The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) applauded the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation for holding hearings to address the continued success of the travel and tourism industry, as well as the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). NBTA has been an industry leader in advocating for Congressional support of travel and tourism and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, both issues vital to the enhancement of the corporate travel community and success of the U.S. economy as a whole.

Travel professionals from across the United States testified before the Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion, led by Chairman Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ranking Member Mel Martinez (R-FL), on the importance of corporate travel to communities throughout the nation. Panelists advocated for the promotion of corporate meetings and incentive events, highlighting the economic impact business travel has local hospitality venues and jobs.

Senator Klobuchar said in a statement, “Most business travel is essential to doing business - and succeeding at business. As we know, the highly-publicized excesses of a few bad actors have discouraged many companies from spending on meetings and events, even when they know it’s not in their best interests. There are ways for businesses to conduct meetings and events in a way that is responsible and productive. We need to do what we can to encourage companies to spend on travel again – in an ethical, acceptable manner – so these investments can pay off for individual businesses and for the travel industry.”

Bill Connors, CTC, NBTA Executive Director & COO, said, “NBTA research shows that the business travel industry supports more than three million American jobs, proving that a decline in corporate travel has the potential to harm millions of hard-working citizens. As we heard at the Committee hearing today, many Americans have already lost their jobs as corporate events are cancelled across the country, and local economies have suffered as a result. NBTA is encouraged by today’s Senate interest in preserving the integrity and vitality of the business travel and meetings industry, and we look forward to working with Congress to ensure business travel continues to boost the U.S. and global economy.”

At a second Committee hearing yesterday, aviation professionals testified before the Subcommittee on Aviation, Operations, Safety and Security, chaired by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and joined by Ranking Member Jim DeMint (R-SC), on the importance of FAA Reauthorization. Prior to the hearing, NBTA sent Committee members a letter praising the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009” (HR 915), outlining provisions with which the association is pleased and offering advice for others. See Letter

In the letter, NBTA offers support for:
- Swift implementation of NextGen
- Airline disclosure of flight delays and cancellations frequency and reasoning
- Quiet in-flight communications technology use

NBTA urges the committee to consider provisions on:
- Reversing regulations that deny travelers a refund of unused airline ticket excise taxes

NBTA is concerned about provisions on:
- Increasing the cap on passenger facility charges
- Sunsetting antitrust immunity for global airline alliances

Kevin Maguire, CCTE, GLP, NBTA President & CEO, wrote in the letter, “There is a consensus among the business travel community, the aviation community, and in the FAA itself, that the failure to complete a reauthorization bill has hindered the agency, delaying progress on important programs such as the NextGen system. We congratulate the [House Transportation and Infrastructure] Committee for its early consideration of the FAA reauthorization bill and urge the full House and Senate to send effective legislation to President Obama as soon as possible.”