CONTACT:       
Caleb Tiller, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 138, ctiller@nbta.org

Nicole Hayes, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 133, nhayes@nbta.org

Alexandria, VA (August  6, 2010) – The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) today announced that Jack O’Neill, President, Carlson Wagonlit Travel North America, will be honored with the NBTA Allied Member of the Year Award. The award is presented each year at the NBTA International Convention & Exposition, to be held this year August 8-11 in Houston, to an NBTA Allied (supplier) Member who demonstrates unwavering dedication to the travel management industry and whose actions have significantly helped to advance the industry.

O’Neill has been in the managed travel industry for more than three decades, with experience in operations, marketing and sales. His accomplishments include a leadership role in expanding the former Trans World Airlines’ cargo operations to international markets; serving as an executive team member for the former Braniff Airlines, the largest airline start-up in aviation history; and, in recent years, leading CWT’s integration of both Maritz Corporate Travel and Navigant International. O’Neill was also a recipient of the prestigious Carlson Fellows award in 2007 for his leadership; an honor reserved for only the most select, accomplished individuals working in the Carlson family of businesses. Under O’Neill’s leadership, CWT’s North American business has more than tripled since 2003.

“I’m honored and humbled of course,” O’Neill shared. “It has always been about teamwork and people for me as any success I’ve had has been with the help of others. I’m privileged to work with great people; that includes coworkers, clients, suppliers and more. Many friends and colleagues over the years have made this business not only successful for me, but, exciting, fun and ultimately rewarding,” he reflected.

Today, O’Neill continues to lead the growth of CWT in North America, with a focus on delivering the value of effective travel management to clients as well as the expansion of its leisure and meetings travel offerings.

Craig Banikowski, NBTA President & CEO, CCTE, C.P.M., CMM commented, “Jack has been an industry influencer for more than 30 years, known throughout the corporate travel community as a leader and innovator. His enthusiasm for the managed travel industry is evident at each NBTA event he attends, and we are thankful for his many contributions.”

Prior to joining Carlson Wagonlit Travel, O’Neill was president of Maritz Corporate Travel. O’Neill has also held various management and executive posts with TWA, Braniff Airlines, and Burlington Air Express.

About the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition

Widely recognized as the must-attend event for business travel buyers, suppliers, industry leaders and business travel journalists, the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition will be held in Houston August 8-11, 2010.  More than 5,500 travel professionals are expected to take advantage of the Convention’s programming, designed to empower attendees to maximize value for their companies, including more than 60 seminars on the most important topics in business travel, more than 400 companies exhibiting in the Expo and countless opportunities for networking with peers. For details, visit www.nbtaconvention.org. 

About NBTA

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and corporate meetings organization. NBTA and its regional affiliates – NBTA Australia / New Zealand, the Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV), NBTA Canada, NBTA Europe, NBTA Mexico, and NBTA USA – serve a network of more than 17,000 business travel professionals around the globe with industry-leading events, networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. NBTA members, numbering more than 5,000 in 30 nations, are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers. They collectively manage and direct more than US$340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually on behalf of more than 13 million business travelers within their organizations. For more information, visit www.nbta.org