Our stellar speaker line-up includes experienced buyers, CEOS and start-ups from exciting and dynamic European brands. Benefit from their combined experience and invaluable advice and get new ideas on how to take your travel programme forward.
We have global experts on hand to inspire and motivate you with innovative ideas and years of invaluable experience.
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Elizabeth Anderson
Global Travel Risk Assistant
Inmarsat
Elizabeth Anderson
Global Travel Risk Assistant
Inmarsat
Elizabeth is a corporate travel professional with a background in leisure and business travel. Elizabeth joined Inmarsat in The Hague in 2014. In her role as Global Travel Risk Advisor she drafted and introduced the companies travel safety policy and is overseeing its application by internal and external parties. For travel to high risk destinations she acts as the central person between traveller, coordinators, destination security, risk management and insurance companies. She is responsible for coordinating incident response activities.
In her spare time she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking as well as studying cultures and languages.
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Mohamed Bargha
Senior Director of Infrastructure Solutions, Improvement & Innovation
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Mohamed Bargha
Senior Director of Infrastructure Solutions, Improvement & Innovation
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Mohamed is an inspirational and innovative IT Infrastructure leader with exceptional qualities and commitment for solving challenging problems. He is fascinated about championing innovative ideas, encouraging new ways of looking at problems, processes and solutions to improve business and user experience.
He has over 25 years of experience working at Carlson Wagonlit Travel on a global scale in demanding environments requiring the highest quality solutions. Has inherent understanding of the different cultures and processes gained within the international business environment.
Outside of work, when he’s not catching up on the latest technology innovations and trends, Mohamed spends time on fitness, photography and indulging his passion for cooking (Mediterranean).
Mohamed is a graduate of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Informatics and Technology.
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Bernadette Basterfield
Global Category Leader - Travel/Living & Fleet
GE
Bernadette Basterfield
Global Category Leader - Travel/Living & Fleet
GE
Bernadette is the Global Category Leader - Travel & Fleet for General Electric. In this role, she is responsible for defining and driving execution of the commodity strategy for GE's $1.5B Travel & Fleet spend.
Bernadette has over 25 years of corporate travel experience gained with global travel management companies and in the financial services sector. She has held senior roles in sales, operations and procurement in travel and expense management companies, such as Carlson Wagonlit (Director of Sales, for EMEA) and American Express (Vice President - Head of Multinational Accounts). Most recently, Bernadette was Global Head of Travel & Expenses for Credit Suisse, and prior to that, Executive Director - Global Travel & Services for J.P. Morgan. Bernadette has received industry recognition for her expertise and contributions, including winning several travel industry awards (2013 and 2014). She is often invited to speak and moderate at global travel summits including GBTA and ACTE, to share her insights and knowledge with her peers.
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Bernadette Basterfield
Global Category Leader - Travel/Living & Fleet
GE
Bernadette Basterfield
Global Category Leader - Travel/Living & Fleet
GE
Bernadette is the Global Category Leader - Travel & Fleet for General Electric. In this role, she is responsible for defining and driving execution of the commodity strategy for GE's $1.5B Travel & Fleet spend.
Bernadette has over 25 years of corporate travel experience gained with global travel management companies and in the financial services sector. She has held senior roles in sales, operations and procurement in travel and expense management companies, such as Carlson Wagonlit (Director of Sales, for EMEA) and American Express (Vice President - Head of Multinational Accounts). Most recently, Bernadette was Global Head of Travel & Expenses for Credit Suisse, and prior to that, Executive Director - Global Travel & Services for J.P. Morgan. Bernadette has received industry recognition for her expertise and contributions, including winning several travel industry awards (2013 and 2014). She is often invited to speak and moderate at global travel summits including GBTA and ACTE, to share her insights and knowledge with her peers.
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Christina Bengtsson
Head of Global Sales, EMEA
Falck Global Assistance
Christina Bengtsson
Head of Global Sales, EMEA
Falck Global Assistance
Christina joined Falck Global Assistance in 2011. Prior to that she held various positons in Europaeiske ERV (part of Europäische Reiseversicherung AG) such as Crisis Management Advisor and Key Account Manager.
She has more than 20 years of experience within business travel and account management, including advice on emergency response, medical risk and crisis management solutions.
For the past 10 years, Christina has primarily engaged with large, international B2B customers within various industries, e.g. engineering, manufacturing, aviation and telecommunications.
