ProcureCon Travel 2025
May 13 - 15, 2025
JW Marriott LA LIVE
Pre-Conference: Tuesday, May 13th, 2025
3:30 PM Event Registration Opens
4:00 PM Deep Dive Working Groups
Attendees of ProcureCon Travel will break into these working group sessions, facilitated by an expert and two procurement practitioners, who will guide the group toward crafting an action plan of five ideas that you can implement immediately to begin getting results back in the office. The results will be reported back to the entire group during the afternoon sessions. Each group is limited to 25 participants to ensure practical takeaway
4:00 PM Working Group A: How Will Suppliers Meet Your Future Program Goals
- Darlene Fitzsimmons - Travel Manager - Stagwell Global
- Diane Lundeen Smith - Senior Manager, Travel & Procurement - PWC
As corporate travel programs evolve, so must the partnerships with key suppliers. This interactive working group session invites participants to collaborate with their peers and explore how suppliers will need to adapt to meet the future needs of travel programs. You’ll discuss the role of innovation, flexibility, and alignment with corporate values such as sustainability and traveler satisfaction. This session provides a unique opportunity to work directly with peers and strategize on how to build stronger, future-ready supplier relationships.
What You’ll Walk Away With:
- Discover how suppliers are embracing new technologies and strategies to align with your future program needs.
- Brainstorm ways to foster deeper partnerships with suppliers to achieve mutual goals like sustainability, cost efficiency, and traveler experience enhancements.
- Learn how to communicate your evolving program goals to suppliers and ensure they stay aligned with your long-term vision.
4:00 PM Working Group C: Accessibility Programs And The Importance Of Them
- Martha Ferguson - Director, Global Travel Services - Lazard
Ensuring that corporate travel programs are accessible to all employees is not just a matter of compliance—it’s about fostering an inclusive, supportive environment for everyone. In this interactive working group session, participants will explore the importance of building accessibility into travel programs. You'll discuss how to ensure that travelers with disabilities, medical conditions, or special needs have seamless experiences, and the steps you can take to partner with suppliers who prioritize accessibility.
What We Hope You Can Take Away
- Learn how to assess your current travel program for accessibility gaps and implement improvements that benefit all employees.
- Discover how to collaborate with travel suppliers to ensure accessible accommodations, transportation, and services are available for your travelers.
- Understand the legal requirements around accessibility, but also explore how to go beyond compliance to create a genuinely inclusive and welcoming travel experience.
5:05 PM Opening Keynote:
Day 1: Wednesday, May 14th, 2025
THEME: Addressing The Future Traveller’s Needs
8:25 AM Morning Mind-Sharing Meetup - Mastering The Future Traveler: Unveiling Game-changing Do's And Don'ts For Future Success
Fuel your morning with a stimulating mindshare exercise designed to engage, enlighten, and evolve. We’re not just setting the tone but pioneering conversations that matter. We're rolling out a dynamic platform where brainstorming meets expertise. Get ready to reimagine your travel strategy by unveiling the game-changing Do's and Don’ts pivotal for driving unparalleled success.
1. Best Practices & Benchmarks Breakouts: You’ll be diving into focused discussions, steered by our illustrious Advisory Board members. In these micro-think tanks, you will:
- Exchange best practices
- Delve into industry benchmarks
- Co-create solutions
The topics are pivotal, contemporary, and specially curated:
- Technology
- Sustainability
- The Social Traveler- Makiko Barrett, Sr. Global Strategic Sourcing Manager - Corporate Travel, Sandisk
- Safety- Kevin Coffey, Travel Skills & Meeting Risk Trusted Advisor | People Risk Management Evangelizer
- Health and Wellness - Darlene Fitzsimmons, Travel Manager, Stagwell Global
- Purposeful Travel
8:45 AM Mindshare Synthesis on Mainstage
Witness a confluence of ideas as our Advisory Board table leaders converge on the main stage. They will:
- Share collective insights
- Reflect on groundbreaking suggestions
- Discuss overarching themes and breakthrough ideas
Our Distinguished Advisory Board: Spearheading these strategic sessions are our Advisory Board members – a blend of industry stalwarts and visionary thinkers. As table leaders, they’ll channel discussions, share their expertise, and bridge the gap between challenges and solutions.
