P&OTRAVEL managing director Tony Hughes and BTIUKinternational commercial director Mike Platt are among speakers who have agreed to take part in Business Travel 2000.
The exhibition, which will be held in London next month, will have 200 exhibitors, compared to 150 last year, and will have a number of new seminar sessions, including topics such as no-frills airlines, electronic ticketing, direct bookings and transaction fees.
Hughes will be joined by Starwood Hotels and Resorts vice-president global sales Europe David Elton, Budget Rent a Car director of corporate sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa and Halliburton UKtravel manager Robert Daykin to talk on the subject Global Deals – aReality at Last?
Platt will be joined by British Airways general manager sales Ray Grainger and Air Canada general passenger sales manager UKBob Atkinson to advise delegates how to negotiate the best deals out of airline alliances.
Following last year’s success, there will be a question time event where members of the audience can quiz a panel of experts on any issue in the industry.
Organisers have also planned a master class on travel bookings for senior personal assistants.
Other topics include How to Stretch Small Travel Budgets and How to Get the Agency Relationship Right.
Delegates will be able to choose from seven sessions each day and there will be more of an emphasis on technology this year, with seminars covering topics such as the Internet and e-commerce.
Exhibition manager David Chapple said:”The seminar programme has proved to be an integral part of the exhibition, with many show visitors attending at least one session.
“As we enter the new millennium, a special focus within the programme will be the key role that technology has to play in the future of business travel.”