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Tim Besselink
Senior Product Owner
Booking.com for Business
Tim Besselink
Senior Product Owner
Booking.com for Business
Tim is Senior Product Owner at Booking.com where he is responsible for leading product development for the business’s Booking.com for Business division. Bringing over 10 years’ experience in online product development, Tim oversees development teams focused on rapid innovation.
Prior to joining Booking.com, Tim served as Product Manager for Hyves.nl / Telegraaf Media Group for over two years, where he was responsible for defining product strategy and specifications as well as analysing results for smarter solutions and products tailored for maximum customer impact.
Earlier in his career, Tim was a Consultant at Jungle Minds where we worked to actively help clients optimise for improved business and communication outcomes leveraging digital strategies and user experience projects.
Tim studied Business Communication at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
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Matthieu Champion
Senior Director Global Sales, EMEA
Egencia
Matthieu Champion
Senior Director Global Sales, EMEA
Egencia
Matthieu is Senior Director of Global Sales at Egencia. With 10 years’ experience in the corporate travel industry, he is responsible for driving business success at Egencia.
His focus is providing top-notch travel management for companies with operations in several countries. Having managed Egencia business in Switzerland, he has a broad view of corporate travel in Europe. -
David Chapple
Portfolio Director - Travel
Centaur Media
David Chapple
Portfolio Director - Travel
Centaur Media
David has been assisting travel buyers develop their travel programmes through learning, networking and sourcing expert suppliers at live events in the business travel and technology sectors for more than 16 years. He started his career in sales at the Business Travel Show, and went on to launch business travel and technology exhibitions, conferences, awards and networking events across the globe.
Taking his deep understanding of the challenges the buyer community faces and gathered from running events, his new launch, Business Travel iQ enables business travel buying professionals to achieve travel programme excellence by providing trusted insight, benchmarking data and research through a unique community based information portal.
David is also the current event director of the Business Travel Show, founder of Travel Technology Europe in 2002 and the Business Travel Club in 2009. He was an associate director for the Institute of Travel & Meetings from 2011 to 2013. -
Lydie Charpin
Global Head of Corporation Solutions
Amadeus
Lydie Charpin
Global Head of Corporation Solutions
Amadeus
Lydie Charpin is the Global Head of Corporation Solutions at Amadeus. Lydie brings to this position experience in product management, R&D environment and start-up creation within the travel industry
Previously, Lydie was the Head of Payment Product Management team, a new emerging business line in Amadeus serving Corporations and Business Travel Agency as well OTA and Airlines / Hotels / Railways customers for their payment needs
Prior to joining Amadeus, Lydie served in various pre-sales roles in the Telecommunication industry serving world’s most recognized brands, including Telefonica, SFR, Vodafone.
Lydie graduated from first class French engineering school “Ecole Centrale Paris”. She is married, has four children and is based in Sophia-Antipolis (France).
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Amon Cohen
Specialist Business Travel Writer
Amon Cohen
Specialist Business Travel Writer
Amon is a specialist business travel writer and helps organise the Business Travel Show conference programme. He is contributing editor to Business Travel News and pens a regular column for Buying Business Travel plus numerous reports and white papers. Amon has hosted and planned events for GBTA, ACTE, BTS, ITM and GTMC. -
Jason Daury
Senior Sales Manager
Traveldoo
Jason Daury
Senior Sales Manager
Traveldoo
Jason joined Traveldoo in 2015 as Senior European Sales Manager, responsible for driving the new business strategy in the travel and expense market.
Jason has over 10 years’ experience specialising in SaaS and software sales. Prior to Traveldoo, Jason worked for a number of e-learning software editors and logistics IT solutions providers in the US, Japan and France.
Born in the USA, Jason holds a Masters in Marketing from HEC Paris and a BA (hons) communications from Bowling Green State University.
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Thomas de Bruijn
Corporate Sales Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa
Amadeus
Thomas de Bruijn
Corporate Sales Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa
Amadeus
With more than 10 years of experience building mutually beneficial relationships with some of the biggest names in business, Thomas has become an expert in the strategic deployment of corporate travel management and expense solutions to blue chip companies. After successfully growing and strengthening corporate relationships and business development in the Benelux region for Amadeus IT Group, he now has responsibility for driving and executive commercial strategy for Amadeus in Europe, Middle East and Africa. In addition to coordinating the commercial activities across the region, Thomas is also responsible for personally establishing direct relationships with multinational corporations that are seeking to reduce complexity, save on indirect and direct travel costs and deliver a user experience that’s fit for the 21st century and the high expectations of Millennials.
