SHANGHAI, Sept. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CITS American Express Global Business Travel is pleased to announce that Vice President and General Manager, Marco Pellizzer, has been awarded the prestigious 2016 Shanghai Magnolia Gold Award by the Shanghai Municipal Government.

In 2014, Marco was honoured with the Magnolia Silver Award, and he has now received the 2016 Magnolia Gold Award as a result of his outstanding contributions to the city of Shanghai. The award, named after Shanghai's city flower, is given to expatriate senior executives and business leaders who have made a significant contribution to the economy, business environment, international relations, community development and other specialist management areas. The award was presented this week in a ceremony at Shanghai City Hall.

Marco received this award in recognition of the contribution he has made to advancing corporate travel management in Shanghai, largely due to his role leading CITS American Express Global Business Travel in China over the past eight years. Marco has been instrumental in the design and development of the China Business Travel Forum (CBTF), held in Shanghai annually.

CBTF has been spearheading China's business travel industry development by providing unique insights and market analysis on business travel management for the past twelve years. Each year, this event brings together approximately 700 executives from across the corporate travel industry, including airlines, hoteliers, Government organizations, technology companies, multi-national organizations and Chinese companies, in order to share industry insight and expertise.

In addition to business endeavours, Marco and the team at CITS American Express Global Business Travel are advocates for the importance of business leaders dedicating time and energy to assisting the local communities in which they live and conduct business. The company has instituted a corporate social responsibility program supporting multiple schools in Shanghai, and throughout China, for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"I am deeply moved and extremely proud to accept this award," said Mr Pellizzer. "Having lived and worked in over 20 countries, I have no hesitation in saying that the city of Shanghai is the essence of a modern metropolis. It is a wonderful blend of high-tech and tradition, and a great place to live and conduct business."

"Due to the nature of our business at CITS American Express Global Business Travel, I am fortunate to have crossed paths with countless home-grown and international companies. It's pleasing to see a genuine passion and enthusiasm for developing the corporate travel industry in China. Through our China Business Travel Forum and other events and activities, we will continue to help our clients and the industry, grow and mature."

About CITS American Express Global Business Travel

Established by American Express and China International Travel Service (CITS) in 2002, CITS American Express Global Business Travel is the first Sino-US business travel joint venture in the People's Republic of China. With offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the joint venture provides a wide range of business travel management services to optimize business travel investments for multi-national corporations, regional, and domestic companies throughout the PRC. Learn more at www.citsgbt.com.

About American Express Global Business Travel

CITS American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) equips companies of all sizes with the insights, tools, services and expertise they need to keep their travelers safe, focused and productive while on the road. With approximately 12,000 employees and operations in nearly 120 countries worldwide, GBT empowers customers to take control of their travel programs, optimizing the return on their travel and meetings investments, while, more importantly, providing extraordinary traveler care.

Learn more at amexglobalbusinesstravel.com and amexglobalbusinesstravel.com/content/. Follow us @ twitter.com/amexgbt.

American Express Global Business Travel ("GBT") is a joint venture that is not wholly-owned by American Express Company or any of its subsidiaries ("American Express"). "American Express Global Business Travel", "American Express" and the American Express logo are trademarks of American Express, and are used under limited license.

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SOURCE CITS American Express Global Business Travel