The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – announced today that more than 1,000 business travel buyers have registered for the GBTA Convention 2011. Registration is well ahead of last year’s pace as nearly 5,000 people currently registered.  The Convention, being held in Denver, Colorado, August 21st – 24th, will feature executive sessions with a dozen top industry CEOs and other nationally recognized speakers.

“Travel buyers are the heartbeat of a company’s travel program—they make sure travel continues while also making sure company dollars are wisely invested.  There is no better place than Convention to bring together these agents of growth, connecting travel managers and suppliers and continuing the conversation of smarter travel,” said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO, GBTA. “Every year GBTA’s Convention gets better and better. We’ve ensured there is no shortage of interesting speakers and informative panels—helping to elevate the industry and the business of travel.  Unlike any Convention before, we’ve invested in online planning tools that make it easier and more productive for attendees to plan their Convention experience.”

To ensure that attendees have an interesting and educational experience in Denver, GBTA is providing means to help members anticipate and prepare for their arrival. Through My Convention Planner, registrants can plan out their Convention experience including education sessions, events and meetings with exhibitors on the Expo floor. The customized online schedule can be synchronized to your Microsoft Outlook calendar and mobile applications. The GBTA Convention mobile application, available in early July, will be helpful for attendees to navigate all aspects of the Convention, including connecting with other attendees, creating their own personal agenda, obtaining information on speakers and sessions, and learning more about local attractions in Denver.

The GBTA Convention 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 world-renowned speakers; a wide selection of professional development opportunities; and, much more. For more information on the GBTA Convention, visit gbta.org/convention.