NBTA

CONTACT:

Caleb Tiller, +1 703-684-0836, ext. 138, ctiller@nbta.org

Nicole Hayes, +1 703-684-0836, ext. 133, nhayes@nbta.org

Alexandria, VA (March 17, 2009) - The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) announced today Sir Richard Branson, Founder and President of Virgin Group, will deliver a keynote address to attendees of the 2009 NBTA International Convention & Exposition, to be held August 23-26 in San Diego. Branson’s appearance during the Convention’s Tuesday General Session is made possible by Orbitz for Business.

NBTA President & CEO, Kevin Maguire, CCTE, GLP, said, “Sir Richard Branson is an industry and international icon. This is a huge get for us, and we are grateful to Orbitz for Business for bringing this airline and hospitality guru and corporate rock star to the NBTA community. His insights into the travel industry, perspectives on globalization, and advice on leadership are sure to prove both educating and inspiring.”

The Virgin empire was conceived in 1970 when Branson founded a mail order record company and opened a record shop in London. He has since rapidly expanded the Virgin brand, one of the world’s most recognized and respected trademarks, to the travel, communications, clean tech, financial services, and health industries. Last month alone saw the launch of its newest airline, VAustralia, with service from Sydney to the United States, and Virgin America, the award-winning U.S. domestic airline, began serving Boston, its eighth city.

Branson is also an avid traveler, world record-breaking adventurer, and humanitarian. Branson’s Virgin Unite, the philanthropic arm of the Virgin Group, uses business as a force for good with corporate, nonprofit and government partners, entrepreneurs, and artists. Branson was knighted in 1999 for his services to entrepreneurship.

Maguire continued: “As one of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs and industry show stoppers, Branson is the perfect fit for the NBTA Convention. I know the business travel community will be delighted to hear thoughts on the future of the corporate travel industry from a man who attempts to break world records, hob knobs with Hollywood celebrities, and is starting the world’s first commercial spaceline, while still overseeing some of the world’s most impressive travel and luxury property programs.”

For more information about the 2009 NBTA Convention, visit  www.nbtaconvention.org. 

About the 2009 NBTA International Convention & Exposition
Widely recognized as the must-attend event for business travel buyers, suppliers, industry leaders and business travel journalists, the 2009 NBTA International Convention & Exposition will be held in San Diego August 23-26, 2009.  More than 5,000 travel professionals are expected to take advantage of the Convention’s programming, designed to empower attendees to maximize value for their companies, including more than 65 seminars on the most important topics in business travel, more than 400 companies exhibiting in the Expo and countless opportunities for networking with peers. For details, visit www.nbtaconvention.org.   

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and corporate meetings organization. NBTA and its regional affiliates – NBTA Australia / New Zealand, the Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV), NBTA Canada, NBTA Europe, NBTA Mexico, and NBTA USA – serve a network of more than 17,000 business travel professionals around the globe with industry-leading events, networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. NBTA members, numbering more than 5,000 in 30 nations, are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers. They collectively manage and direct more than US$340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually on behalf of more than 13 million business travelers within their organizations. For more information, visit www.nbta.org