9:05 AM Chairman Remarks
9:10 AM Keynote- From A to Z – How To Build a Travel Program for The GenZ Traveler?
As Generation Z enters the workforce in increasing numbers, their expectations for corporate travel are reshaping the way travel programs are designed. This keynote will explore how to build a travel program that aligns with the unique preferences and priorities of Gen Z business travelers. From tech-savvy solutions and sustainability to personalization and work-life balance, you’ll learn what this new generation values and how to create a program that not only meets their needs but also enhances overall program efficiency and engagement.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn what motivates Gen Z employees, from seamless technology integration and mobile-first solutions to flexibility and personalized travel options.
- Discover how to incorporate Gen Z’s strong preference for eco-conscious and socially responsible travel options into your program.
- Get practical strategies for evolving your travel program to stay relevant with younger employees while ensuring it remains cost-effective and scalable
9:30 AM Partner Keynote: Global Policies WITH Local Nuances: Crafting Unified Accommodation Strategies FOR A Diverse World
As organizations globalize, the challenge of balancing a unified global policy with the intricate nuances of local requirements becomes more apparent. This session explores whether a cohesive, one-size-fits-all accommodation policy is possible, or even desirable, when addressing cultural, legal, and infrastructural differences across regions.
Key Discussion Points:
- Cultural, Legal, and Infrastructural Challenges: How to address regional disparities while maintaining consistency.
- Global ESG Initiatives: Achieving alignment with region-specific compliance and sustainability goals.
- Cost Control and Operational Efficiency: Strategies for balancing budget management while tailoring programs locally.
- Technological Solutions: The role of AI and advanced analytics in standardizing reporting and compliance across regions.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Incorporating cultural nuances, language barriers, and Gen Z perspectives into global policies while addressing LGBTQ+ travel needs and risk management.
Tangible Takeaways:
- Frameworks for crafting global policies that respect local nuances.
- Real-world success stories demonstrating the balance between global consistency and local customization.
- Actionable insights into leveraging ESG strategies, AI-powered reporting, and analytics to enhance compliance and visibility.
Interactive Component:
Gain practical insights from case studies and client success stories, and leave with a blueprint for creating globally unified yet locally adaptable travel and accommodation policies.
9:50 AM Panel: Destination 2035: Designing the Travel Program of the Future
What will corporate travel look like a decade from now? This forward-thinking panel will dive into the trends, technologies, and shifts that will shape travel programs by 2035. Experts will discuss how sustainability, automation, evolving traveler expectations, and geopolitical factors will transform the landscape of corporate travel. You’ll gain insights into what your travel program will need to remain competitive and aligned with future business needs, and how to start preparing now for the changes to come.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and predictive analytics will impact travel management and improve efficiency.
- Understand the growing importance of sustainability in travel and how to design eco-friendly travel options that meet both corporate goals and traveler demand.
- Explore how demographic changes, from Gen Z to remote and hybrid work models, will influence traveler expectations and program flexibility.
10:30 AM Partner Keynote: SAP Concur
11:30 AM Interactive Roundtable Discussions
Each attendee selects 2 roundtable conversations to attend within the hour, and they run concurrently for 30-minutes each. Each participant then switches and moves to their second roundtable conversation for the second half of the hour.
- Reimagining Duty of Care in a New Era of Business Travel
- Driving Policy Compliance without Compromising Traveler Experience
- Managing Costs in a High-Inflation Market: Strategies for Travel Budgets
- The Role of Travel Programs in Supporting DEI Initiatives
- Planning for the Unplanned: Crisis Response and Risk Management for Business Travel
- Sustainable Travel Programs: Balancing Eco-Friendly Choices with Cost: Melanie Corbin, Corporate Travel Program Lead, Kinaxis
- Enhancing Supplier Relationships: Building Partnerships for Mutual Success: Keith Erickson, Corporate Travel Manager, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Breaking Down Silos: Collaboration Between Travel, HR, and Procurement Team
- How to Innovate Your Program without going over Budget, Mike Donohue, Procurement Travel Category Manager, ExxonMobil
12:35 PM Networking Lunch
12:35 PM Private Lunch: FCM Travel
1:45 PM Deep Dive Working Groups
Attendees of ProcureCon Travel will break into these working group sessions, facilitated by an expert and two procurement practitioners, who will guide the group toward crafting an action plan of five ideas that you can implement immediately to begin getting results back in the office. The results will be reported back to the entire group during the afternoon sessions. Each group is limited to 25 participants to ensure practical takeaway
1:45 PM Working Group A: How Will Suppliers Meet Your Future Program Goals
- Darlene Fitzsimmons - Travel Manager - Stagwell Global
- Diane Lundeen Smith - Senior Manager, Travel & Procurement - PWC
As corporate travel programs evolve, so must the partnerships with key suppliers. This interactive working group session invites participants to collaborate with their peers and explore how suppliers will need to adapt to meet the future needs of travel programs. You’ll discuss the role of innovation, flexibility, and alignment with corporate values such as sustainability and traveler satisfaction. This session provides a unique opportunity to work directly with peers and strategize on how to build stronger, future-ready supplier relationships.
