CONTACT:
Caleb Tiller (NBTA) | 703-684-0836 Ext. 138
Cari L. Eggspuehler (BDA) | 415.732.3620
Alexandria, VA (April 27, 2005) – The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA) announced today the establishment of a relationship designed to engage NBTA members in equipping global executives with cutting-edge world citizenship tools for business travel abroad.
BDA will host and facilitate an intensive seminar during the 37th Annual NBTA Convention and Trade Show, August 14-17 in San Diego, on “Private Sector Public Diplomacy: Combating Rising Global Anti-American Sentiment." The session will be conducted by BDA Executive Director, Cari Eggspuehler. Eggspuehler, who prior to working with BDA spent a great deal of time overseas in her work with the U.S. Department of State, will outline for participants the business and economic impacts of anti-Americanism as well as detail related visa and public policy concerns and how business travelers, as well as the travel and tourism industry, can actively engage in private sector led public diplomacy activities.
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Pictured at the National Travel & Tourism Summit
(L) BDA E.D. Eggspuehler
(R) NBTA E.D. & COO Connors |
“The cooperation between Business for Diplomatic Action and the National Business Travel Association builds on both groups’ ongoing efforts and recent successes,” said Eggspuehler. “Last week, BDA president and DDB Worldwide Chairman, Keith Reinhard, addressed senior executives from leading travel and tourism companies and high ranking government officials at the third annual National Travel & Tourism Summit, issuing a call to action for the travel and tourism industry to engage and take the lead in public diplomacy efforts.”
“By gathering and issuing a call to action we recognize that this is not about putting America back on a pedestal, but about reforming our approach to the world, influencing behavior first, and only then affecting perception in the long term by our influence and example. Who better to lead this charge, to empower and encourage a global mindset, than the talented men and women of the travel and tourism industry who are truly at the front lines of this issue each and every day?” noted Reinhard in his closing remarks at the Summit.
The National Travel & Tourism Summit, an annual event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Chamber Foundation and the Travel Business Roundtable, and sponsored by NBTA, this year focused on the role of the travel industry in “Redefining America at Home and Abroad” while engaging in public policy issues such as impending visa restrictions.
The addition of the BDA seminar to the NBTA Convention and Trade Show comes as NBTA serves as the voice of corporate travel in Washington on several recent changes in visa and passport policies for traveling to and from the United States.
NBTA President and CEO, Carol A. Devine, said, “As the advocate for the corporate travel industry, NBTA has long supported U.S. policy that ensures safe, secure, free-flowing travel to and from the United States. Now we are working with Business for Diplomatic Action to expand upon on our advocacy to offer education for the corporate travel industry, creating a comprehensive, layered approach to public policy issues that impact our industry.”
About Business for Diplomatic Action
Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA) is an initiative directed by a task force of preeminent global communications, marketing, political science, research, media, and multi-national corporate executives. BDA aims to engage and mobilize American companies and individuals to the need to become better global citizens, and to enlist the US business community in specific actions and initiatives aimed at measurably improving the standing of America in the world. For more information on Business for Diplomatic Action, visit www.businessfordiplomaticaction.org.
About NBTA
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 2,500 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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