CONTACT:       

Caleb Tiller, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 138, ctiller@nbta.org
Nicole Hayes, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 133, nhayes@nbta.org

Attendees, World Leaders: ‘Business Travel is Coming Back’

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) – the world’s premiere resource for corporate travel professionals – reported increased attendance over last year at its International Convention & Exposition – the Business Travel Event of the Year. More than 5,800 corporate travel professionals from 40 countries, including more than 1,200 travel buyers, filled the George R. Brown Convention Center this week to attend over 65 ground-breaking education sessions and visit with more than 400 exhibitors on the Expo floor.

NBTA President & CEO Craig Banikowski, CCTE, C.P.M., CMM, said, “The general consensus at this year’s Convention was clear – business travel is coming back! Many attendees reported increasing levels of travel, and they came to the NBTA Convention to learn about the latest industry trends in a new economy and network with the largest gathering of corporate travel professionals in the world. Corporate travel drives economic success, and when travel professionals are making connections and making deals, it’s a sure sign we’re on the way to recovery.”

Over four days attendees took advantage of more than 65 education sessions in which industry experts and specialists from all sectors of the corporate travel community discussed business travel growth in a new corporate culture of strategic cost containment. New resources, such as white papers on hotel program metrics and risk management/traveler tracking systems, were offered to Convention delegates, along with reports on the global business travel market, U.S. traveler taxes and corporate travel policies.

At the first-ever Travel’s Value Chain CEO Panel, attendees heard from Carlson Wagonlit CEO Douglas Anderson, Southwest Airline CEO Gary Kelly, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide CEO Frits van Paasschen, and Travelport CEO Gordon Wilson. The four industry leaders discussed and took questions from the audience on the prospects for business travel in the coming years and evolving business models. The popular Airline CEO session also returned, with insights into the current state of global aviation and hot topics such as ancillary fees and tarmac delays from Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan and Continental Airlines CEO Jeffery Smisek, who discussed the pending merger with United Airlines.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rich enlightened attendees with insights into current global affairs during the Monday General Session, and Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, spoke in Tuesday’s session about the value of travel, customer care, and the important role of passion in business success. Champion cyclist Lance Armstrong addressed delegates yesterday, sharing his inspiring story of perseverance and achievement despite challenges, as well as improving the world through active citizenship. He also told the audience he believes travel is all about personal interaction.

NBTA’s Banikowski commented, “The world is changing, and travel is changing with it. In discussions this week with industry icons, travel professionals, and leaders in politics, business, sport and social activism, it’s clear that corporate travel is necessary now more than ever. Travel is a ‘must’ to keep business moving forward around the world, and this week the corporate travel community came together to ensure it is accomplished as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

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 was held in Houston August 8-11, 2010.  More than 5,800 travel professionals took advantage of the Convention’s programming, designed to empower attendees to maximize value for their companies, including more than 65 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. 

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