Agenda

Agenda

Agenda
*Schedule is subject to change
Pre-Conference  |  Wednesday, October 2nd
3:00 - 7:00 pm
Registration

Location:
Registration

5:30 - 6:30 pm
First-Timer Meet & Greet Cocktail Hour

Location:
Coton & Rye

6:30 - 9:30 pm
Welcome Dinner Event

Location:
Pavilion

Day One  |  Thursday, October 3rd
7:30 - 5:00 pm
Registration

Location:
Registration

7:30 - 8:30 am
Breakfast

Location:
Riverside Hearth

8:30 - 9:00 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks

Speakers:
Lauri Reishus, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, ARC
Dickie Oliver, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, ARC

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

9:00 - 10:00 am
Keynote
Disruptive Technology and the Future of Travel

How can the travel industry prepare for an increasingly complex future? In this session, leading quantitative futurist Amy Webb explains how emerging technology will disrupt — and advance — travel retailing.

Speakers:
Amy Webb, Quantitative Futurist, Future Today Institute

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

10:00 - 10:20 am
Trip Talks
Trip Talks: Sparking Inspiration

What does it take to inspire travel? In this talk, Sojern’s Vice President of Marketing, Jackie Lamping, shares how travel brands can leverage data to generate demand. This talk will identify how to reach travelers with an impactful message that inspires action.

Speakers:
Jackie Lamping, Vice President of Marketing, Sojern

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

10:20 - 10:40 am
Break

10:40 - 11:00 am
Trip Talks
Trip Talks: A Traveler-Centric Marketplace

Corporate travelers are pressed for time, and their expectations for a simplified shopping experience have never been higher. Join Serko’s Tony D’Astolfo as he examines the trajectory of business travel and how innovative technology can create a more connected environment.

Speakers:
Tony D'Astolfo, Senior Vice President, North America, Serko Limited

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

11:00 - 11:20 am
Trip Talks
Trip Talks: The Purchase, Reimagined

Mobile wallets, peer-to-peer apps and other forms of payment have become ubiquitous. Consumers expect a seamless, flexible purchasing experience from every online retailer. In this session, Uplift illuminates some ways that travel retailers can increase payment flexibility, imagine new payment options and enhance the customer experience.

Speakers:
Brian Barth, Chief Executive Officer, Uplift

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

11:20 - 12:00 pm
 
An Integrated, End-to-End Travel Experience

How can air travel be better aligned with hotel, car and other aspects of the traveler’s trip? Journera’s Jeff Katz joins ARC’s Mike Premo to explore how the travel industry can create more intuitive, integrated experiences to meet the needs of business travelers.

Speakers:
Jeff Katz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Journera
Mike Premo, President and Chief Executive Officer, ARC

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

12:00 - 1:00 pm
Lunch

Location:
Riverside Hearth

1:00 - 1:45 pm
Channels of Choice: A Conversation with Southwest Airlines

In August, Southwest Airlines announced its plans to expand its corporate travel distribution strategy, offering travel managers and travel management companies (TMCs) the ability to book Southwest travel in the channel of their choice. In this session, ARC’s Mike Premo joins Vice President of Southwest Business, Dave Harvey, for a discussion on Southwest’s vision for corporate travel; its partnership with ARC; and the addition of more content through the GDS channel in mid-2020.

Speakers:
Mike Premo, President and Chief Executive Officer, ARC
Dave Harvey, Vice President, Southwest Business, Southwest Airlines

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

1:45 - 2:00 pm
Break

2:00 - 2:45 pm
Breakout Session 1
Measuring What Matters in Travel Management

To accurately measure travel program performance, our industry’s historic corporate travel metrics are no longer good enough. In a rapidly evolving landscape, which metrics can corporations and TMCs rely on to create more productive programs with smarter policies? BCD Travel’s Miriam Moscovici and ARC’s Chuck Thackston make the case for adopting a new generation of key performance indicators (KPIs) designed to move the industry forward.

