NBTA 2007 - One for the Record Books
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From the opening reception at the Boston Public Library, to the LA stylings of the closing reception, the 2007 NBTA International Convention & Exposition took attendees on a tour that went coast-to-coast and beyond. The days were packed with opportunities to learn and network, and the evenings were filled with good eats, good music, good dancing, and good fun. |
As always, the NBTA crowd seemed to take advantage of every opportunity – developing relationships, learning about the latest product and service developments, and gaining insights into the newest industry trends – all so they can go home and drive the best value for their companies. The biggest difference, it seemed, was that the whole event was bigger than ever. Some numbers of note from the 2007 NBTA Convention:
• More than 6,200 total attendees
• More than 1,450 buyer attendees
• 450 participants attended the First Timer’s luncheon
• 38 countries represented, with more than 470 attendees from outside the United States
• 436 exhibitors
The historic city of Boston was the perfect setting for the history-making Convention. It has been 19 years since NBTA hosted a Convention in Boston, and in nearly two decades the event has grown by leaps and bounds. In 1988, the conference drew nearly 1,500 total attendees to Boston. This year, that many buyers attended the NBTA Convention.
| For many, the Convention started on Saturday, with pre-Convention course offerings in all three of NBTA’s professional development programs – the Fundamentals of Business Travel Management/CTE, the Certified Corporate Travel Executive (CCTE), and the Global Leadership Professional (GLP). The three-tiered offerings are designed to meet professional development needs at every step of a corporate travel professional’s career. Congratulations to the 58 corporate travel professionals who graduated from the CCTE program, and to the 18 participants who earned Certificates of Professional Development upon completion of GLP coursework while at the Convention. And, kudos to everyone who extended their convention experience in order to advance their careers! If you did not have a chance to take part in pre-Convention education, and you’d like to learn about other opportunities to complete these NBTA’s professional development programs, please visit www.nbta.org/education. |
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Also during pre-Convention, the NBTA Foundation also revealed and demonstrated its upgraded Managed Travel Index® (MTI) & Benchmarking Tool. Participants learned about the tools new capabilities to benchmark average airfares in specific top ten markets against those of peers and to assess the maturity level of companies’ travel risk management programs to determine where resources should be applied. To access the upgraded tool or to sign up, visit www.benchmarking.travel.
On Sunday, the NBTA Foundation held its Inaugural Golf Classic on at the Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Over one hundred and thirty of the industry’s most influential business travel leaders and executives joined us for a day of championship level golf to tee off the Convention. That evening, the opening reception at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square gave attendees a taste of the city’s history, culture, and hospitality. The gorgeous building was transformed into much more than a library, with live music and culinary treats sprinkled throughout.
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The next three days were packed with more than 40 breakout education sessions, thought-provoking general sessions, and exhilarating hours exploring the Exposition. The halls buzzed with discussions on everything from how to effectively implement strategic meetings management practices to the financial implications of green travel initiatives to travel taxes to the Next Generation Air Transportation System. Attendees filled sessions on topics such as corporate social responsibility, risk management, benchmarking, procurement best practices, business travel in China, business travel in India, air payment systems, and alliance contracting. Web casts of many of these sessions are available for attendees online via www.nbta.org. All attendees should have received a username and password (not the normal nbta.org login) required to access the session archives. If you have not received your username and password, please contact the NBTA Education Department at educate@nbta.org. |
| Awards were presented throughout the Convention to NBTA members who provide leadership and vision within NBTA and are exceedingly dedicated to the advancement of the corporate travel industry. The Industry Icon Award, NBTA’s highest honor, was presented to Scott Solombrino, President & CEO of Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network. The President's Award, presented each year by the NBTA President to recognize the outstanding contributions of an NBTA Direct Member, went to Carol Devine, CCTE, Director of Strategic Sourcing, BNSF Railway Company; and Monisa Cline, Staff Vice President of North American Sales for Continental Airlines, received the Allied Member of the Year Award. |
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In General Sessions, attendees gained insights from thought leaders such as airline industry legends Gordon Bethune, Chair of Aloha Airgroup & Former CEO of Continental Airlines and Bob Crandall, Former President & Chair of American Airlines. With moderator Peter Greenberg, Moderator & Emmy Award Winning Travel Journalist, Crandall and Bethune shared their insights into what currently plagues the aviation industry, and what needs to be done to fix it. General Colin Powell, Former U.S. Secretary of State, shared his insights based on years of military and world leadership, including his thoughts on the important role business travel plays in making the world a better place. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author and Presidential Historian, spoke about leadership, drawing from her extensive research, including her most recent best-selling book on President Lincoln. |
| All three days, the Exposition was buzzing. With high traffic volumes and plenty of good vibes to go around, the nearly 1,500 travel manager attendees were able to meet with current suppliers and establish relationships with potential new partners – learning about the latest product and service offerings from both. Members were also able to attend the Technology Pavilion, where dozens of exhibitors provided short demonstrations in a relaxed no-sales environment. Some of the biggest newsmakers at this year’s NBTA Exposition were: |
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• New airline seats and interiors, with “lie-flat” being the buzzword
• New hybrid vehicle options from ground transportation companies
• New ways for travelers to book travel and access travel information using hand-held devices
• The expansion of content available in online booking tools
• New travel management technologies and integration of existing technologies, including several developed through multi-company partnerships
And how did all that news get out there beyond the show floor? Through the NBTA Convention Online Press Room and through the reporters who were in attendance at the event. More than 60 exhibitor press releases were posted to the NBTA Convention Online Press Room this year, and each one was included in the Live from the NBTA Convention email, which went to all attendees, all non-attending members of NBTA, and about 600 reporters. To review those announcements, see http://pressroom.nbtaconvention.org. More than 80 journalists attended the 2007 NBTA Convention, representing leading consumer publications such as the Wall Street Journal, USAToday.com, MSN Money, and the Globe and Mail, as well as business publications such as Forbes.com, the Boston Business Journal, and Purchasing Magazine, plus a wide variety of travel industry trade publications.
On Wednesday, after NBTA election polls closed, NBTA welcomed Kevin Maguire, CCTE, Director of Travel for The Expedition Development Company, Inc., as the new President & CEO. Michael W. Lyons, CCTE, Travel Manager, HSBC, was elected as Vice President. NBTA Direct Members also elected two NBTA Directors at Large. NBTA Allied Members (travel suppliers) elected Sean McCurdy, Global Director - Worldwide Sales, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, to serve as Allied Member Director at Large. McCurdy is the first Allied Member elected to the Board after the association's bylaws were changed to add elected Allied seats.
Even after dozens of invitation receptions and parties held Monday and Tuesday evening, Wednesday’s closing reception managed to be a party to remember. With paparazzi, sunglasses, music, and dancing, the closing reception set the tone for the 2008 NBTA Convention, to be held in Los Angeles July 27-30.
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Thank you to all NBTA attendees and exhibitors, who made the 2007 NBTA Convention such a success. And a very special thank you to our Sponsors whose generous support makes this event possible. We look forward to seeing you next year, in the entertainment capital of the world. With the Hollywood Hills in the background and a breeze off the ocean, it’s certain to be the Business Travel Industry Event of the Year!
 View more photos from Boston
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