In a major expansion of its operations, the National Business Travel Association has launched a new European arm, NBTA Europe. Several associations have partnered with NBTA to create NBTA Europe—the Danish Business Travel Association, Iberian Business Travel Association of Spain and Portugal, Institute of Travel & Meetings of the UK and Ireland, Netherlands Association for Travel Management, Norwegian Business Travel Association, and Swedish Business Travel Association—and their 2,000 corporate and government travel manager and supplier members will automatically become members of NBTA Europe for one year.

The move strengthens NBTA’s position as a global association and its competitive position against the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, which has a strong European presence.

The staff of partner organization ITM of the UK and Ireland will manage NBTA Europe’s daily operations, led by Paul Tilstone, the newly appointed managing director. Leadership of the association is shared between a buyer-led advisory board (the first of its kind among European meeting industry groups) and a “partnership council” consisting of one person from each of the partner associations. The head of the advisory board is Caroline Strachan, global category leader for business travel at Astra Zeneca, London.

NBTA Europe will hold events and forums throughout the year, including an annual conference, the details of which will be announced soon. It joins NBTA’s other regional affiliates—NBTA Asia Pacific, the Brazilian Business Travel Association, NBTA Canada, NBTA Mexico, and NBTA USA.

For details visit www.nbtaeurope.org.