Speakers:
Chuck Thackston, Vice President of Innovation and Analytics, ARC
Miriam Moscovici, Senior Director, Innovation and Intelligence, BCD Travel

Location:
Faulkner

2:00 - 2:45 pm
Breakout Session 1
How TMCs Can Generate Revenue by Expanding Payment Options

Did you know that UATP was the first charge card ever issued in any marketplace? For more than 80 years, UATP has been issued to corporations solely by the world’s leading airlines, but that is about to change. Hear how TMCs are creating their own payment destiny by building a new revenue stream from existing business processes.

Speakers:
Paul Swanston, Director, Global Travel Agency Sales, UATP

Location:
Conant

2:00 - 2:45 pm
Breakout Session 1
GDS Panel: Next Steps with NDC

Wondering where the three major global distribution systems (GDSs) stand with New Distribution Capability (NDC)? Hear directly from Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport on their latest NDC initiatives. Panelists will illuminate what’s in store for airlines and agencies seeking to implement NDC.

Speakers:
Ian Heywood, Global Head of New Distribution, Travelport
Cindy Tonnessen, Senior Director, NDC, Sabre
Shelly Younger, Senior Manager, Airline Retailing Strategy and Head of NDC, ARC
Jayson Westbury, Chief Executive, Australian Federation of Travel Agents
Stewart Alvarez, Head of Industry Affairs, Americas, Amadeus

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

2:00 - 2:45 pm
Breakout Session 1
Could Blockchain Create a More Connected Future?

This session kicks off with ARC’s vision for exploring emerging technologies to create more efficiency, transparency and connection in the travel industry. Panelists will also share a detailed walk-through of ARC’s and Blockskye’s blockchain-enabled, direct payment solution that connects a corporate buyer and a supplier.

Speakers:
Brook Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, Blockskye
Michael Share, President, Blockskye
Brian Coleman, Senior Manager, Infrastructure Engineering, ARC

Location:
Thurber

2:00 - 2:45 pm
Breakout Session 1
Fighting Fraud Through Collaboration

Card-not-present fraud is a pervasive issue for travel agencies. In this session, travel agents gain insights into this form of fraud and the underlying cost of chargebacks. ARC joins American Express Global Business Travel’s Michael Savicki to discuss how corporate travel agencies can reduce fraud risk. The discussion will also cover the unique fraud challenges in the TMC space and why collaboration around fraud prevention is so important.

Speakers:
Michael Savicki, Vice President, Risk & Compliance, The Americas and Global Head of Commercial Compliance, American Express Global Business Travel
Cornelius Hattingh, Director of Revenue Integrity, ARC
Doug Nass, Fraud Investigations Director, ARC

Location:
Amphitheater

2:45 - 3:00 pm
Break

3:00 - 3:45 pm
Breakout Session 2
How TMCs Can Generate Revenue by Expanding Payment Options

Did you know that UATP was the first charge card ever issued in any marketplace? For more than 80 years, UATP has been issued to corporations solely by the world’s leading airlines, but that is about to change. Hear how TMCs are creating their own payment destiny by building a new revenue stream from existing business processes.

Speakers:
Paul Swanston, Director, Global Travel Agency Sales, UATP

Location:
Conant

3:00 - 3:45 pm
Breakout Session 2
Could Blockchain Create a More Connected Future?

This session kicks off with ARC’s vision for exploring emerging technologies to create more efficiency, transparency and connection in the travel industry. Panelists will also share a detailed walk-through of ARC’s and Blockskye’s blockchain-enabled, direct payment solution that connects a corporate buyer and a supplier.

Speakers:
Brook Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, Blockskye
Michael Share, President, Blockskye
Brian Coleman, Senior Manager, Infrastructure Engineering, ARC

Location:
Thurber

3:00 - 3:45 pm
Breakout Session 2
Fighting Fraud Through Collaboration

Card-not-present fraud is a pervasive issue for travel agencies. In this session, travel agents gain insights into this form of fraud and the underlying cost of chargebacks. ARC joins American Express Global Business Travel’s Michael Savicki to discuss how corporate travel agencies can reduce fraud risk. The discussion will also cover the unique fraud challenges in the TMC space and why collaboration around fraud prevention is so important.