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Xaveer Fluitman
Regional Director of Business Travel
Booking.com for Business
Xaveer Fluitman
Regional Director of Business Travel
Booking.com for Business
Xaveer is the Regional Director Business Travel for Booking.com for Business. Responsible for overseeing the EMEA commercial approach, Xaveer combines charismatic leadership with all-round business acumen to pave the way in business travel for Booking.com.
Having achieved his Master’s degree in Innovative Hospitality Management from the ESADE Business & Law School in 2007, and already with extensive experience in both Hospitality and Project Management, Xaveer joined Booking.com in October 2008.
In the course of the next eight years with the company, he built both career and reputation in management roles both in his native Netherlands and whilst overseeing operations on the East Coast of the United States.
Driven, committed to results and with an energetic entrepreneurial flair, Xaveer now helps steer Booking.com for Business in its continued global development.
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Mark Frary
Content Advisor
Business Travel iQ
Mark Frary
Content Advisor
Business Travel iQ
Mark Frary is a writer specialising in business travel and has written for The Times, the Sunday Times, the Daily Telegraph, Director magazine and many other publications both online and in print on the topic for more than 15 years.
Mark is always keen to get behind the hype to find out the true stories in business travel and believes the sector is undergoing a revolution driven by technology.
Along with Betty Low, Mark is the co-founder of the strategic communications and content consultancy Businesstravelwire.
He regularly moderates and speaks at conferences on travel and technology and is the author of eight books. -
Chris Gamlin
Head of Mobile Product
Flight Centre Travel Group
Chris Gamlin
Head of Mobile Product
Flight Centre Travel Group
A New Product Development and innovation specialist who has delivered market-leading customer propositions and spin-off businesses. Chris has worked for small and large organisations across multiple diverse sectors in both a B2C and B2B worlds. These industries include Financial Services, Automotive, Telecoms, Gaming and, of course, Travel.
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Michael Gloor
Senior Director Sales France & Benelux
Lufthansa Group
Michael Gloor
Senior Director Sales France & Benelux
Lufthansa Group
Michael is Senior Director Sales France & Benelux for the Lufthansa Group. Being a Swiss citizen, Michael moved from Zurich to Paris in 2015, initially representing SWISS in France & Benelux and assumed the current position for the Lufthansa Group in September 2016.
He started his airline career at Singapore Airlines in Zurich as Head of Corporate Sales. Michael joined SWISS thereafter and gathered experience as a Manager in Network Planning and Head of Leisure Sales Switzerland.
Before becoming an airliner, Michael studied Communication Sciences and Economics at the University of Zurich.
He is married and father of two daughters.
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David Holyoke
Global Head of Business Travel
Airbnb
David Holyoke
Global Head of Business Travel
Airbnb
As Global Head of Business Travel at Airbnb, David is responsible for the strategic direction, execution and operation of the company's rapidly accelerating Business Travel vertical. With twenty years of experience, David is focused on revolutionizing the way business travels by championing the needs of those that have to travel. At Airbnb, his responsibilities include working with a cross-functional team from Sales, Client Management, Operations, Marketing, Product, Analytics, Finance and Engineering.
Prior to Airbnb, David established Travel Leaders Corporate. He began his career in sales at American Airlines, eventually leading international sales and marketing efforts.
Above all else, David is a father to three independent-minded daughters, who keep him grounded and seeing the world through a very different lens.
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Pauline Houston
Global Director of Hotel Strategy
American Express Global Business Travel
Pauline Houston
Global Director of Hotel Strategy
American Express Global Business Travel
Pauline is known for leading and supporting the evolution of hotel and M&E strategies, from both a hotel and an agency perspective. She regularly contributes to industry publications and participates in panel sessions at key industry events.
Pauline likes to challenge conventional methods and introduce new models to the industry. Having previously sat on a number of travel advisory boards, she continues to be an active and strong supporter of travel industry talent mentoring initiatives.
Based in the United Kingdom, Pauline has global responsibility for the direction of the Hotel Strategy team and for leading GBT’s hotel value proposition, development and delivery. She also serves as a key member of GBT’s Hotel Value and Revenue Management leadership team.
Pauline joined GBT from Carlson Wagonlit Travel, where she was Global Director of Hotel & M&E Supplier Management for several years. Prior to this, she was a board member at De Vere Hotels & Resorts, leading its commercial teams, and has held senior roles in the travel industry over the last 20 years.
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Jan Jacobsen
Global Accommodation Manager
AIG
Jan Jacobsen
Global Accommodation Manager
AIG
Jan joined AIG in July 2013; he serves as Global Accommodation Manager based in London managing the company’s Global Accommodation Programmes for Hotels, Aparthotels and Serviced Apartments comprising sourcing, negotiation and implementation of the programs.
