American Express & USA TODAY Presents:
The Third Annual Travel Executive Summit

As part of the expanded Freddie Awards event, the Travel Executive Summit offers attendees a rare opportunity to listen in, and join in, as loyalty industry leaders discuss issues impacting their business today. Hosted by frequent flyer guru Randy Petersen, the Travel Executive Summit is a must-attend event for loyalty program executives, partners and vendors of the industry, frequent flyers, and anyone else who wants to participate in the discussions that typically go on behind the scenes in loyalty program offices throughout the world.

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Admission: $99

Lunch is included

Schedule

BRUNCH is held throughout these sessions.

WHEN: 9:30 am - 11:00 am / Friday, April 26

TOPIC: The Plastic Fantastic

If there is one topic that continues both equally important to loyalty programs and the member of the same, it's the plastic in their wallet. This session might be the best ever as representatives from all leading credit card brands and individual cards roundtable a discussion as to how credit cards helped pull loyalty programs through the recent economic crisis, how much longer will or can sky high acquisition bonuses be offered and some of the trends they see into the not so distant future. Moderated by Randy Petersen, this is one session you will not want to miss.

[participants: Bob Daly (SVP, US Bank), David Gold, (General Manger, Partnership, Chase Card Services), Shane Holdaway (MVP of US Cards, Capital One), Sonali Chakravorti, (Vice President - Membership Benefits for American Express), Matthew Massaua, (Senior Director US Card, Barclaycard)]

BREAK: 11:00 am - 11:30 pm / Friday, April 26

WHEN: 11:30 pm - 1:00 pm / Friday, April 26

TOPIC: Planes, Trains and Automobiles — Airline talk mashed up with other loyalty programs.

American Airlines has long been a stalwart in the airline industry and Bob Crandall, former CEO was along for the go-go years. He'll tell us what's on his mind and trade observations of how loyalty has changed through the years with today's leading practioneers. Amtrak Guest Rewards is an interesting player in the loyalty space and we'll compare railroaders to frequent flyers and then on to Automobiles as the view of the industry from 75 miles-per-hour gives us a perspective rarely do we hear. Yes, there are a number of loyalty currencies that make this industry go round and let's see what they look like when stirred, not shaken.

[participants: Bob Crandall (former CEO American Airlines), Jeff Robertson (VP, SkyMiles, Delta Air Lines), Greg Brown, (Vice President Loyalty and Relationship Marketing, Choice Hotels), Avis, National Car Rental and Hertz, Tim Doolittle, Avis Budget Group VP CRM/Marketing Analytics]

As a reminder, proceeds from this event are distributed to charitable organizations.