Darden Execution Education Announces 2012-2013 Business Travel Professional Program at GBTA Convetion

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business now enjoys a growing presence among business travel industry insiders. At the recent convention of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), Trip Davis, president of the Darden School Foundation and senior associate dean for external relations at the Darden School, moderated the “Luminaries of Travel” CEO panel. During the gathering, Davis also showcased Darden’s Executive Education programs and its new GBTA Academy, an executive development offering for travel industry managers.

The 2012 GBTA convention boasted a record turnout. More than 6,000 people attended to see a host of esteemed speakers, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

More than 3,000 members of the travel industry attended the panel that Davis moderated. During the session, he led a lively discussion with David Cush, president and CEO of Virgin America; Barney Harford, CEO of Orbitz Worldwide; Luis Maroto, president and CEO of Amadeus; and Arne M. Sorenson, president and CEO of Marriott International Inc. They addressed topics such as:

• The Economic Outlook
• Global Forces
• Industry Consolidation
• The Traveler Experience
• The Future of Corporate Travel

“Travel is such an integral part of the U.S. economy, and the growth that we’re seeing that traveling is creating is strong,” said Harford. “271,000 jobs were created in the travel industry in the last 12 months, growing 26% faster than the rest of the economy. A lot of that is about the work that’s being done to make the U.S. a more attractive destination for folks around the world.”

View the entire discussion on GBTATV, which is hosted on YouTube.

After running a successful pilot program of its new GBTA Academy this past spring, Darden Executive Education program leaders will hold another session in March of 2013. A session to be held in Europe is also on the horizon.