With 26 years of senior-level and entrepreneurial career experience in the hospitality and travel industries, London-based Jan Jacobsen offers a wealth of expertise in sourcing, procurement, sales & marketing and revenue opportunities.
Prior to moving in to the role of a corporate buyer in 2010, he was Regional Director for the European marketplace for a US based hotel group. Among other positions, he has also been Director of Sales & Marketing for several London properties.
Jan’s role is to establish mutually beneficial relationships with accommodation providers globally, to ensure AIG has quality accommodation for their travellers that meet all of the company’s needs, whilst making sure rates are competitive to manage expenses.
Jan’s mandate: “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, and how you leave others feeling after an experience with you becomes your trademark.”
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Jean-Michel Kadaner
Partner Areka-Consulting and Ceo & founder, Key Corporate Solutions
Jean-Michel Kadaner
Partner Areka-Consulting and Ceo & founder, Key Corporate Solutions
Jean-Michel specialises in travel supply chain, payment systems, IS/IT outsourcing and supplier relationship optimisation.
Prior to founding his consulting firm, Key Corporate Solutions, Jean-Michel had been involved in Fortune 500 corporate purchasing activities for 22 Years, in both American and European telecom multinational companies.
He has been involved with best practices management since 1976, with extensive experience in both line and corporate management in Europe and overseas, with several expatriate experiences.
He is a frequent speaker at travel industry and purchasing conferences and was an early member of both the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).
Belgian born, he resides now in Germany and still travels intensively. -
Adam Knights
Managing Director
ATPI
Adam Knights
Managing Director
ATPI
Adam’s early career was in business and leisure travel for American Express and Trailfinders. He then joined Seaforths Travel in 1998, which went on to become part of the ATPI Group.
Adam has been part of the ATPI Group since 2002 and has played a key role in its expansion and reputation of the Group internationally.
Formerly group sales and marketing director, Adam has recently taken on the newly created position as managing director for the combined ATPI and Griffin operation in the UK. He is also a board director of the Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM) UK & Ireland. -
Judica Krikke
Partner, head of TMT/IP
Stibbe
Judica Krikke
Partner, head of TMT/IP
Stibbe
Judica is the head of the TMT practice in Amsterdam.
Judica acts as lead counsel in global outsourcings, ICT procurements and other ICT transactions, ICT disputes and data protection compliance matters. She has extensive expertise in TMT transactions, handling complex ICT disentanglements, transitional service agreements and data transfers.
Judica has a Master of Law and a Master of Arts.
She teaches information law at Grotius Academy and is arbitrator for Stichting Geschillenoplossing Automatisering (SGOA), the Dutch alternative dispute settlement forum for the settlement of ICT disputes -
Kurt Laes
Business Sales Manager
Eurostar
Kurt Laes
Business Sales Manager
Eurostar
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Arnaud Le Masne de Chermont
VP Global Accounts and Emerging Markets
Egencia
Arnaud Le Masne de Chermont
VP Global Accounts and Emerging Markets
Egencia
Arnaud is Vice President of Global Accounts and Emerging Markets at Egencia. He oversees sales and business development for Egencia globally and is responsible for customer relationships with the company’s multi-national client base.
A veteran of Egencia, Arnaud joined the start up in 2001 and has been key to its success ever since, working in areas ranging from Marketing to Account Management and Implementation. -
Jon Liebtag
EMEA Regional Lead, Business Travel
Airbnb
Jon Liebtag
EMEA Regional Lead, Business Travel
Airbnb
Jon is the EMEA Regional Lead for strategic and operational leadership for Airbnb Business Travel. He has a diverse professional background including financial and operational planning, sales leadership, and business development.
