Welcome to Connecting News, NBTA's monthly electronic newsletter connecting NBTA members with unique industry perspectives and the latest news and benefits from NBTA.
December 2008 Issue:
Return to Connecting News Home Page
Business Travel Experts Weigh In on What to Expect in 2009
As the global economy continues to slow and with the New Year right around the corner, corporate travel professionals are gearing up for an unpredictable year in business travel costs and volume. To help in the finalization of budgets and to provide an outlook for 2009, NBTA recently hosted an online seminar offering industry insights and expectations for how the economy may fare in the coming year and beyond.
While panelists admitted that times were tough and actions must be taken to weather the economic storm, all were relatively positive about the future for world economies and global business travel.
Continue Reading
Return to Top
Travel, Meetings, Procurement Continue to Converge
The largest categories of indirect spend for corporations, travel and meetings are also among the more complex types of service spends. The past several years have seen a merging of travel and meetings into the overall umbrella of procurement, bringing both benefits and challenges.
“It’s been happening now for several years and we expect to see it accelerate,” says NBTA member Ralph Colunga, senior director of travel, meetings, and support services for Oracle, based in Rockland, California. His department has been part of procurement since he started about three and a half years ago. “The trend is to always be looking to obtain the best value,” he says. “That means transparency in all you do, greater control and standardization, dealing with risk mitigation, and progressing metrics.”
Continue Reading
Return to Top
Travel Managers Practice Risk Management During Security Incidents in Asia
Travel Risk Management programs across the globe kicked into action last month in response to two major security incidents in the Asia Pacific region. Terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, targeting international travelers at business hotels, and political protests at two major international airports in Bangkok, Thailand, frightened and stranded thousands of business travelers, who were turned to their corporate travel managers for help.
In an NBTA survey conducted within a week of the incidents, 15 percent of the 193 international travel managers surveyed had travelers or local employees directly affected in Mumbai, and more than 50 percent had travelers that were indirectly impacted by a change in travel plans, cancellations or delays, or other inconveniences.
Continue Reading
Return to Top
Member Benefit Spotlight:
NBTA and ISM Summit on Travel & Meetings
Mark your calendar and begin making plans today to attend the first-ever ISM and NBTA Summit on Travel & Meetings: Supply Management’s Critical Role. This unique event will be held January 27-28, 2009 at the Westin Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The conference will focus on the challenges associated with the complex task of managing travel and meetings in today's uncertain economy.
For more information about the event and registration details, visit www.ism-nbta.org.
Return to Top
New Members
Please join us in welcoming NBTA's newest members.
Members on the Move
Congratulations to NBTA members who have recently received a promotion or taken a new position.
Return to Top