GBTA Reveals Lineup for 4th Annual 'Airline CEO' Panel at 2011 Convention

Market Leaders to Examine Future of Airline Industry Including Distribution Models, Market Consolidation and Customer Service

ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – today revealed the lineup for the fourth annual 'Airline CEO' panel featuring market leaders Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of US Airways Group, Inc.; Wang Yingming, chairman of both Hainan Airlines and HNA Aviation Group; and Keith Williams, CEO of British Airways. The panel, made possible by The Boeing Company, will be moderated by Peter Greenberg, travel editor for CBS News and will take place Monday, August 22, 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. MDT at the 2011 GBTA Convention in Denver, Colorado, August 21 – 24, 2011.

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Returning to the GBTA Convention for the fourth year in a row, the prestigious Airline CEO panel provides privileged insight into the airline industry focusing on topics including changing distribution models and global alliances and consolidation in the competitive landscape. The panel will also discuss customer service in an era of increased merchandising and mobility.

"This panel has been an annual centerpiece of our Convention and provides attendees with an inside look at the future of the airline industry and its role in business travel. We look forward to having this marquee panel -- it will provide a global industry perspective that is sure to spark interesting discussions," said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO, GBTA.

Doug Parker is chairman and CEO of US Airways Group, Inc. and US Airways, its principal subsidiary company. Parker became chairman and CEO following the merger of US Airways and America West Airlines in September 2005. Prior to the merger, he was chairman, president and CEO of America West Holdings Corporation joining America West in June 1995 as SVP and CFO, eventually being elected to chairman, president and CEO in September 2001. Prior to joining America West, Parker spent four years with Northwest Airlines as vice president and assistant treasurer, and vice president of financial planning and analysis. From 1986 to 1991, he held a number of financial management positions with American Airlines. Parker received a BA in economics from Albion College in 1984 and an MBA from Vanderbilt University in 1986.

Keith Williams became CEO of British Airways in January 2011, following the merger with Iberia. He also sits on the management board of the two airlines' parent company, International Airlines Group. As CFO of British Airways over the previous five years, he played a leading part in the airline's achievement of a record operating margin in 2007, before steering it through the worst recession in its history and masterminding a solution to its long-standing pensions deficit.  Previously, as British Airways' group treasurer and head of tax, he was heavily involved in restructuring the airline's finances after the aviation slump following the attacks of 9/11. He is also a non-executive board member for Transport for London and a graduate of Liverpool University.

Wang Yingming started his aviation career as a system engineer in 1986, and began his career with Hainan Airlines at its inception in 1993 as general manager of Maintenance and Engineering.  He became president in 2003 and was appointed chairman in January 2011.  He also serves as chairman of the HNA Aviation Group which comprises Hainan Airlines and six other Chinese airlines.  Under his leadership, Hainan Airlines has grown to be the largest non-government owned airline in China with a fleet of 105 aircrafts and 8,500 employees.  Hainan's high level of service is renowned, and the carrier has been the recipient of numerous awards. Earlier this year, the airline became a certified Skytrax five-star airline and was also selected as both "Best Airline" and "Best in Staff Excellence" in China.  

Peter Greenberg is the travel editor for CBS News, and appears on The Early Show, Evening News with Katie Couric, as well as other CBS broadcast platforms.  He is the consummate insider when it comes to reporting the travel business as news. Few other journalists bring his level of expertise and extensive experience to the travel process. An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and producer, Peter was named one of the most influential people in travel by Travel Weekly.

The GBTA Convention, with more than 6,000 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; executive sessions with a dozen top industry CEOs and other world renowned speakers; 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 5,000-plus members manage over $340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually.  GBTA 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. For more information, visit gbta.org.

SOURCE Global Business Travel Association

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