In his current role, he focuses on driving change in the business travel space by focusing on productive more efficient business travel. Prior to Airbnb he was the head of corporate and operational FP&A for Airbnb and led operational business management and financial strategy at Netflix across various divisions. -
Jens Luik
Head of Corporate Sales
Blacklane
Jens Luik
Head of Corporate Sales
Blacklane
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Nele Magi
Senior Account Manager, Industry Partners
STR Global
Nele Magi
Senior Account Manager, Industry Partners
STR Global
Nele ensures that STR clients have all the information necessary to understand their industry, their markets, and their potential for growth. Originally from Estonia, Nele studied Tourism Business Management at the University of Birmingham. Nele worked in hotels for three years, and that is where she developed an interest for revenue management. Her love of data, and how it correlates with events to affect the hotel industry, made her feel at home at STR, where she has worked for nearly 5 years. Nele likes to travel and see the world, and loves exquisite gastronomic experiences. -
Barbara Mauthner
Corporate Sales Manager
conichi
Barbara Mauthner
Corporate Sales Manager
conichi
Barbara graduated in Tourism and Travel management from International University Bad Honnef. After graduation she started working at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group in the Area Sales Office Central Europe. First responsible for placing MICE requests for European clients worldwide, she switched to Corporate Sales responsible for RFPs and worldwide contact for clients like BMW, Roland Berger and Osram. Since January 2016 Barbara is working for conichi, where she first worked in the Hotel Sales Department being responsible for the German market and now taking care of corporate clients and projects in the same region.
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Ole Mortensen
Partner
AMM Consulting
Ole Mortensen
Partner
AMM Consulting
Ole is a partner in Copenhagen-based AMM Consulting.
He has held leading positions in the travel industry in both an international and national capacity including as the managing director of FCM and Flight Centre in Denmark and SVP EMEA for TQ3 Travel Solutions (formerly in the TUI Group and later became a founding entity of BCD Travel).
As a result he has experience of a range of business cultures and led a number of implementations. Ole has experience in management, operations, process management, technology and corporate services industries. -
Nour Mouakke
Founder & CEO
Wizme
Nour Mouakke
Founder & CEO
Wizme
Nour is a Syrian entrepreneur and hotelier with 14+ years of experience in the hospitality & business travel sector working for international hotel chains including Starwood Hotels & IHG. Some of his clients in previous roles include Apple, Mars, WPP, AP Moller Maersk, Mondelez International and Moody’s to name few.
Nour is revolutionising the whole MICE sector with Wizme, the next generation venue booking platform for meetings and events, driven by his passion to make all stakeholders’ life easier with technology (Planners, Travel Managers, Agencies & Hotels).
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Sasha Pons
Director of Fraud Prevention
Ingenico
Sasha Pons
Director of Fraud Prevention
Ingenico
Sasha joined Ingenico ePayments in September 2016 as Director of Fraud. Sasha has spent more than 10 years working in cyber security, fraud prevention, infrastructure, privacy and compliance within international eCommerce. His expertise spans across the travel, retail, pharmaceutical and technology industries.
Sasha strongly believes that trust is the cornerstone of FinTech and being able to articulate a pragmatic and efficient cyber security and fraud prevention strategy is a key competitive differentiator. Because of this, his focus is on building the most data and performance driven fraud prevention platform, with the best possible UX for both Ingenico ePayments’ merchants and their consumers. Prior to joining Ingenico ePayments, Shasha worked for Booking.com.
He is a French native and has lived in the Netherlands for the last four years. -
Marijke Poppink
Former EMEA Travel Manager
RELX Group
Marijke Poppink
Former EMEA Travel Manager
RELX Group
Marijke started her travel career as a business travel consultant in 1984 and worked until 2000 at various TMCs in different roles including as a group and incentive consultant, senior business travel consultant and manager of a small TMC.
She opened an in-house travel department at Reed Elsevier, now RELX Group, in Amsterdam in April 2000.
She became responsible for European travel in 2005 and in 2006 began to implement one of the first fully integrated online booking and online requesting tool. Marijke has also worked on the APAC region travel programme since 2011 and has implemented TMCs and OBTs in the Netherlands, UK, Singapore, Germany and France. -
Paul Raymond
Director of Strategic Relationships
Conferma
Paul Raymond
Director of Strategic Relationships
Conferma
Paul has 20+ years' experience in the business travel and payment industry, working in the frontline for most of Europe's largest travel management companies, including American Express Travel, Carlson Wagonlit and Hillgate Travel. Paul then moved into the payment industry, working for American Express Card in their global sales team for a number of years.
