Readers of The Beat chose AmTrav CEO Jeff Klee to deliver the keynote address at The Beat Live, coming to New York City on Dec. 5.
His winning keynote, Can Third-Party Air Distribution Be Saved?, will dissect the "combustible combination" of factors shaping airline distribution.
"Demand is high," according to Klee's pitch. "Capacity is constrained. Emboldened airlines who might be tempted to overplay their hands are openly questioning the importance of managed travel business and distribution through indirect channels. Meanwhile, entitled intermediaries seem to care only that their cheese not be moved."
The result of these factors, he wrote, "could play out in many different ways, but none will look anything like the last 40 years."
Several runners-up from our keynote pitch contest will be featured at our 16th annual event. Each will deliver a brief address on their chosen topic followed by a lively panel discussion.
Participants, and their pitches, are:
- Microsoft global director of employee travel Eric Bailey (Why We (Really) Travel For Business And The Elusive ROI)
- Fox World Travel chief information officer Sam Hilgendorf (AI & ChatGPT For Travel: Sherlock Holmes Or His Arch-Nemesis Professor Moriarty?)
- Travel Tech Consulting president Norm Rose (The Future Of Corporate Travel: Greater Automation Or Greater Fragmentation?)
- Acquis Consulting Group corporate travel practice lead Hansini Sharma (The Cost Of Doing Nothing Is Too Damn High)
Congratulations to the keynote winner and to the runners-up. Thanks to everyone who submitted a pitch and to all the subscribers who voted for their favorites.
Stay tuned on further information for The Beat Live, which will be hosted by The BTN Group at Convene, One Liberty Plaza in Lower Manhattan. Register here to catch our early-bird rate before it flies away on Sept. 15.