The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) closed its 37th Annual Convention and Trade Show today with record-breaking numbers…
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) closed its 37th Annual Convention and Trade Show today with record-breaking numbers for attendees, exhibitors and exhibitor space sold. More than 5,200 corporate travel professionals attended the four-day conference, 1,200 of whom were corporate travel buyers.
In the trade show, 417 exhibiting companies showcased their products and services in 102,100 net square feet of exhibition space. During the convention, NBTA sold 99,900 square feet of exhibit space for next year`s NBTA International Convention and Exposition, which will be held July 16-19, 2006, in Chicago. Hilton Hotels, SkyTeam, One World Alliance and Star Alliance have reserved the largest spaces among the 95 percent already sold to exhibitors.
Suzanne Fletcher, NBTA President and CEO, commented, The overwhelming success of this year`s show is a true testament to the value of a managed travel program in corporate America. NBTA`s members will return to work this week with fresh ideas and methods for more efficiently managing travel purchases and policies. Most importantly, attendees are better prepared to serve the nation`s road warriors and drive value for their companies.
Among the highlights of the event were keynote speeches delivered by Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania and first Secretary of Homeland Security, on the current state of security and its impact on travel, Deborah Norville, host of Inside Edition, on finding a balance between professional and personal responsibilities, and John Major, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, on the global economy. The hot topics at the convention included the Registered Traveler Program and protecting travelers in the event of a catastrophic event.
Fletcher added, The NBTA 2006 International Convention & Exposition is just 11 months away, and NBTA`s staff and members are making preparations to surpass the bar set at this year`s convention. With 95 percent of the show floor already reserved, it looks like we are on our way to another record-breaking year. We look forward to providing NBTA`s valued members with even more beneficial education seminars and networking functions in Chicago in 2006.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