Paul has worked at Conferma since its inception nearly 12 years ago focusing on business development and establishing the Conferma brand in the UK. Paul recently returned to the UK after a 2 year project in the US and is now focused on the expansion of the Conferma product set across the Global customer base, with responsibility for business development across Global TMC's and their technology platforms. -
Rajaa Rhouzli
Sales Manager Europe
Eurostar
Rajaa Rhouzli
Sales Manager Europe
Eurostar
Rajaa is the business sales general manager for Eurostar. She is responsible of business sales which includes the account management strategy for corporate and TMC on Eurostar core markets (France, UK and Belgium) and on new markets Rotterdam and Amsterdam planned next year. Rajaa has been working 15 years for Eurostar and mainly on leading sales strategy and team over the last past 10 years. She has developed some keys achievements for Eurostar like the strategy and implementation of Pan European Eurostar corporate offer and integrating the TMC strategy into her team management for more efficiency on business sales expertise. She is now in charge on developing a dedicated corporate offer for the new markets Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
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Michael Riegel
Founder & CEO
Comtravo
Michael Riegel
Founder & CEO
Comtravo
Michael is a German tech entrepreneur. Whilst at college he co-founded Wimdu and thereby dived early-on into the travel space. Michael then spent a couple of years in the Silicon Valley to build the operations for Homejoy, a Google-backed tech marketplace.
In August 2015 Michael founded Comtravo, based in Berlin it is changing the way business travel is booked.
Michael graduated from WHU – Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management, London School of Economics and Political Science and Kellog School of Management.
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Deepti Sahi
CEO and product leader
Deskbookers
Deepti Sahi
CEO and product leader
Deskbookers
Deepti is the CEO of Deskbookers, an online platform for flexible workspaces and offices based in Amsterdam. Prior to her time at Deskbookers, she spent two years at Intuit in London launching and scaling Intuit's flagship Quickbooks accounting platform in the UK and France. Her decade long, global career spans diverse roles in sales, management consulting and product management at Dow Chemical, Bain and Company and Intuit. Deepti and her husband originally hail from San Francisco and are now happily transplanted to Amsterdam. -
Friso Schmid
Co-Founder
Keezel
Friso Schmid
Co-Founder
Keezel
Friso Schmid is co-founder and the business strategist of Keezel. Keezel is a portable device that protects people on WiFi networks. He started his career as an IT consultant at Capgemini. He went on to join a government-contract consulting firm where he met and worked with his future co-founder Aike Müller. Friso has worked for over 10 years in IT, startups and online marketing. Friso and Aike rejoined in 2013 to work on the early version of Keezel.
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Dominic Short
Global Category Manager
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Dominic Short
Global Category Manager
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Dominic joined Takeda in October 2015 as a Global Category Manager and is a member of the team that purchases the group’s global travel and meetings and events services. Before joining Takeda he acted as Managing Director for the Zurich office of the MCI Group. Dominic Short was in charge of leading his team to design and deliver inspiring events, meetings and conferences for both the private and the public sector. In this role, he also helps regional and international enterprises and associations to launch new products, build brand loyalty, reach new markets and reward top performance.
Dominic, born 1971 in London/England, originates from the airline industry, having served Swissair Zurich as of 1989 and for more than a dozen years. First he completed a 2-year apprenticeship, then he mastered as a Sales Agent, and finally he was Key Account Manager in charge of BTI Kuoni. At that time, BTI was Swissair’s main distribution partner with an annual sales volume of CHF 550 million. In 2001, he became General Manager of the new Zurich event location Toni Molkerei, a fashionable venue for corporate events, theatre and art. Late 2004, he moved as Director Business Development to ICLP, the leading global customer loyalty provider, and in 2008, he joined AirPlus as Global Account Manager based in Zurich and Frankfurt, Germany. AirPlus, part of the Lufthansa Group, offers global travel payment programs. From 2011 until 2013 Dominic Short was CEO of traXess in Zurich, a business travel consulting agency, offering online booking tools and global business travel data consolidation.
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Samantha Simms
Global Data Privacy Officer
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Samantha Simms
Global Data Privacy Officer
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Samantha is an information law attorney who specializes in advising businesses and government institutions on compliance with privacy, data protection, information security, confidentiality, and freedom of information laws. Over the last five years she has focused her expertise on implementing privacy programs for global organizations aligned to the corporate strategy.
Samantha currently holds the position of Global Privacy Officer at Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Prior to that, Samantha held positions at Colt Technology Services Plc and Linklaters LLP.
Samantha presents on data privacy with a focus on the intersection between privacy and technology. She is currently a guest lecturer for the Mitchell Hamline School of Law Cybersecurity and Privacy Program for professionals.
Samantha holds an LLB (Hons) in European Languages and Law from the University of the West of England.
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Gisela Stuart
Former UK MP
Gisela Stuart
Former UK MP
A Labour Member of Parliament from 1997-2017 Gisela served in the Blair government as a Health Minister before spending 15 months helping draft a European Constitution. Most of her subsequent parliamentary career focused on International Affairs, Defence and Security. In 2015 she was appointed by the Prime Minister to the Intelligence and Security Committee which oversees M15, M16 and GCHQ.
