NBTA Europe Sets Out Member Proposition
Wednesday 06 January 2010
Buyer-led Network Focuses on Valuable Tools
NBTA Europe, the new buyer-led European network created to provide information and networking to professionals in the business travel and meetings industry, has announced a suite of member benefits for 2010/11.
In 2010, all members of NBTA Europe partner associations are to receive membership of the network on a complimentary basis as part of the benefits of becoming a founding partner of the new network.
Members are to receive access to resources and tools, such as:-
NBTA Europe Research & Reports –NBTA Europe will provide statistics, figures and analysis to help members see their way through the travel and meetings maze.
Project ICARUS – Through the network’s collaboration with ITM, all network members will have full access to Project ICARUS papers and tools on all aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR). From papers on measuring and managing emissions to guidance on duty of care, the ICARUS toolkit offers the latest information right now. Those managing travel and meetings programmes can also seek accreditation to demonstrate their credentials, whilst suppliers can enter the ICARUS Awards and gain recognition for CSR product innovations.
The Benchmarking Tool – NBTA is planning to invest in a brand new, European benchmarking tool to allow buyers with European programmes to measure their programme success compared to peer organisations.
Globally Recognised Education and Training - The creation of NBTA Europe as part of NBTA's global network of business travel organizations means NBTA's multi-tiered professional development programs -- including CTE, CCTE, and GLP -- will now be available and recognized worldwide.
Access to Special Interest Groups (SIG) - In the U.S, NBTA special interest groups such as the Government Travel Group (GTG) and the Sports Task Force connect business travel professionals working in key niches within the industry. NBTA Europe will build on this principle, starting with a pan-European Government Travel Group (e-GTG) to discuss government buying principles across European cultures.
Networking Tools - With nearly 2,000 members expected, NBTA Europe is the largest European network of travel and meeting industry professionals. With plans to create an online, interactive directory and the use of social networking tools across NBTA Europe groups, the use of this network will provide efficient ways of working with other European business travel and meetings professionals.
In addition, the network is planning to create a number of events throughout the calendar year, with a conference planned in Europe in the autumn. Members will have reduced rate access to these events and partner events like the NBTA annual convention in August and ITM’s “The Journey” conference in May.
Talking about the suite of member benefits, NBTA managing director and CEO of ITM, Paul Tilstone, said, ”An association’s success is based solely upon what it can do for its members. The NBTA Europe network is no different and we have some great plans on tools and resources to make membership of the network the must-have item for anyone with responsibility for European purchasing or supply of travel and meeting services.”.
Resources and tools are to be provided through the sharing of existing tools of the founding partners for the first time in Europe and the creation of new tools through the investment of the NBTA Foundation. Talking about that investment, Mike McCormick, Executive Director and COO of NBTA, said, "NBTA’s investment in Europe is an indication of just how serious we are about creating solutions for the business travel industry globally. The collaboration of NBTA and these European partners really does create something greater than the sum of its parts as far as useful tools are concerned."
About NBTA Europe
NBTA Europe is the only buyer-led business travel and meetings industry network across Europe. The network is part of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA), the world’s premier business travel and corporate meetings organisation, with a role to lead debate, networking, education, advocacy, events and innovation in the business travel and meetings sector. NBTA Europe represents more than 2,000 regional corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers. Members of the network collectively manage and direct more than €100 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually on behalf of more than 3 million business travelers within their organisations.
NBTA Europe is powered by the Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM). For more information, visit www.nbtaeurope.org
About NBTA
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and corporate meetings organisation. NBTA and its regional affiliates – NBTA Asia Pacific, the Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV), NBTA Canada, NBTA Europe, NBTA Mexico, and NBTA USA – serve a network of more than 17,000 business travel professionals around the globe with industry-leading events, networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. NBTA members, numbering more than 5,000 in 30 nations, are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers. They collectively manage and direct more than US$340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually on behalf of more than 13 million business travelers within their organisations. For more information, visit www.nbta.org
About ITM
The Institute of Travel & Meetings UK & Ireland (ITM), previously the Institute of Travel Management, was established over 50 years ago to promote knowledge, networks and opportunities within the business travel sector. The association presently represents over 1,000 professional buyers and suppliers with a travel & meetings spend in excess of £34 billion per annum and over 50% of the FTSE 100.
Visit our website: www.itm.org.uk
