Industry Leaders to Share Insights on Current European Corporate Travel Issues
CONTACT: Caleb Tiller, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 138, ctiller@nbta.org
Nicole Hayes, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 133, nhayes@nbta.org
Milan, Italy (February 28, 2008) - The Paragon Partnership, an alliance of 10 European and international business travel associations, announced today that Franco Frattini, Vice President of the European Commission Responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, and Charles Petruccelli, President, American Express Global Travel Services, will deliver keynote addresses at Crossroads Milan – Paragon Business Travel Conference & Expo, a first-of-its kind pan-European business travel industry event.
Crossroads Milan, to be held 15-16 May, 2008, is a new kind of industry event that will be co-hosted by business travel associations from ten countries – Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the United States – making it the first truly international European conference focused on business travel.
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Frattini |
Vice President Frattini’s responsibilities include matters of the highest importance to the business travel community: border policy; freedom of movement; balancing security and privacy, including data protection; and security within the European Union, including terrorism prevention. He is a key figure in initiatives that directly impact the conduct of business travel, such as the development of the Shengen Area and the proposal for an EU-wide scheme to collect passenger name record (PNR) data on all travelers into or out of EU-member states.
Vice President Frattini will address Crossroads Milan participants on Friday, 16 May, at 13.30, discussing EU policies and programs that affect the conduct of business travel within and into the European Union. He will also provide his vision for the future and describe how the business travel community can impact issues of concern.
Kevin Maguire, NBTA President and CEO, CCTE said, “We are honored to welcome Vice President Frattini as a speaker for Crossroads Milan. As an instrumental figure in the development of policies directly related to business travel in Europe, Vice President Frattini will provide valuable insights for attendees.”
Petruccelli is responsible for the global Business Travel and Foreign Exchange businesses for American Express Travel Services, currently handling more than $22 billion in sales volume and 18,000 employees. He also serves as non-executive Chairman of American Express Cart e France and American Express Voyages France and is a member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council, a forum for leaders in the global travel industry.
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Petruccelli |
Petruccelli will speak on Thursday, 15 May at 09.30, offering his perspective on current travel industry drivers, including globalization, industry consolidation, de-regulation and role of Europe in the global economy. He will also share his views on what it takes to run a company that must constantly grow and change.
Michael Kirnberger, The Business Travel Association of Germany (VDR) President, said, “Crossroads Milan is designed to put the business travel industry into a larger context, and Charles Petruccelli has the experience and insight to do just that. VDR is pleased to have Mr. Petruccelli attend and address conference attendees, all whom I’m sure will walk away from his keynote with a better understanding of today’s critical industry issues and how they impact their organizations and careers."
Maguire continued: “The appearance of these two industry leaders will help make Crossroads Milan one of the most important business travel events in Europe and will contribute significantly to the success of the conference.”
Business travel buyers and suppliers are invited to advance their careers by attending Crossroads Milan, 15-16 May. For more information, see www.nbta.org/milan.
Crossroads Milan, 15-16 May, is the first-of-its-kind pan-European business travel conference. The event is co-hosted by: The Paragon Partnership: the Global Alliance of Business Travel Associations; the Austrian Business Travel Association; the Belgian Association of Travel Management; the Brazilian Business Travel Association; the Danish Business Travel Association; the Finnish Business Travel Association; the Business Travel Association of Germany; the Netherlands Association for Travel Management; the Iberian Business Travel Association (Spain); the Swedish Business Travel Association; and the National Business Travel Association (a U.S.-based global organisation). Crossroads Milan offers corporate travel professionals unparalleled education and networking, as well as an Expo highlighting the latest products and services from the leading European business travel suppliers. For additional information, visit www.nbta.org/milan.
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