Gisela is a founding member of the Henry Jackson Society. She chaired the Vote Leave campaign and now heads up Change Britain, a cross party organisation committed to working on the Brexit deal.
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Merel van der Pijl
Category Buyer Professional Services
FrieslandCampina
Merel van der Pijl
Category Buyer Professional Services
FrieslandCampina
Merel is a Category Procurement Specialist, responsible for global mobility. Merel joined FrieslandCampina in 2013.
In her role as Category Procurement Specialist she is responsible for the purchasing of all travel related services and tools. She likes to think outside of the box and strive for a future proof travel program. FrieslandCampina is implementing a new global travel program currently.
Before joining FrieslandCampina, Merel worked in the hotel industry, so knows the travel world quite well.
Merel studied International hospitality management, which she graduated from in 2012.
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Remco van Donk
General Manager Netherlands
FCM Travel Solutions
Remco van Donk
General Manager Netherlands
FCM Travel Solutions
Remco’s extensive experience in the travel industry spans 25 years.
He joined FCM in 2010 and heads up operations, as well as sales and account management for the Netherlands. His career prior to joining FCM includes 10 years as Global Account Manager for a US-headquartered multi-national TMC.
In addition he has held various local, regional and global account management positions for some the largest Dutch companies. -
Lennart van der Ziel
CEO & Co-Founder
Travis
Lennart van der Ziel
CEO & Co-Founder
Travis
Lennart van der Ziel is CEO & co-founder of the fast-growing Dutch startup Travis the Translator. After he graduated in Business Law and Financial Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam, he led multiple international sales and marketing teams in IT and was part of the founding team of Venture Café Rotterdam, a thriving community of entrepreneurs, innovators and investors. -
Michael Wessel
Vice President International Marketing
Airplus International
Michael Wessel
Vice President International Marketing
Airplus International
Michael is Vice Predident of International Marketing at AirPlus. He oversees Product Development and Communications for all of AirPlus' more than 60 markets and is responsible also for the relationships with the global card networks.
Michael has 20 years of experience in travel payments and travel management. Before joining the industry, he was worked as a journalist for a German newspaper. Michael holds an M.A. from University of Munster.
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Elke Woldt
Sales Manager
Motel One Brussels
Elke Woldt
Sales Manager
Motel One Brussels
Elke Woldt joined the turquoise world of the Motel One Hotel Group in 2013 with the opening of the first Motel One in the BENELUX. Based in Brussels she is responsible for Sales and Promotion of Motel One in Belgium. Prior to discovering her love for the hospitality industry she was working as translator, interpreter and language trainer in France and Germany. -
Lian Wolfs
Director Benelux & Nordics
AirPlus
Lian Wolfs
Director Benelux & Nordics
AirPlus
Lian Wolfs has been with AirPlus International since 2001 and relies on over 25 years of experience in the corporate travel and payment industry. In her position as Director for AirPlus, she is in charge of deploying the company strategy to support the year over year growth at AirPlus in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Recently the Nordics countries have been added to Lian´s area of responsibility for the Dutch market. Further responsibilities include the ´perfect´ customer experience, sales, marketing & communication as well as partnership and business development activities. Being a strong believer in cardless payment solutions, Wolfs was one of the first entrepreneurs launching the AirPlus virtual payment product more than ten years ago. Since then AirPlus has continuously invested in developing the mobile and digital payment solutions to meet customer and market demands.
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Daniel Davey
Enterprise Sales Central Europe
Uber for Business
Daniel Davey
Enterprise Sales Central Europe
Uber for Business
Currently, Daniel is focused on bringing Uber for Business #U4B to market in mainland Europe.
Professionally, Daniel has worked at Linkedin as a social mavern, he charged the world one electric car at a time at Tesla Motors, made magic at Walt Disney World, was a lean green machine with the military, helped CIO's with their lonely jobs at Gartner and helped build the "next great software company" at AppDynamics.
Daniel has lived and worked in Germany, Florida, Amsterdam, California and UK and enjoys surfing, Kiteboarding, Diving, Snowboarding, parachute jumping, walking over hills with heavy bags and sleeping out rough on the Masai Mara. -
Xaveer Fluitman
Regional Director of Business Travel
Booking.com for Business
Xaveer Fluitman
Regional Director of Business Travel
Booking.com for Business
Xaveer is the Regional Director Business Travel for Booking.com for Business. Responsible for overseeing the EMEA commercial approach, Xaveer combines charismatic leadership with all-round business acumen to pave the way in business travel for Booking.com.
