The Nbta Is Hosting Its International Convention This Month. What Makes It Stand Out As The Premier Business Travel Event?

NBTA is known as the leading industry association for many reasons — the unprecedented education, the invaluable resources and the most extensive networking events. The annual convention brings thousands of corporate travel professionals together under one roof to share best practices, check out new innovations and learn about current trends.

Corporate travel is ever-changing, and NBTA must adapt to help our colleagues understand those changes. This year is no exception, with a dramatic shift in corporate travel due to the recession; companies have tightened policies and contained costs in all areas of travel and entertainment. Now that we’re seeing economic recovery, employees are back in the skies, but the stricter codes are sticking. This year, NBTA is focusing on providing travel managers with the resources to help them navigate the rules of the new economy.

Explain What Nbta Does And How Our Readers Can Become Involved In Their Local Chapters.

NBTA connects the global corporate travel community. Along with our international affiliates — NBTA Australia/New Zealand, NBTA Canada, NBTA Europe, NBTA Mexico and the Brazilian Business Travel Association — we represent more than 5,000 corporate travel managers and service providers who collectively manage more than $340 billion in expenditures within the business travel industry, primarily for Fortune 1000 companies. NBTA monitors developments in the business travel field and provides time-sensitive research and critical industry information. The association also takes the industry’s story to the media and the public, and represents corporate travel interests on Capitol Hill.

Our 40 chapters across the United States provide regionally specific services and support the industry at the grass-roots level. Chapter members can take advantage of regionally focused education and networking events, participate in local community efforts, earn professional development scholarships and more. Your readers can visit www.nbta.org to find a local chapter.

Nbta Conducts Travel-related Research. Can You Share Some Of The Latest Findings?

Recent data highlights the return of business travel in 2010. A survey of U.S.-based corporate travel managers revealed that travel spend on average was up 1.5 percent from Q1 2009 and 2.8 percent from Q4 2009 to the first quarter of 2010. More than 40 percent of respondents reported more trips being taken, and 25 percent said lower negotiated rates were also a factor.

We also surveyed corporate travel managers on the effects of one of the largest crises to hit our industry since 9/11 — volcanic ash. Across the roughly 2,000 companies represented in the survey, more than 310,000 travelers experienced travel disruptions, costing the companies more than $367 million collectively. Seventy-six percent of affected companies secured hotel stays for stranded travelers, and 62 percent made alternative travel arrangements such as a chartered plane or bus. Travel managers also provided emergency funding for displaced travelers (35 percent) and adjusted policies or caps on expense reimbursement (23 percent).

Tell Us About Your Career In The Travel Industry.

I was a flight attendant who never flew, furloughed by a fuel crisis. I moved into travel agency management and made a jump to corporate travel. I am currently employed by Hilton Worldwide to develop and implement a global travel program to include traditional, online and automated expense reporting.

As an active member of NBTA, I served on the ground transportation task force; was the inaugural chair of the global risk management committee; and was president of the Los Angeles, Rocky Mountain and Southern Colorado chapters.