Travel Managers Stress Significance of Travel to the Economy
CONTACT: Caleb Tiller | 703-684-0836 ext. 38
Washington, DC (May 20, 2004) -- Over the last week, members and staff of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) have met with high-level administration officials to express the support of corporate travel managers for effective security measures that minimize negative impact on travel and for funding based on the importance of travel security to national security.
“NBTA is actively meeting with the most important figures in government and testifying before Congressional committees to convey corporate travel managers’ views on the importance of balancing travel security with convenience and of funding travel security without stifling travel” said NBTA President and CEO Carol A. Devine, CCTE. “As the leading advocate for corporate travel managers, we leverage each opportunity to explain the importance of business travel to our economy and the value of governmental support for secure travel.”
Tuesday, NBTA met with Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Karan Bhatia. Bhatia provided insight on the global aviation industry and NBTA members asked questions and voiced concerns held by corporate travel managers. The meeting, open to all NBTA members, was attended by more than 60 corporate travel managers and representatives of travel supplier companies.
NBTA leadership heard from Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, in advance of NBTA’s testimony last week before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (see May 14 press release). The discussion with Ridge took place at an event co-hosted by NBTA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Chamber Foundation and the Travel Business Roundtable.
Speakers at the National Travel and Tourism Summit -- Securing the Future of Travel and Tourism -- included cabinet-level officials Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge; Secretary of Transportation, Norman Y. Mineta; Secretary of State, Collin Powell; and Secretary of the Interior, Gail Norton. Also speaking at the event were Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND); Representative Harold Rogers (R-KY); U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Thomas J. Donohue; and Travel Business Roundtable Chairman and Loews Hotels CEO, Jonathan M. Tisch. NBTA was represented by Devine; Executive Director and COO, Bill Connors, CTC; and Director, Information & Legislative Services, Eugene Laney, Ph.D.
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.
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