Among the best indicators of travel industry health is attendance at NBTA (National Business Travel Association). And from the looks of things, they're having a boon year, as this year's conference brought record attendance.
Since we've been talking about the importance of content and keynotes today, interesting to note who NBTA tapped for their shindig: Tom Ridge, Deborah Norville and John Major.
The article didn't say which of the keynote sessions was best attended, but I've got to think Major's was a big draw. Ridge can often be almost unlistenable, although I'd imagine his talk on the registered traveler program was a must-attend. Norville is nobody's idea of a deep thinker. But Major - that was a stroke of luck on NBTA's part since Major could put the recent London bombings in context with travel.
Not that you or I or anyone else wants more incidents like the London bombings. But you have to think that's what attendees wanted to hear about, which made Major's appearance all the more timely.
Would be interesting to hear more about Major's talk and attendee reaction to it. Too bad NBTA has nothing posted on it. Nor a blog (had to get that in).
On the way to Philly, the news station I was listening to kept harping on Philly International's traffic increasing by 30% or so, mostly due to the presence of Southwest and ATA. Same is happening here in Pittsburgh since Southwest showed up - it's expected to be the #2 carrier after US Airways, supplanting Delta, once July data is tabulated.
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