ALEXANDRIA, VA, October 7, 2008. The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is now accepting nominations for its first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards, the winners of which will be honored in March 2009. NBTA’s CSR committee established the annual awards to recognize a company for its innovative and significant initiatives to take greater social and environmental responsibility while minimizing the global impact of their business travel programs.

“NBTA’s CSR Committee has been a leader in providing resources to help organizations develop, measure and improve travel-related corporate social responsibility efforts,” said NBTA President and CEO Kevin Maguire, CCTE, GLP. “We want to recognize those businesses who have embraced CSR with the implementation of sustainability and duty-of-care initiatives, setting an example for others that may want to implement or improve similar measures.”

All NBTA members, both Direct (travel buyers) and Allied (suppliers), may nominate their companies for up to three travel-related CSR initiatives implemented between 2006 and 2008. Initiatives will be evaluated by the NBTA CSR Committee on uniqueness, strength, the nature of the project and its relationship to the CSR mission, as well as its impact on the company and environment.

The NBTA CSR Awards will be presented to one organization within each member category. Special acknowledgement will be given to the nominating NBTA member and other individuals directly related to the success of the initiative.

Applications must be received by November 15, 2008. Presentation of the awards will be made at the annual NBTA Financial Forum to be held in New York, New York, on March 31, 2009.

For an application and more information about the NBTA CSR Award, please visit:
http://www.nbta.org/Members/CommitteesCouncilsTaskForces/CSRAwards.htm