When it comes to dealing with issues and policies affecting the corporate travel industry, the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) has given the U.S. government a C, it announced yesterday. The grade, given the day after President Barack Obama was sworn into office, is part of the association's "2008 Business Travel Government Affairs Report Card and 2009 Recommendations," which analyzes actions of industry importance taken by Congress and the Bush Administration in 2008 and offers recommendations for the new Congress and the new president for 2009.
"As a new U.S. Administration takes office this week, NBTA is pleased to offer this government affairs analysis and recommendations to Congress when considering legislations and proposed actions on issues vital to the corporate travel industry," NBTA Executive Director and COO Bill Connors said in a statement. "We look forward to working with the Obama Administration on these issues and others that may arise in the coming year, and are hopeful our concerns will be addressed to ensure the quality and safe facilitation of business travel."
In addition to an overall grade, NBTA gave the government three grades based on progress made in 2008 in three key categories: For international facilitation, it gave the government a B; for domestic facilitation, it gave the government a C+; and for economy and taxes, it gave the government a D.
Finally, NBTA graded the government as follows on a series of specific policy issues:
• Federal Aviation Administration Funding: D-
• International Registered Traveler: A-
• Terrorist Watch List and Passenger Redress: C
• Traveler Taxes: D
• Airline Performance and Aviation Congestion: C
• Visa Processing and the Visa Waiver Program: B
• Domestic U.S. Registered Traveler: C+
• Model Ports of Entry Program: D
• Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI): B
In 2009, NBTA will grade the government on at least two additional issues: energy and climate change, and transportation infrastructure.
For more information, visit
www.nbta.org.