Alexandria, VA (February 24, 2004) The ranking leadership of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives and the National Business Travel Association agreed to work in joint cooperation on issues critical to the travel industry and the global economy. The announcement was made today, following a meeting last week between Carol A. Devine (NBTA President & CEO), Garth Jopling (ACTE President), Nancy K. Holtzman (ACTE Executive Director) and Bill Connors (NBTA Executive Director & COO).

Both associations agreed that issues like data privacy (the sole possibility discussed at last week's meeting) which have both national and international implications, could warrant joint action. "Circumstances occasionally call for the industry to offer a unified front," said Garth Jopling, ACTE president. "Today's meeting opened the door to identifying those circumstances and to taking appropriate action whenever possible." ACTE and NBTA also agreed to share calendar dates to avoid overlapping events.

"NBTA is happy to work with other organizations on issues vital to the business travel community, said Carol Devine, CCTE, NBTA President & CEO. Our associations see opportunities to work together for the betterment of the industry, and data protection is critical to our global economy."

Founded in 1988 as the research and educational arm of the business travel management industry, ACTE has 2,500 members in 40 countries. The association hosts two global conferences annually, and will conduct 63 educational events as an international pre-and post conference support mechanism in 2004.

The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to th e professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,400 corporate travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry.

For more information, contact:
Jack Riepe
ACTE Communications Director
t: 610-719-8396
c: 610-256-0124
e: [email protected]

Allison Marble
NBTA Sr. Manager of Internal Communications & Production
t: 703-684-0836 ext.43
e: [email protected]

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