More than 400 Travel Professionals Expected to Participate in Event
Caleb Tiller, 703-684-0836, ext. 138
Courtney Leigh Beisel, 703-684-0836, ext. 133
Sao Paulo, Brazil (January 24, 2006) -- The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and the Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV) are pleased to announced the overwhelming response to the first annual Latin America Corporate Travel and Technology Exchange (LACTTE), held February 6-8 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This first-of-its-kind event is expected to bring together more than 400 corporate travel managers and suppliers, 250 of whom are already registered, from the United States and Latin America for education and networking opportunities.
NBTA President and CEO Suzanne Fletcher remarked, “Latin America is one of the fastest growing business markets in the world, representing a real opportunity for American businesses to expand operations. As business operations expand into new regions, so do the responsibilities of corporate travel managers. This conference is an excellent opportunity for travel managers to enhance their skills in order to drive travel programs more efficiently and effectively in Latin America.”
The conference will offer eleven education sessions, featuring more than 40 international business travel experts from the United States and Latin America, on topics including finance and procurement, technology and latest industry trends. In addition to these education sessions, attendees will participate in three general sessions. Speakers for the general conference sessions include Fletcher, Vivianne Martins, President of ABGEV, and Kevin Iwamoto, Global Airline, Car, Corporate Card & Ground Commodity Manager for Hewlett Packard, as well as other renowned business leaders from Brazil and the United States. The conference will also include a technology showcase highlighting the products and services of ten leading technology providers from the U.S. and Brazil. Each showcased product is aimed at improving global travel management processes and the productivity of business travelers.
Fletcher commented, “We’re pleased to be partnering with ABGEV for the Latin America Corporate Travel and Technology Conference. Combining the resources of two leading business travel associations ensures that attendees of this conference will receive the best educational value possible. Taking on global responsibilities is a challenge for travel managers, especially with cultural nuances and varying markets. This conference will help all attendees, both buyers and suppliers, learn how to successfully maneuver these challenges to achieve corporate objectives in Latin America.”
Martins added, “The overwhelming response from travel professionals from Brazil, the United States and other Latin American countries is an indication of the promise of the region and the need for educational opportunities to help companies better operate in the Latin American business market. ABGEV and NBTA are pleased to be the first business travel associations to offer a conference of this magnitude to the corporate travel community and look forward to future collaborations.”
U.S.-based travel managers, travel suppliers and members of the media interested in learning more about LACTTE should visit www.nbta.org/Education/LACTTE2006.htm or contact 703-684-0836 for more information.
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 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.
About ABGEV
ABGEV is the business travel association representing buyers and suppliers from the business travel community in South America. Before its official launch in 2003, it existed for more than 10 years as an informal group of travel managers providing business travel benchmarking. ABGEV’s goals include growth and improvement of the business travel industry in Brazil and development of strong relationships between all players in the corporate travel market. ABGEV has about 150 members managing more than $200 million USD in annual travel expenditures, and representing about 20% of the Brazilian business travel market. For more information, visit www.abgev.org.br.
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