Trends: travel picture brightens.Two recent reports on business-travel trends may give meeting planners reason to be optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op that participants will be coming to their events in higher numbers. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a survey conducted by the National Business Travel Association (www.nbta.org), Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,284. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) south of downtown Washington, DC. , 71 percent of the business travel management professionals surveyed believe that business travel will rebound significantly in 2004 and into 2005, with 54 percent predicting the recovery to occur this year. "While the challenges of the past few years have taught us to be cautious, economic trends and travel purchase indicators bode well for an increase in business travel, with the possibility of significant volume increases at the end of the year and into 2005," says Carol Devine, NBTA president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . Particularly with respect to international travelers, that outlook appears to be backed up by current statistics. According to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, during October 2003 the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. welcomed 2.9 million international visitors--a 1 percent increase from last year. That was the first positive growth since January 2003. For more information, go to tinet.ita.doc.gov. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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