. The deal represents the ninth such agreement for NBTA Europe, which
formed about a year ago. "We can see the progress this group has made in the last 12 months," according to VDR chairman Dirk Gerdom, who also serves as head of global travel management for SAP AG. "The goals and aspirations of NBTA Europe are well aligned with our own." Those statements contrast with opinions VDR expressed in January 2010, when the group wrote that "we do not see eye to eye on the purposes and approach of the new NBTA Europe," and indicated a preference to cooperate "on a bilateral basis as appropriate" and "remain independent and neutral, free of commercial interests."