This AGREEMENT made 16th day of July 2002 by and between the AUSTRALASIAN BUSINESS TRAVEL ASSOCIATION, hereinafter referred to as ABTA, the CANADIAN BUSINESS TRAVEL ASSOCIATION, hereinafter referred to as CBTA, the INSTITUTE OF TRAVEL MANAGEMENT, hereinafter referred to as ITM, the NATIONAL BUSINESS TRAVEL ASSOCIATION, hereinafter referred to as NBTA, and the VERBAND DEUTSCHES REISEMANAGEMENT (the GERMAN BUSINESS TRAVEL ASSOCIATION) hereinafter referred to as VDR, collectively referred to, in this Agreement, as the Paragon Partners.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Agreement is to recognize formally the strong partnership that exists between the paragon partners and their respective members; to reaffirm that the five organizations would like to move closer to create a formal relationship that will support a collaborative effort to benefit the travel management profession and business travel industry; and to create a new level of shared participation, without implied financial obligation, among all organizations as a means to advance the education resources for their members, to extend the circle of networking and attendance at joint activities, to advance the understanding of corporate travel buyers before government organizations. Together, the Paragon Partners believe that they enhance their service to their constituencies when they work together to achieve their common goals. All parties are committed to supporting each other’s efforts to achieve mutual success.
The Paragon Partners consent that this Agreement should define the manner of the relationship between themselves and their respective business travel associations that may join this Agreement later, and the procedures to be employed in the conduct of their relationships. The Paragon Partners also agree to work with and support the objectives of the others, to the greatest extent possible.
GOALS
The goals of this Agreement are set to underpin contact between Paragon Partners, to support the exchange of expertise and information, to advance further the understanding of travel management and to facilitate and to support international studies and forums. Further, the Agreement is in recognition of the fact that a formal relationship between the Paragon Partners will enhance the ability of the respective memberships of each organization to gain global exposure, and to have access to broader learning opportunities that support the creation of international knowledge networks.
Additionally, the constructive implementation of the resulting alliance will serve to support the growth of the profession, identify potential business travel associations, serve the marketplace, generate goodwill and create exposure for the industry.
GOVERNING BODIES
Each Paragon Partner will remain fully governed by their respective leadership and will remain fully accountable to their constituencies, that is:
- ABTA will be governed by its Board of Director and operate under the guidelines as prescribed in its constitutional rules;
- CBTA will be governed by its Board of Director and operate under the guidelines as prescribed in its constitutional rules;
- ITM will be governed by its Board of Director and operate under the guidelines as prescribed in its constitutional rules;
- NBTA will be governed by its Board of Director and operate under the guidelines as prescribed in its constitutional rules; and
- VDR will be governed by its Board of Director and operate under the guidelines as prescribed in its constitutional rules.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
A. ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTITY AND REPRESENTATION
It is critical to the success of this Agreement, that each Paragon Partner maintains its singular organizational identity and culture. Further, it is imperative that each Paragon Partner maintains their dedicated, priority support for corporate travel management professionals.
Paragon Partners will be/are represented by their chief elected/volunteer officer and/or chief staff executive, or their designees. It is expected that the volunteer leader of each Paragon Partner will be apprised of the partnership activities by their respective representatives.
As a body, the representative will meet no fewer than two times annually and assumes that Allied partners (suppliers of products and services to business travel) will establish their preferred channels of communication.
B. SERVICES
By implementing this Agreement, the Paragon Partners agree to exchange information, training, education and best practice resources that will serve to advance the professional understanding and development of their respective members.
Each party agrees to share research findings and educational products and services, as deemed to be mutually appropriate, and to make the information available to any Paragon Partner for educational purposes.
Additionally, the following is a broad outline of benefits and services that can be accessed by the Paragon Partners:
- the development and execution of research studies of mutual industry and benefit;
- advocacy to respective national organizations or international government organizations that supports mutual goals and objective;
- access to information services including such items as member reports, web-based learning opportunities and related programs that may serve to advance the professional development of corporate travel professionals;
- access to education programs and services determined to be of mutual benefit to be offered at preferred rates that recognize the Alliance and partnership of the Paragon Partners;
- meetings and conferences, including those of an individual, or of a joint nature, will allow members of each Paragon Partner to participate at preferential rates; and
- support the development of industry standards and practices.
C. INTELLECTUAL AND OTHER PROPERTY
Programs, data and publications, developed and produced by Paragon Partners, will be the property of each Paragon Partner respectively and exclusively but will be shared as appropriate for the purpose of disseminating the material to the travel management profession.
Additionally, products and services developed by one Paragon Partner and shared with one or more of the other Partners, or those that may follow, remain the property of the originating Partner and may not be circulated without the understanding and approval of the originating Partner.
D. FINANCIAL OBLIGATION
This Agreement does not convey any financial obligation between any Paragon Partner save those agreements that may be reached regarding specific programs or services that may be extended to the Paragon Partners or their respective members. For the purposes of this Agreement, originating Paragon Partners and alliance partners will reach decisions regarding pricing and support by using most favored partner status.
E. MEETINGS
This Agreement recommends that the Paragon Partners participate in the regular exchange of information. In addition, it recommends that all Paragon Partner representatives have the opportunity to gather on a regular basis to support the regular exchange of ideas, analyze market conditions, and to discuss issues of mutual concern.
F. NEXT PHASE
Each Paragon Partner will appoint representatives to establish governance and implementation rules and processes, consistent with the spirit of this Agreement.
TERM OF AGREEMENT
The initial term of this Agreement shall be for period of five years. If any Paragon Partner changes its constitutional rules or gives notification to the other Paragon Partners of its intention to withdraw from this Agreement, such notification will be accepted.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement on the date and year set forth above.
For and on behalf of ABTA – Keith Hardy, Chairman
For and on behalf of CBTA – Russell Friend, President
For and on behalf of ITM – Louise Innes, National Chair
For and on behalf of NBTA – Kevin Iwamoto, President
For and on behalf of VDR – Michael Kirnberger, Vorstand