This week has been spent busy at the National Business Traveler’s Association’s (NBTA, though it is changing to GBTA we found out) annual convention that took place this year in Houston. The self-declared ‘Business Travel Event of the Year’ – the convention is a time for all the members of SkyTeam to band together and show our strengths to clients, press, and attendees.

Not only is it a good time to meet face to face with our top clients and press, but the convention serves as the perfect conduit for varied discussions about the current state as well as future of the travel industry with a variety of educational sessions, panels and featured speakers. Plus? It’s the best and easiest way to see what the latest products and offerings are being put forth by a variety of vendors and companies to the travel community – from hotels to small travel agencies to even insurance companies.  

What made NBTA unique this year was the feeling of positive energy and discussions about the recovery of the business travel industry. Everyone said that compared to last year everyone was much more positive and optimistic, and that there were in fact many more attendees compared to last year as well. I think that this feeling can be generalized to feeling of the travel industry in general about the upcoming year: optimistic.

Every year, as a group, SkyTeam provides what I believe is one of the best booths beyond showing our premium products (everyone loved trying out the Air France Premium Voyageur seats and the latest KLM World Business Class seats), from soft carpeting (it’s unbelievable how hours on thin carpeting is cement floors can become uncomfortable), refreshments (wine, cheese, fruit and crackers), an oxygen bar (get rid of that headache and recharge for the rest of the day!), special massage chairs, and plush leather chairs to relax. This, of course in addition to providing free SkyTeam gear (the blackberry and iPhone bumpers were the most popular) and daily drawings for free tickets.

I arrived Monday morning and went straight to the convention so that I could catch the keynote speaker for lunch, Condoleezza Rice, who everyone seemingly had a different opinion on. Though I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, I do think that she is a very accomplished orator. Afterwards, I had back to back meetings with journalists and clients. With so many people in attendance it is one of the best opportunities to meet with everyone and share our latest updates all at one time. Even if it does mean that there isn’t much time to wander.

After our successful first day, we had an Air France, KLM, and Delta team dinner at Artista, the restaurant at the Hobby Center where we would be having our SkyTeam event the next evening. Despite the 105 degree heat, many of us sat on their balcony enjoying the view and the opportunity to catch up with those we hadn’t seen in awhile as our teams are spread across the country. From the brief tour of the Center I knew that our party would be a success.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Starting early Tuesday morning I had more back-to-back meetings with top clients and contracts with my break being lunch where Richard Branson was the featured speaker. I was really looking forward to hearing him speak as I think it is safe to say that he is a visionary and marketing genius who has had quite an interesting career. After lunch I had additional meetings with journalists and clients – in fact you can read one of the interviews here that I had with “Elite Traveler” magazine. 

After closing the Convention again, it was time for our SkyTeam party titled “Let Us Entertain You” that was crazy. Let Us Entertain You we did. If you’d like to read an article about the party in a local, online magazine you can do so here. But some of the highlights, which are featured in this week’s slideshow include: a dance floor that was lit-up to the beats of the music, magicians, and fire jugglers, a “Champagne Chandelier” where a woman was suspended overhead and refilling guests glasses, a Henna station, multiple green screens for videos and flip-books, stilt-walkers and veritable feast that included hand-spun crepes, a cheese garden, and create your own paella stations. The dancing continued until 1 a.m. (if you look closely you can see me in some of the photos) when they finally had to kick us out after extending the party for an extra hour.

NBTA (or I should say GBTA) – I’ll see you next year.