Announcement Meets One of NBTA’s Major 2008 Government Affairs Goals
CONTACT: Caleb Tiller, +1 703-684-0836, ext. 138
Nicole Hayes, +1 703-684-0836, ext. 133
Alexandria, VA (April 25, 2008) -- The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) praised the announcement made today by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that it is expanding the Model Ports Initiative to 18 more of the nation’s largest gateway airports. The program, which was first implemented at George Bush Intercontinental in Houston (IAH) and Washington Dulles International (IAD), is designed to simultaneously improve border security and the experience of visitors entering the United States.
NBTA President & CEO, Kevin Maguire, CCTE, said, “The entry process is the first experience, and is therefore an important part of how visitors perceive any country. By expanding the Model Ports of Entry program, CBP will improve visitors’ experience and make the United States a more attractive place to visit and do business.”
NBTA has been an active supporter of Model Ports since the program’s inception, and made “Aggressive implementation of the Model Ports of Entry Program by CBP” one of its top recommendations for 2008 in its 2007 Business Travel Government Affairs Report Card and 2008 Recommendations.
Maguire added, “CBP’s announcement today that it will expand Model Ports to cover the nation’s 20 largest airports is a major victory for NBTA and for the global business travel community.”
Read CBP announcement.
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world’s premier business travel organization. U.S.-based NBTA and its regional subsidiaries – NBTA Asia Pacific, NBTA Canada and NBTA Mexico – serve more than 3,200 members in 30 nations around the globe. NBTA has 41 U.S. Chapters with more than 5,000 members. NBTA members are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than US$170 billion of global business travel expenditures annually. The association provides industry-leading networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.nbta.org.
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