NBTA meeting on record pace
The 2008 National Business Travel Association (NBTA) International Convention & Exposition, to be held in Los Angeles from July 27-30, is on pace to be the largest convention in the association’s history.
Officials said more than 90% of 18,493 blocked hotel rooms have already been reserved.
“Last year, we declared the 2007 convention in Boston to be the largest and most successful in the 39-year history of the event. This year’s convention will undoubtedly be even more impressive,†said Kevin Maguire, president and CEO of NBTA. He added:
“With questions about how economic changes will impact businesses, it’s more important than ever for corporate travel buyers to sharpen their skills to maximize travel value for their companies.â€
More than a quarter of LA’s domestic and international visitors are business travelers. Los Angeles draws 6.2 million domestic business travelers annually and 1.3 million international business travelers.
“The success NBTA is seeing with respect to its record-setting attendance is indicative of what we’re seeing across the board when conventions arrive in Los Angeles,†said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of LA INC., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. He added:
“Last fiscal year, attendance for conventions held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Downtown jumped as high as 20 percent compared to attendance at the same conventions held in other cities in 2006. “
For more details, visit www.nbtaconvention.org.
Report by David Wilkening
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