For immediate release
CONTACT:
Meghan Henning, +1 703-236-1133, mhenning@gbta.org
Rebecca Carriero, +1 212-446-1897, rcarriero@sloanepr.com
Brad Bebell, +1 972-702-3029, bbebell@mpiweb.org
GBTA and MPI Join Forces to Create New Education and Training Opportunities
New Curriculum to be available in 2013
Alexandria, VA (October 8, 2012)—The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the
global business travel industry—and Meeting Professionals International (MPI) — the meetings and
events industry’s largest and most vibrant global community— are pleased to announce a new joint
venture. The two organizations will work together to co-create new industry-leading education and
training opportunities.
“This is the first and only broad association partnership that GBTA has entered into since forming the
GBTA Academy. GBTA believes MPI is the right partner to reach the meetings management industry and
marketplace,” said GBTA Executive Director and COO, Michael W. McCormick. “Our collective members
will be reaping the benefits of this partnership for years to come.”
An LLC is being formed with an executive steering committee to operate and manage the new
curriculum which is expected to be available in 2013. Both organizations are bringing together their
expertise and research prowess to develop and deliver these new educational and training offerings.
“We continually hear from the community that they want associations to work together and provide
opportunities for improving their career skills. The collaboration with GBTA will deliver the single most
essential management training program in the industry, creating a new standard for excellence,” said
Cindy D’Aoust, COO and interim CEO for MPI. “The result is enhanced value for both our members and
the industry.”
The new senior level education will be available to both MPI and GBTA members. While both current
designations will continue to be recognized by MPI and the GBTA Academy, this new educational
program is being derived from the best of GBTA’s Strategic Meetings Management Certification (SMMC)
and MPI’s Certificate in Meetings Management (CMM) program.
GBTA is the world’s premier business travel and meetings organization whose 5,000-plus members
manage over $340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. MPI is the
meetings and events industry’s largest global community comprised of more than 21,000 members
representing 84 countries worldwide.
For more information, please visit gbta.org/academy or http://www.mpiweb.org/Education/CMM
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 5,000-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.
About the MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the meetings and events industry’s largest and most vibrant
global community, helps our members thrive by providing human connections to knowledge and ideas,
relationships and marketplaces. MPI membership is comprised of more than 21,000 members belonging
to 71 chapters and clubs worldwide. For more information, visit www.mpiweb.org.