What You’ll Walk Away With:
- Discover how suppliers are embracing new technologies and strategies to align with your future program needs.
- Brainstorm ways to foster deeper partnerships with suppliers to achieve mutual goals like sustainability, cost efficiency, and traveler experience enhancements.
- Learn how to communicate your evolving program goals to suppliers and ensure they stay aligned with your long-term vision.
1:45 PM Working Group B: Traveling With Purpose – How Do You Make The Program Sustainable – How Do You Blend Volunteering
This interactive working group session will focus on how travel managers can design programs that are not only sustainable but also integrate opportunities for volunteering and social responsibility. Participants will collaborate to explore practical ways to reduce environmental impact, engage employees in meaningful activities while on business trips, and align the program with corporate values around sustainability and social good.
Key Benchmarks that will Be Explored:
- Learn strategies for making your travel program more environmentally friendly, from carbon offsetting to choosing eco-conscious suppliers.
- Discover how to incorporate volunteer opportunities into your travel program, creating enriching experiences for employees while contributing to community impact.
- Collaborate with peers to explore how travel programs can reflect and support broader corporate sustainability and social responsibility goals.
1:45 PM Working Group C: Accessibility Programs And The Importance Of Them
- Martha Ferguson - Director, Global Travel Services - Lazard
Ensuring that corporate travel programs are accessible to all employees is not just a matter of compliance—it’s about fostering an inclusive, supportive environment for everyone. In this interactive working group session, participants will explore the importance of building accessibility into travel programs. You'll discuss how to ensure that travelers with disabilities, medical conditions, or special needs have seamless experiences, and the steps you can take to partner with suppliers who prioritize accessibility.
What We Hope You Can Take Away
- Learn how to assess your current travel program for accessibility gaps and implement improvements that benefit all employees.
- Discover how to collaborate with travel suppliers to ensure accessible accommodations, transportation, and services are available for your travelers.
- Understand the legal requirements around accessibility, but also explore how to go beyond compliance to create a genuinely inclusive and welcoming travel experience.
Track A: Technology and Innovation
3:35 PM Panel: From Start-Up To Legacy: How Can Tech Companies Accelerate Business Travel’s Next Evolution
- David Kern - Head Of Procurement - TripAdvisor
- Karen Hutchings - Founder - Cobb & Hutch Consulting
- Bill La Peer - VP, Global Sales - Altour
Both start-ups and established tech giants are playing critical roles in driving the industry forward. This panel will explore how tech companies are pushing boundaries by introducing innovative travel solutions, from seamless booking experiences to data-driven expense management and sustainable travel options. Panelists will discuss how these companies leverage agile processes, AI, and user-centric design to create tools that meet the demands of modern business travelers and redefine what’s possible in corporate travel.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understand how tech companies, regardless of size, rapidly adapt to evolving business travel needs.