Having achieved his Master’s degree in Innovative Hospitality Management from the ESADE Business & Law School in 2007, and already with extensive experience in both Hospitality and Project Management, Xaveer joined Booking.com in October 2008.
In the course of the next eight years with the company, he built both career and reputation in management roles both in his native Netherlands and whilst overseeing operations on the East Coast of the United States.
Driven, committed to results and with an energetic entrepreneurial flair, Xaveer now helps steer Booking.com for Business in its continued global development.
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Thomas de Bruijn
Corporate Sales Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa
Amadeus
Thomas de Bruijn
Corporate Sales Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa
Amadeus
With more than 10 years of experience building mutually beneficial relationships with some of the biggest names in business, Thomas has become an expert in the strategic deployment of corporate travel management and expense solutions to blue chip companies. After successfully growing and strengthening corporate relationships and business development in the Benelux region for Amadeus IT Group, he now has responsibility for driving and executive commercial strategy for Amadeus in Europe, Middle East and Africa. In addition to coordinating the commercial activities across the region, Thomas is also responsible for personally establishing direct relationships with multinational corporations that are seeking to reduce complexity, save on indirect and direct travel costs and deliver a user experience that’s fit for the 21st century and the high expectations of Millennials.
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Jason Daury
Senior Sales Manager
Traveldoo
Jason Daury
Senior Sales Manager
Traveldoo
Jason joined Traveldoo in 2015 as Senior European Sales Manager, responsible for driving the new business strategy in the travel and expense market.
Jason has over 10 years’ experience specialising in SaaS and software sales. Prior to Traveldoo, Jason worked for a number of e-learning software editors and logistics IT solutions providers in the US, Japan and France.
Born in the USA, Jason holds a Masters in Marketing from HEC Paris and a BA (hons) communications from Bowling Green State University.
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Luba de Vries
Junior Sales Manager
Motel One Netherlands BV
Luba de Vries
Junior Sales Manager
Motel One Netherlands BV
Luba has been with the Motel One family after graduating from Stenden University in Leeuwarden with a bachelor in International Hospitality. During her studies she gained international experience in South Africa and Bali, broadening her knowledge in the field of Lodge management and Spa & Health management. With over 5 years of hospitality she currently holds the position of Junior Sales Manager at Motel One Amsterdam, where she aims to communicate her love for hospitality. She likes to travel, explore new cultures and meet new people.
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David Compier
Head of Strategic Partnerships Benelux & Nordics
AirPlus International
David Compier
Head of Strategic Partnerships Benelux & Nordics
AirPlus International
David Compier joined AirPlus earlier this year and relies on over 12 years of experience in the consulting and payment industry. In his position as Head of Strategic Partnerships for AirPlus, he is in charge of managing and developing partnerships with leading organizations. As a member of the regional MT David is also involved with Market Strategy to support the year over year growth at AirPlus in the Benelux & Nordics regions.
AirPlus is a leading international provider of solutions for the day-to-day management of business travel. Over 49,000 corporate customers count on AirPlus for the payment and analysis of their business trip costs. Products and services are marketed worldwide under the AirPlus International brand. More information is available at www.airplus.com.
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Siggi Foster
Head of Business Development
SACO The Serviced Apartment Company
Siggi Foster
Head of Business Development
SACO The Serviced Apartment Company
Siggi joined SACO in 2004 after 18 years of experience in the travel industry with diverse roles in sales and customer service. Siggi has a deep knowledge, passion and understanding of the serviced apartment and corporate housing sector gained over her 14 years working for SACO. This expertise combined with her exacting standards of delivering high levels of customer experience makes her “in demand” with both new and existing clients. She also leads a highly successful team of Business Development Managers who under Siggis leadership deliver a wide range of innovative and cost effective accommodation solutions for an extensive portfolio of global entities and smaller regionalised business’s. Siggi is a fluent German, English and Spanish speaker – making her pivotal to SACO’s European growth strategy . -
Jesper Vik
Business Development - Business Travel Nordics & NL
Airbnb
Jesper Vik
Business Development - Business Travel Nordics & NL
Airbnb
Jesper has joined Airbnb in 2013 to head the Norwegian market initiatives. He has worked on strategic partnerships and creative marketing, with Night At the Holmenkollen ski jump being one of his most memorable projects. Jesper is now part of the business travel team, where he leads partner relationships in the Nordics and the Netherlands. His objective is to introduce businesses to the great experiences that Airbnb has been offering to leisure travellers for almost a decade..