GBTA Addresses Administration's Budget Proposal

Applauds NextGen Investments and Trusted Traveler Programs

Increased Taxes and Fees Will Have Negative Impact on Economy

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement is attributable to Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO, following the Obama Administration's fiscal year 2014 budget.  The President's budget request addresses several priorities of importance to a critical component of the economy and its continued recovery. 

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"Businesses in the United States continue to wrestle with the need to control costs while making the necessary travel investments to grow their bottom line.  We are not surprised to see the Administration faced with the same challenges. We applaud the Administration's recognition of the business travel industry as one the of nation's leading service sectors and sources of exports.  Continued investments in NextGen and expansion of trusted traveler programs will put more road warriors on planes and in hotels and restaurants. 

However, the groundhog's shadow returned on taxes and fees.  Business travelers will retreat in the face of doubled passenger facility charges and TSA fees. We believe business travelers already pay their fair share.  Let's allow the business travel industry to do what it does best – grow the nation's economy and create jobs.  The short-term gain is not worth the long-term cost.   

GBTA looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration to achieve balance and keep business travelers on the road."

About the Global Business Travel Association

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premier business travel and meetings organization. Collectively, GBTA's 5,700-plus members manage over $340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA provides its network of 21,000 business and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, with networking events, news, education & professional development, research, and advocacy. For more information, visit gbta.org

SOURCE Global Business Travel Association