2. Discover ways to make travel easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable through technology.
3. Learn how tech-driven approaches can support sustainable travel practices and improve long-term program outcomes.
Track B: The Future of Traveler Spend Management
3:25 PM Track Chair Remarks
3:35 PM Panel: T&E 2.0 : Integrating Expense And Payment Solutions For Better Spend Visibility
- Liz Emmott - CCO - Mesh Payments
- Kelly Christner - Manager - Global Travel and Expense - Allegion
- Marina Franco - Procurement, Travel, Workplace Solutions, and Field & Infrastructure - Zup Innovation
- Katie Loudon - Director Procurement Services - Airbnb
Integrating expense and payment solutions is key to achieving comprehensive spend visibility and control. This panel will discuss how consolidating T&E with other expense categories and payment platforms can improve reporting accuracy, enhance policy compliance, and drive smarter decision-making. Panelists will share strategies for leveraging integrated systems that provide real-time insights and simplify reconciliation, ultimately transforming how organizations manage spend.
Key Takeaways:
1. Learn how integrated solutions provide consolidated spend data across categories,
2. Discover strategies to improve policy adherence and simplify auditing by centralizing expense tracking and payment data.
3. Understand how integrated payment solutions can simplify reconciliation processes and reduce manual interventions
Track C: Meeting and Events 2.0 The Evolution of Bringing People Together
3:25 PM Track Chair Remarks
3:35 PM Panel: Beyond Virtual And Hybrid: Crafting Next-generation Experiences For In-person And Digital Attendees
- Teddy Oberts - Senior Procurement Manager, Corporate Travel M&E - Salesforce
As the world of meetings and events continues to evolve, balancing in-person energy with digital accessibility is vital. This panel will explore how companies can elevate attendee engagement through innovative formats, personalized experiences, and advanced event technologies. Panelists will discuss creating inclusive, scalable events that prioritize attendee satisfaction while optimizing costs and meeting program goals.
Key Takeaways:
1.Gain insights into how tailored event formats can enhance both in-person and virtual attendee engagement.
2.Learn about tech solutions that can streamline event management, improve interaction, and bridge the in-person/virtual attendee gap.
3.Discover metrics to gauge event success and actionable steps to continuously improve the attendee experience.
4:15 PM Partner Presentation
4:15 PM Partner Presentation by Brex
4:35 PM Travel Program Meet Up: What Is The Expanse Hacks You Should be Using Tomorrow
- Kelly Christner - Manager - Global Travel and Expense - Allegion
4:15 PM Partner Presentation by CVENT
4:35 PM Travel Program Meet Up: Does Your Travel Onboarding Program Truly Prepare Employees for Safer, Smarter Travel?
- Kevin Coffey - Travel Skills & Meeting Risk Trusted Advisor - Kevincoffey.com
6:30 PM Private Dinner #1
Day 2: Thursday May 15th
THEME: Elevating The Role Of The Travel Manager
7:30 AM Today’s Leadership Anchored by Diversity, Equity Inclusion & Belonging Breakfast Working Group:
8:35 AM Panel: The Importance of Control and Flexibility in Travel: New Strategies and Embracing Change
As the corporate landscape evolves, business travelers expect flexibility while companies continue to strive for ROI and bottom-line savings that usually come with more restrictions. With more distribution channels available, content is more fragmented now than ever before. Insight into this has become a critical focus for todays and tomorrow’s travel leaders. Join this forward-thinking discussion on how leveraging these changing trends and insights can drive efficiency, elevate the traveler experience, and create cost-saving opportunities. Our expert panel will share strategies for travel leaders to lead this transformation and adapt to the ever-changing needs of the modern workforce.
You Will Walk Away With:
- Understand why integrating travel policies, distribution strategy, and understanding travel needs is essential for today’s travel leaders and how it can future-proof your program.
- Learn how this holistic approach enhances data visibility, supplier management, and negotiation power while ensuring compliance, risk management and reducing blind spend.
- Discover actionable steps to align internal teams and implement a unified program that meets the evolving demands of business travelers today and tomorrow.
9:15 AM Partner Keynote - AMEX GBT
9:25 AM Keynote: Fast Attack Leadership: The 5-step Framework Nuclear Submarine Officers Use To Build World-Teams
10:55 AM Panel: It’s A Relationship Business: The Do’s, The Don’ts, and the Keys to Success in Building Mutually Beneficial Partnerships in Today’s Travel Market
Join us as we explore the unique dynamics of cultivating strong, mutually beneficial relationships between corporate travel buyers and suppliers in the rapidly evolving travel market. Our expert panelists will share valuable insights into the essential do’s and don’ts of successful partnerships and provide actionable strategies for enhancing collaboration that leads to shared success in travel procurement.
