The Paragon Partners offer industry-leading education programs designed to meet the needs of the business travel professional in a constantly changing industry environment.
Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV)
ABGEV has partnered with the Business Travel Academy to enhance the professional development within the business travel industry in Brazil. Founded in March 2005, the Business Travel Academy is a source for information and current trends to all industry professionals. The Business Travel Academy provides courses taught by industry practitioners, using a special methodology that stands behind the moto “less theory, more practice”. Similar to an MBA program, it offers a wide spectrum of courses, from “How to Deal with Business Clients” to “How to Create a Corporate Travel Program”. More than 700 professionals graduated during the first year of the program, and the Academy hopes to increase this number in 2006 by adding new courses and classes. Additional information is available at: www.academiadeviagens.com.br
Finnish Business Travel Association (FBTA)
FBTA has designed a Diploma in Travel Management program in co-operation with the Institute of Marketing, Finland. The Institute of Marketing is a specialized educational establishment supervised by the Finnish National Board of Education.Target audience for the program are those who are or will be responsible for corporate travel management. The program is also suitable for those holding customer service positions either in business travel or travel management industry. The selection criteria include minimum 2 years of work experience, preferably in travel management or in the travel industry.The length of the program is 13 months, including 11 seminar days. The program consists of 3 independent modules and a final project:
Module 1: The Basics of Travel Management
Module 2: Travel Management Purchase Function
Module 3: Developing Travel Management Program
Project Work: based on student’s own organisation, studying one essential Travel Management area.
The students get a Certificate after each module. After graduating from the entire program, they receive a Diploma in Travel Management authorised by FBTA. More information is availale at www.fbta.net.
The Institute of Travel Management UK & Ireland (ITM)
ITM runs two intakes per annum for its Professional Certificate Course in Professional Travel Management (PCC). The course is distance learning based with 5 modules covering strategic travel management planning to data and policy and compliance. All PCC course members receive reduced rates on ITM Introduction to Travel management workshops which run in parallel with the PCC. ITM also undertakes Supplier Training in areas such as Presentation Skills, Negotiation and Account Management. The PCC is nationally recognized in the UK at NVQ level 4, equivalent to a foundation degree. http://www.itm.org.uk/training.asp
National Business Travel Association (NBTA), USA
Education Programs
NBTA offers various educational opportunities that can help members of our Paragon Partners expand their knowledge and remain relevant in today's corporate culture. NetSmart classes, our Web-based distance learning offerings, provide timely discussions on the latest industry topics year round. NBTA also offers certification programs at various levels. The Corporate Travel Expert (CTE) program is a course on the fundamentals of the corporate travel management profession. Certified Corporate Travel Executive (CCTE) program helps business travel professionals gain internationally recognized accreditation and the knowledge they need to advance the travel programs of their companies. Those willing to take their continuing education one step further, can participate in the Global Leadership Program (GLP), which is the only master's level program designed for the business travel professional. For more detailed description of the programs, visit http://www.nbta.org/Education/. For those who find face-to-face discussions and networking to be the most effective learning experience, NBTA organizes the NBTA International Convention and Exposition, the premier event of the business travel industry worldwide held each year in the US. In addition, NBTA offers conferences and education days held at various locations around the world. For more information about NBTA international activities, contact global@nbta.org.
NBTA Asia-Pacific
One of NBTA's prime objectives is to provide training and education to its buyer members to encourage professional development and promote best travel management practices. The Association does this by.
organising regular local events in all cities and states where we have active NBTA committees as well as organising the Annual conference.
The Certified Business Travel Executive (CBTE)
In April 2004, under the guidance and supervision of the NBTA education committee, NBTA launched the CBTE development and recognition program. This program provides core business travel management knowledge & information to travel managers, purchasing and contract managers, finance managers and travel coordinators who regularly work with and within the business travel industry. For more information on NBTA Asia-Pacific visit www.nbta.org.au.
NBTA Canada
NBTA Canada hosts a series of one-day Education Days in cities across Canada (Montreal, Calgary, Toronto) each year as well at our Annual Conference in Toronto each Spring. Our programs and subject matter for each educational event are carefully selected by our Educational Advisory Council (EAC) to match the needs of their fellow Canadian business travel buyers, managers and supplier partners.
The Canadian Fundamentals of Business Travel Management program was successfully launched in 2007. The Fundamentals course is an introduction to the primary components of managing a companies’ travel program, including driving savings, using technology to increase efficiency, measuring program effectiveness and mitigating risk by tracking travelers. More information is available at www.nbtacanada.org.
NBTA Mexico
NBTA Mexico and its sister organizations hold multiple events throughout the year including education events, global conferences, networking sessions, the NBTA Mexico Corporate Travel Conference as well as the Annual NBTA International Convention and Exposition - the Business Travel Event of the Year. More information is available at www.nbtamexico.org.
VDR - The Business Travel Association of Germany
VDR-Academy: Professional Development Program
VDR's Akademie was created in 1998 with the main goal to promote the professional development of all parties involved in business travel management. It offers the Certified Travel Manager (CTM) course, a specialist study course designed for decision-makers within all aspects of business travel management. With practice-related studies, participants acquire a sound travel management knowledge which they can use to advance the interests of their companies. The study course is modular, with the individual modules being available on a stand-alone basis. To get more details in German about the study course, the special seminars or special training for travel agents and suppliers click here. For information about the whole program in English please contact akademie@vdr-service.de.