NBTA To Bolster Benchmarking Tool Again In Bid To Boost Participation

The National Business Travel Association plans to unveil the third version of the Managed Travel Index and benchmarking tool in July at the association's International Convention & Exposition in Boston.

While the tool was first released in 2005, a relatively small number of travel managers have subscribed to the service so far, which costs $595 for NBTA members. When the association upgraded to the tool last July, it claimed to have 150 companies participating in the database. However, during the past year that figure only has grown by 20.

The new version will add more customizable features, including internal benchmarking against peer groups, more hotel data from Smith Travel Research, the addition of IJet's TRM3 Risk Management benchmarking tool and a Managed Travel Index best practices and rewards program, according to Daphne Bryant, director of the NBTA Foundation.

Though the current Managed Travel Index does not have an international model, it does have a Canadian model, which has approximately a dozen companies in its database, Bryant said. The model was developed in partnership with NBTA Canada.

In speaking with some corporate travel managers about why they have not subscribed to the NBTA tool, some cited cost, some are using benchmarking tools provided by travel management companies and one Corporate Travel 100 travel manager said the tool is geared more to small to midsize programs.



Editor's Note: An earlier, published version of this story incorrectly said Canadian travel management company Vision 2000 Group partnered with NBTA in this initiative. Vision 2000 is a member of NBTA Canada, with whom NBTA partnered.