To better reflect its international membership, the National Business Travel Association (NBTA), the world's largest association for corporate travel professionals, will change its name to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in 2011, it announced early this month at the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition in Houston.
"Our industry continues to evolve, and our jobs are evolving as well," NBTA President and CEO Craig Banikowski told members during the convention. "Just as we have all changed our thinking about our jobs in recent years, our association must shift its thinking. As your elected president and 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."
NBTA previously included operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States. Its name change comes just months after the formation of NBTA Europe, a consortium of seven NBTA chapters in Europe, which is the world's second largest business travel market.
"Today, NBTA encompasses six regional operations on four continents," said NBTA Executive Director Michael W. McCormick. "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."