Paragon Partners Accept Finnish Business Travel Association as Member
CONTACT
Alexandria, VA (April 6, 2004) – Members of the Paragon Partnership, the global alliance of business travel associations of which NBTA is a founding member, met last week at the site of the ITM International Conference in Wales, UK. During the meeting, the Partners unanimously accepted as a new member the Finnish Business Travel Association (FBTA).
The Paragon Agreement was signed at the 2002 NBTA Annual Convention with the goal to expand research, education, and networking opportunities for the business travel professional on a global scale. Since its inception, the Partnership has grown to include eight business travel associations from all parts of the world. FBTA is the first industry group from the Scandinavian region to join the Alliance.
“We are very pleased to welcome our colleagues from Finland into the Paragon Partnership,” said NBTA Executive Director and COO, Bill Connors. “They add a valuable perspective of the business travel issues in the Scandinavian region to this international industry group. By building closer relationships with our counterparts abroad, NBTA will continue to meet the evolving global needs of our members and the entire business travel community.”
Founded in 1984, FBTA is an organization of business travel management professionals who currently manage total travel expenditures of about 1 billion Euros per year. FBTA’s mission is to enhance knowledge and skills required in the field of corporate travel management and procurement, as well as to improve the business and legislative environment for the industry.
“Globalization of travel management requires deeper understanding of possibilities and limitations related to different market places,” said Jutta Luoma, FBTA Managing Director. “Cooperation with other business travel associations of the Paragon Partnership is essential for developing opportunities for our members to broaden their perspective and strengthen their professionalism.”
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,400 corporate travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry.
The Paragon Partnership is a global alliance of business travel associations, including the industry groups of Australasia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Finland, Germany, UK and USA. Together, the Paragon Partners represent more than 4,350 business travel buyers and suppliers, who manage and direct more than $190 billion USD, which translates to more than €150 billion or £100 billion. More at www.paragon-partnership.com
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