The world’s largest network of business travel professionals – now known as the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) – announced today that it will change its name next year to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). The announcement was made during the first general session of the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition – The Business Travel Event of the YearSM – being held this week in Houston.

NBTA President & CEO, Craig Banikowski, CCTE, C.P.M., CMM, laid out the vision for the organization’s future: “Our industry continues to evolve, and our jobs are evolving as well. Just as we have all changed our thinking about our jobs in recent years, our association must shift its thinking. As your elected President & CEO, my primary strategic focus is taking NBTA from being a national organization to being a truly global business group that gives you seamless access to best-in-class resources, information, and the global network you need -- anytime, anyplace.”

The NBTA network previously included operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Earlier this year NBTA Europe was formed in partnership with seven groups across the continent, providing NBTA members an expanded network of peers and colleagues in the second largest business travel market.

Michael W. McCormick, NBTA Executive Director & COO, said, “Today, NBTA encompasses six regional operations on four continents. We have customers in more than 30 countries who serve millions of business travelers worldwide. In 2011, our name will officially change as we become the Global Business Travel Association, or GBTA.”

McCormick went on to tell attendees that association members would have opportunities to provide input to help shape the new GBTA brand: “From graphics to member benefits, your ideas will help determine the new look and feel of a newly-energized organization.”

About the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition | Widely recognized as the must-attend event for business travel buyers, suppliers, industry leaders and business travel journalists, the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition is taking place in Houston August 8-11, 2010. More than 5,600 travel professionals will take advantage of the Convention’s programming, designed to empower attendees to maximize value for their companies, including more than 65 seminars on the most important topics in business travel, more than 400 companies exhibiting in the Expo and countless opportunities for networking with peers. For details, visit .

About GBTA

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premiere business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area and serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global travel business and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information visit gbta.org.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information visit gbtafoundation.org.

Nicole Hayes
Assistant Manager, Communications
(703) 236-1133
GBTA