Welcome back to Connecting News, NBTA's monthly electronic newsletter connecting NBTA members with unique industry perspectives and the latest news and benefits from NBTA. After a brief hiatus, Connecting News is back with a fresh new look, and it will now be released monthly, instead of bi-monthly, to provide you with more news and information than ever before.
September 2007 Issue:
Return to Connecting News Homepage
New NBTA President Highlights Goals and Priorities
By Kevin Maguire
NBTA President & CEO
In voting that closed at the NBTA International Convention & Exposition in July, NBTA members elected as President & CEO of the association Kevin Maguire, CCTE, Director of Travel, The Expedition Development Company, Inc. Connecting News caught up with Maguire and asked him to outline his priorities for his two years at the helm of NBTA.
As president, I look forward to making NBTA even more effective for its members. I will do so by keeping the organization focused on five major priorities I outlined in the election: education, global presence, government relations, buyer-supplier partnerships and Chapters.
Continue Reading
Battery Restrictions on Passenger Aircraft for the Road Warrior
By George Kerchner
Portable Rechargeable Battery Association
In 1991, lithium-ion batteries did not even exist. By 2006, more than 2.2 billion lithium-ion cells were manufactured worldwide. These numbers are impressive. But why do battery-industry statistics matter to corporate travel departments and business travelers? The answer is simple: Every tool in the road warrior’s tool belt—the notebook computer, the cellular phones, Blackberries and Bluetooth technology—is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries fueled a consumer electronics revolution that has boosted corporate productivity and allowed the road warrior to conduct business anywhere and at any time. Like the attaché case or electronic ticketing, lithium-ion batteries are indispensable to the 21st century business traveler. As a result, corporate travel experts may want to monitor regulation of lithium-ion batteries that impact the business travel industry.
Continue Reading
NBTA Sponsors Can/Am Border Trade Alliance Conference
NBTA and NBTA Canada members attended the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance Conference, "Canadian/U.S. Border: A Unified Focus," held September 9-11 in Washington, D.C. NBTA once again sponsored the key note speaker luncheon, this year featuring Canadian Ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson. Ambassador Wilson touched on the differences of opinion about border control Canada and the United States share; however, he went on to say that differences of opinion are common among family members, comparing the U.S. and Canada to a family, looking out for one another's best interests.
Continue Reading
Member Benefit Spotlight:
Managed Travel Index & Benchmarking Tool
NBTA Foundation's Managed Travel Index® & Benchmarking Tool can provide valuable data for your entire managed travel program.
The MTI® allows you to compare your program against others in your like industry, travel volume and/or geography.
The Benchmarking Tool provides onboard fare and performance information for specific airlines and city-pairs that you select, as well as hotel room and occupancy rates across city and regional markets.
The MTI®& Benchmarking Tool is available to NBTA Members FREE through September 30, and annual subscriptions are being offered at a discounted cost through September 30, as well.
Visit www.benchmarking.travel for details.