The National
Business Travel Association next year will change its name to the Global
Business Travel Association, it announced Monday during its International
Convention & Exposition in Houston, to better reflect the organization's
worldwide scope.
"Our
industry continues to evolve, and our jobs are evolving as well," said
NBTA president and CEO Craig Banikowski in a statement. "Just as we have
all changed our thinking about our jobs in recent years, our association must
shift its thinking. As your elected president and CEO, my primary strategic
focus is taking NBTA from being a national organization to being a truly global
business group that gives you seamless access to best-in-class resources,
information and the global network you need—anytime, anyplace."
Meanwhile,
NBTA on Monday separately announced it has "acquired and taken full
control" of The Masters Program, an annual corporate travel event in
Washington. D.C. The association through a partnership with travel technology
firm Amadeus "will transform the Masters Program into a global
thought-leadership forum for C-level and senior executives and a think tank for
the travel industry," NBTA said in a statement.
Former
General Electric CEO Jack Welch will address the next Masters Program, to be
held Feb. 7-8, NBTA announced Monday.