New Assn. Forms To Manage Travel For Small Business

A national non-profit organization, founded in late 2004, has emerged to address the needs of unmanaged business travelers at companies with fewer than 1,000 employees. The American Small Business Travelers Alliance has grown its membership to 200 small business owners and individual travelers.

ASBTA is seeking industry sponsorship to offer members discount programs and special offers designed specifically for small business travelers, said Jim Van Orden, ASBTA executive vice president of integrated communications. Eventually, ASBTA intends to offer previously unmanaged travelers the same kinds of travel capabilities available to employees of larger, more heavily managed companies, said Van Orden. "We'll be your managed program. That's what we're shooting for."

Van Orden said ASBTA also is seeking synergies with other business travel industry associations to address some of the legislation and regulations that affect small business travelers.

The organization's six-person executive team, led by executive director Chuck Sharp, vice president of sales and marketing for the Information Technology Solution Providers Alliance, is focused on establishing supplier relationships and distributing information about existing travel solutions to its membership through ASBTA's Web site and newsletter. At this time, ASBTA has no plans to establish chapters, host meetings, or promote educational events. Membership is free to eligible small business owners and travelers through June 2005.

"The large carriers, hotel chains, and rental car companies, are all starting to shift gears and look at this growing audience of small business travelers," Van Orden said. "Up until a year and a half ago, most of these travel solutions were for the large corporate players. Now the momentum is changing. We've discovered that they're really focused on the small businesses."