The Association of Corporate Travel Executives has reopened merger talks with the National Business Travel Association.

ACTE and NBTA, both located in Alexandria, Va., began merger talks in April, but negotiations broke down in June after ACTE voted against continuing the process.

Among the key points of ACTE's new merger proposal are

• co-branding for two years, followed by the adoption of a new name,

• a new interim board formed with five members from the current boards. After two years, new elections would be held guaranteeing non-U.S. seats,

• the president/executive director to be named by NBTA would lead the combined organization,

• education would be led by ACTE, based on the ACTE philosophy,

• a new membership model would be developed balancing the ACTE and NBTA philosophies,

• all ACTE and NBTA 2009 programming would continue as planned.

“The marketplace wants and needs a combination of the best of both organizations — best practices and deliverables,” said ACTE President Richard Crum, president, Airplus International Inc.