Speakers:
Michael Savicki, Vice President, Risk & Compliance, The Americas and Global Head of Commercial Compliance, American Express Global Business Travel
Cornelius Hattingh, Director of Revenue Integrity, ARC
Doug Nass, Fraud Investigations Director, ARC

Location:
Amphitheater

3:00 - 3:45 pm
Breakout Session 2
Measuring What Matters in Travel Management

To accurately measure travel program performance, our industry’s historic corporate travel metrics are no longer good enough. In a rapidly evolving landscape, which metrics can corporations and TMCs rely on to create more productive programs with smarter policies? BCD Travel’s Miriam Moscovici and ARC’s Chuck Thackston make the case for adopting a new generation of key performance indicators (KPIs) designed to move the industry forward.

Speakers:
Chuck Thackston, Vice President of Innovation and Analytics, ARC
Miriam Moscovici, Senior Director, Innovation and Intelligence, BCD Travel

Location:
Faulkner

3:00 - 3:45 pm
Breakout Session 2
GDS Panel: Next Steps with NDC

Wondering where the three major global distribution systems (GDSs) stand with New Distribution Capability (NDC)? Hear directly from Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport on their latest NDC initiatives. Panelists will illuminate what’s in store for airlines and agencies seeking to implement NDC.

Speakers:
Ian Heywood, Global Head of New Distribution, Travelport
Cindy Tonnessen, Senior Director, NDC, Sabre
Shelly Younger, Senior Manager, Airline Retailing Strategy and Head of NDC, ARC
Jayson Westbury, Chief Executive, Australian Federation of Travel Agents
Stewart Alvarez, Head of Industry Affairs, Americas, Amadeus

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

3:45 - 4:00 pm
Break

4:00 - 4:45 pm
Anything Goes: An Executive Interview

Now in her fifth TravelConnect appearance, Holly Hegeman hosts a dynamic executive interview with Scott Kirby, president of United Airlines . This interview dives into Scott’s airline industry experience, as well as the opportunities and challenges ahead for air travel. Attendees will have an opportunity to submit their questions for this dynamic, “anything goes” interview.

Speakers:
Holly Hegeman, Founder and Publisher, PlaneBusiness Banter
Scott Kirby, President, United Airlines

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

4:45 - 5:00 pm
ARC Awards & Recap

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

5:00 - 6:30 pm
Connection Hub Reception

Location:
Connection Hub

6:30 - 10:00 pm
Dinner & Evening Event

Location:
Terrace

Day Two  |  Friday, October 4th
7:30 - 8:30 am
Breakfast

Location:
Riverside Hearth

8:30 - 8:45 am
Welcome

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

8:45 - 9:45 am
Economic Outlook: Global Dynamics Impacting Air Travel

Visa’s Chief Economist, Wayne Best, returns to the TravelConnect stage for an immersive update on economic trends. Wayne shares his perspective on the future of the travel industry in a global context, as well as identifies opportunities for travel brands to grow their businesses.

Speakers:
Wayne Best, Chief Economist, Visa Inc.

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

9:45 - 10:00 am
Break

10:00 - 10:45 am
Keynote
Travel Technology Startups and Shake-Ups

The travel industry is ripe for disruption. JetBlue Technology Ventures’ Bonny Simi shares her insights on the most promising technology developments in air travel — from AI to IoT. Learn which startups to watch, as well as which concepts travel organizations should be embracing for a more evolved future.

Speakers:
Bonny Simi, President, JetBlue Technology Ventures

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

10:45 - 12:15 pm
Looking Beyond the Horizon: The Future of the Air Travel Industry

This panel of celebrated, forward-thinking industry leaders features unique perspectives on technology, strategy and innovation. In this discussion, they weigh in on the trends and business models they find most impactful today, as well as their vision for the future of travel.

Speakers:
Rafat Ali, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Skift
Miriam Moscovici, Senior Director, Innovation and Intelligence, BCD Travel
Peter Kane, Senior Strategist, ARC
Tye Radcliffe, Director of Distribution, United Airlines

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

12:15 - 12:20 pm
Farewell

Speakers:
Lauri Reishus, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, ARC
Mike Premo, President and Chief Executive Officer, ARC

Location:
Lansdowne Ballroom

NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE?

General Inquiries
Kerri Mills
(703) 816-8583
kmills@arccorp.com
Press
Peter Abzug
(703) 816-8158
pabzug@arccorp.com