The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the premier business travel organization in Canada, concluded its first day of their record-breaking 8th Annual Conference. The conference being held April 11-12, 2012, at the Metro Toronto

GBTA Canada President, Tanya Racz, CCTE said, “GBTA’s consistent growth in the Canadian marketplace required a new venue that could accommodate the Association for today and many years to come.  Our goal for this year’s conference was to continue to deliver the highest caliber education and social opportunities for professionals in the business travel community allowing them to build stronger alliances, connect with their colleagues, and educate themselves.  We feel we have met and exceeded our goal at Conference 2012.”

Attendees were provided with an in-depth Executive Insider panel featuring Dorothy Dowling, Sr. Vice President Marketing and Sales, Best Western International, Claude Morin, Vice President Global Sales, Air Canada, and Sherry Saunders, Sr. Vice President and General Manager Canada, Carlson Wagonlit Travel.  Aron Gampel, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist, Scotiabank Group shared his view of Canada’s economic landscape and global outlook, and one of the specialized areas within business travel – Sports Travel Management attracted Darla Montalto with the Major League Baseball and Kevin Maguire with the University of Texas at Austin to participate in today’s sessions.

Day two of GBTA Canada Conference 2012 will feature Jim Phillips, President Canadian-American Border Trade Alliance, and Best Selling Author Neil Pasricha, The Book of AWESOME and the Book of Even More AWESOME will close the conference.

“For our third year in a row, GBTA Canada continues to demonstrate our commitment to producing an environmentally responsible event and thank our dedicated sponsors, exhibitors, and delegates for working with us on this important initiative,” continued Racz.  For more news on the GBTA Canada 2012 Conference, visit GBTA.org/Canada.  The Conference will return to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre March 26-27, 2013.