You Will Walk Away With:
- Learn the key elements of building and maintaining productive partnerships in travel procurement and management
- Discover practical guidance on avoiding common missteps
- Gain insights into strategies that ensure mutual value creation, including collaborative innovation, proactive risk management, and tailored solutions
11:35 AM Partner Keynote “Housing the Hustle: Duty of Care for the Modern Workforce”
8:35 AM Panel: The Power of Integration: Uniting Travel, Mobility, and Meetings for Tomorrow’s Success
As the corporate landscape evolves, the convergence of travel, mobility, and meetings & events has become a critical focus for today’s and tomorrow’s travel leaders. Join this forward-thinking discussion on how combining these traditionally separate programs can drive efficiency, elevate the traveler experience, and create cost-saving opportunities. Our expert panel will share strategies for travel leaders to lead this transformation and adapt to the ever-changing needs of the modern workforce.
You Will Walk Away With:
- Understand why integrating travel, mobility, and meetings is essential for today’s travel leaders and how it can future-proof your program.
- Learn how this holistic approach enhances data visibility, supplier management, and negotiation power while ensuring compliance and risk management.
- Discover actionable steps to align internal teams and implement a unified program that meets the evolving demands of today’s and tomorrow’s business travelers.
12:25 PM Lunch for All Attendees
1:35 PM Panel: When It All Goes To S%#@: Learning from Travel Program Failures and How to Overcome Them
- Joanne Kelly - Category Manager -Global Strategic Sourcing, - Bloomberg LP
- Rafael Rosario - Global Travel Manager - Bloomberg LP
- Michael Lyons - Global Travel Manager - JLL
Every corporate travel program encounters moments where things don’t go as planned. Whether it’s a failed policy implementation, a misaligned vendor partnership, or unexpected travel disruptions, the key to success is in how you respond and recover. This panel brings together seasoned travel management professionals to share real-world stories of when their programs faced significant challenges—and how they turned it around. You’ll hear lessons learned, strategies for course correction, and advice for building resilience into your travel program.
Key Takeaways:
- Learning from Failure: Gain insights into how to recognize early warning signs when a travel initiative isn’t working and how to pivot quickly.
- Strategic Recovery: Discover strategies for managing vendor relationships, mitigating traveler dissatisfaction, and resolving operational hiccups when things go wrong.
- Building Resilience: Learn how to future-proof your travel program by creating contingency plans, improving risk management, and enhancing communication across teams
1:35 PM Panel: Reinventing Travel Policy – Practical Innovations for the Business Traveler's Journey
Effective stakeholder engagement is key to the success of any travel program. In this interactive think tank session, you’ll explore how to deepen relationships and elevate conversations with key internal and external stakeholders. Whether you’re engaging with finance, HR, suppliers, or executive leadership, learn how to better communicate your program’s value, gain buy-in, and foster collaboration that drives long-term success. This session will also highlight emerging trends and practical innovations that can reshape the business traveler’s experience while maintaining policy compliance and cost efficiency.
What You’ll Walk Away With:
- Discover strategies for identifying stakeholder needs and aligning travel program objectives with broader business goals.
- Learn how to craft messages that resonate with different stakeholders, ensuring your program’s value is understood and supported.
- Explore new approaches to policy design that balance traveler flexibility, compliance, and cost efficiency.
- Engage in discussions with industry peers to brainstorm fresh ways to influence and engage stakeholders for stronger partnerships and more successful outcomes
1:35 PM Working Group: Course Correct to Success.
- Marc Koehler - former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Commander - Marc Koehler Speaks
This session is all about decision making under ambiguity with plenty of key action items that can be implemented immediately.
2:35 PM Afternoon Break
3:15 PM General Session: Let’s Summarize– Reconvene, Reflect and Remember
As we draw the curtain on this transformative event, don't miss our exhilarating Grand Finale! Join us for a riveting recap where we’ll spotlight the event's game-changing takeaways, jaw-dropping surprises, and essential action items. Get ready to set your course with actionable roadmaps for a future full of possibilities!
This session promises not only to summarize but to supercharge your next steps, leaving you inspired, informed, and ready to implement. See you at the Grand Finale!