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the global business travel industry—today announced Academy Award winner, Kevin Spacey, will be a featured speaker at the GBTA Convention 2014 being held July 26-30, 2014 in Los Angeles, CA. Spacey will be speaking at Convention Arena on Monday, July 28. His appearance is made possible by Sabre Travel Network.

"Kevin Spacey has led a career of exceptional projects extending into various roles within the arts in front of the camera, on-stage and behind the scenes, continuing to entertain audiences while also working hard to defend the value and integrity of the arts," said Michael W. McCormick executive director and COO of GBTA. "We are thrilled to announce Kevin as a speaker for the 2014 Convention. His achievements and versatility are examples of the importance of adaptability and strong will to be successful in all walks of life."

Spacey currently serves as executive producer and stars as Francis Underwood, the beguiling, charismatic and ruthless House Majority Whip, in the Netflix original series "House of Cards." For this work he won a Webby Award and was nominated for both an Emmy Award and a Critics Choice Award. The series was also nominated for 9 Emmy Awards in its first season; winning 3 of those awards including Best Director. Spacey's "House of Cards" Netflix debut turned the traditional television business model on its head, transforming the industry.

A lifelong artist, Spacey began his acting career at a young age and later attended the Juilliard School of Drama and began his professional career on the New York stage, which eventually propelled his career into film.

Spacey has won Academy Awards^® for his performances in "The Usual Suspects" and "American Beauty," which also garnered him a BAFTA Award. Additionally, he has been nominated for seven Golden Globe Awards^®, most recently for his role in "Casino Jack." Spacey's illustrious film credits include "Swimming with Sharks," "Se7en," "LA Confidential," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "The Negotiator," "K-Pax," "The Shipping News," "Superman Returns," "Beyond the Sea," "Shrink," "The Men Who Stare at Goats," "Horrible Bosses," and "Margin Call."

Spacey's production company Trigger Street Productions, which he runs with his producing partner Dana Brunetti, has produced multiple award-winning movies including the recently released "Captain Phillips", starring Tom Hanks and "The Social Network," which won a Golden Globe® for Best Picture and received multiple Academy Award® nominations.

Since 2004 Spacey has served as the Artistic Director of The Old Vic Theatre Company in London. He most recently toured all over the world with the Sam Mendes production of "Richard III", which was filmed and turned into a documentary called "Now".

About GBTA Convention
The GBTA Convention, with nearly 7,000 attendees, is the largest, most comprehensive annual gathering of business travel and meetings managers, meeting planners, procurement professionals and suppliers anywhere in the world. The Business Travel Event of the Year ® features: more than 70 industry-leading education sessions organized into 20+ specialized tracks geared to specific levels of experience and a variety of disciplines; a 400+ company Exposition showcasing market choices not available at other industry gatherings; sessions featuring world-renowned speakers and industry leaders; a wide selection of professional development opportunities; and, much more. For more information on the GBTA Convention, visit gbta.org/convention.

About the Global Business Travel Association
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premier business travel and meetings organization. Collectively, GBTA's 6,000-plus members manage over $340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA provides its network of 21,000 business and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, with networking events, news, education & professional development, research, and advocacy. For more information, visit gbta.org

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SOURCE Global Business Travel Association