CONTACT: Caleb Tiller | 703-684-0836 Ext. 138
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| Tom Ridge speaks at press conference during NBTA Convention and Trade Show |
San Diego, CA (August 16, 2005) -- Tom Ridge, first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and former Governor of Pennsylvania, today praised the National Business Travel Association’s (NBTA) advocacy efforts in support of a national Registered Traveler program that would offer expedited security screening to air travelers who undergo voluntary pre-screening.
Speaking today during NBTA’s 37th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Ridge emphasized the importance of travel security programs that support the conduct of commerce. He said, “We have a job to in a post-9/11 world to make our country safer, to make it more secure, but to do it in a way that does not compromise our need to be connected globally and does not compromise our need to make sure we do everything we can to expedite domestic and international interaction of economies, people and services.”
Today during a General Session of the NBTA Convention, Ridge encouraged members of NBTA to continue their support of a Registered Traveler program. “You have a special interest in promoting safe, secure and expedited business travel,” he said. “It’s important to you; it’s important to your companies; it’s important to the country, because it’s about business.”
The NBTA Convention and Trade Show is taking place August 14-17, in San Diego. The event is the premier corporate travel industry gathering of the year. More than 5,200 attendees are taking advantage of more than 50 seminars and industry-leading networking opportunities, driving travel value for companies around the world.
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 and government travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.
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