CTE at Sea to Take Place Onboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas
Caleb Tiller , 703-684-0836, ext. 138
Courtney Leigh Beisel , 703-684-0836, ext. 133
Alexandria, VA (April 13, 2006) – The National Business Travel Association (NBTA), the leading provider of education and resources to the corporate travel industry, is pleased to announce it will host its Fundamentals of Business Travel Management course onboard the latest addition to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ fleet, Freedom of the Seas, May 19-21. The Fundamentals of Business Travel Management is specifically designed for professionals new to the discipline or those interested in learning more about corporate travel management. The May offering of the course will be on board one of the inaugural sailings of Freedom of the Seas, which the largest cruise ship in the world.
Suzanne Fletcher, President and CEO of NBTA, commented, “The Fundamentals of Business Travel is the first level of education in NBTA’s three-tiered travel management professional development track. This course is ideal for those new to business travel management or considering a career in the field, professionals from the meeting planning or procurement/purchasing areas of a company who work closely with their travel management colleagues, industry suppliers wanting to better understand the needs and motivations of the customers to whom they sell, and travel agents considering a career change or a shift in their business model.”
Material covered in the Fundamentals of Business Travel Management focuses on maximizing cost containment strategies, improving productivity, creating a managed travel culture within a company, ensuring traveler safety and security, developing travel policies and calculating the return on investment for a managed travel program. Upon successful completion of the coursework and exam associated with the Fundamentals of Business Travel Management, participants will receive a certificate and designation as a Corporate Travel Executive (CTE). The CTE on the Freedom of the Seas offering of NBTA’s Fundamentals course will be led by Carol Ann Salcito, President and Owner of Management Alternatives, Inc., a leading travel management consulting firm.
Freedom of the Seas holds up to 3,634 people and features ample meeting and conference space, themed restaurants, casino and spa facilities. The cruise for Fundamentals of Business Travel Management, part of a series of inaugural voyages for the ship, will sail from Boston.
“This offering of the Fundamentals of Business Travel Management adds an extra bonus for attendees,” remarked Fletcher. “Participants not only have the opportunity to learn about travel management and network with their peers, but also have a chance to explore Freedom of the Seas in one of its inaugural voyages.”
Participants will take one module of the required Fundamentals coursework while aboard the ship. Class work will be held the afternoon of May 19 (2 – 4 pm) and the morning of May 20 (9 am – 1 pm). The rest of the time will be available to explore the many exciting features of Freedom of the Seas. CTE on the Freedom of the Seas participants will automatically be enrolled in the online course to complete the additional two modules.
The cost to participate is $450 for NBTA Members and NBTA Chapter Direct Members and $550 for non-members. The cost includes two nights lodging; all food, beverages and onboard activities (except use of the casino and spa); and the cost for the Fundamentals course (normally $350). The cost for taking the CTE exam is an additional charge of $100.
For more information or to register for the CTE at Sea, please visit http://www.nbta.org/Education/Fundamentals/CTEatSea.htm. For information on Freedom of the Seas, visit http://www.freedomoftheseas.com.
Additional upcoming offerings The Fundamentals of Business Travel Management include the following:
June 13-14 – Cincinnati, Ohio
June 25 -26 – In conjunction with the 2006 National Travel Forum; Los Angels
July 15-16 – In conjunction with the NBTA 38th Annual International Convention & Exposition; Chicago
Please visit www.nbta.org/Education/Fundamentals for details and registration.
Members of the media interested in participating in any of the offerings of the Fundamentals of Business Travel Management should contact Caleb Tiller at pr@nbta.org or 703-684-0836, ext. 138. Availability is limited, so NBTA will work with interested reporters on a case-by-case basis.
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 2,700 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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