News from LAWA 

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners awarded two contracts that will move the LAX development program forward.  The first contract for $10,978,000 was awarded to Walsh Austin Joint Venture, Los Angeles for construction manager at risk pre-construction services.  These services will be provided for the Bradley West Gates, a component of the overall Tom Bradley International Terminal Modernization Project.  Pre-construction services may consist of risk assessment, construction phasing, cost and budget estimating, and mitigation recommendations, among others.
 
In other LAX news, passenger traffic in March 2009 declined 12.6% from March 2008. Domestic passenger traffic was down 9.9% while International traffic fell 19.4%. Overall, for the first three months of 2009, passenger volumes were down 12.8% compared with the same period one year ago.

Spotlight on

Board Committees

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee is responsible for recruiting new members, reviewing and approving applications, and, in conjunction with the full Board, meeting the needs of active members.  LABTA, the largest Business Travel Association in the country, currently has 252 members.  Direct members, or corporate buyers, comprise 23 percent of total membership.  In addition to educational programs and opportunities, LABTA provides a tremendous networking arena.  Committee volunteers, as well as feedback and suggestions, are most welcome.
 
The Membership Committee is currently chaired by Barbara Ford, LABTA Director of Member Relations.  Barbara is the travel and meeting administrator at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and delighted to be working with Charles Franklin.  Prior to Honda, she enjoyed a 25-year airline career, which began with Eastern Airlines in Daytona Beach, Fla., progressed through a variety of customer service and sales positions through the transformation of the airline industry, and ended with Continental Airlines in Los Angeles.  She earned CCTE and CTC designations, an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence University.

DEADLINE TOMORROW:  $9,000 in Scholarships Available from NBTA Chapter Presidents Council 

The NBTA Chapter Presidents Council is offering more than $9,000 in scholarships this year. Tuition Scholarships for the CCTE and GLP programs are available, as well as scholarships to pay for an NBTA membership or the NBTA Convention. If you heard our colleagues on the Education Day panel speak on the value of the CCTE and GLP programs, you'll appreciate what a terrific opportunity this is to further your professional career.

Education and NBTA Membership scholarships are available to Allied and Direct members. Direct Members are eligible for the NBTA Convention registration scholarships.

The application is brief and easy. Click here to check it out. The deadline is April 24.

May 9: Walk with the LABTA Team in the Revlon Run/Walk for Women

There are 31 people signed up to walk with the LABTA Team (#927).  It's not too late to join the fun as we walk as one in the fight against women's cancers. 

The LABTA Team will join hundreds of others at this year's Revlon 5K Run/Walk for Women at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park on Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. with the Opening Ceremony at  8 a.m.  The registration fee is $30, payable on-line ($35 after April 28). The fee includes a t-shirt and goodie bag. 
 

Register online at:

http://www.revlonrunwalk.com/la/

 
LABTA is donating $25 to Revlon for the first 25 LABTA members who signed up on our team! For more information, contact Kathy Pratt - (949) 798-7955 (work) or (714) 743-1124 (cell) or email at kpratt@edisonmission.com .

LABTA Welcomes New

Committee Chairperson

CSR Community Outreach Chair:

Kathy Pratt is the manager, facilities and employee services for Edison Mission Energy. She has worked at Edison Mission Energy for 23 years.   In this position, she oversee corporate travel, as well as numerous other areas of responsibility for Facilities Management and Employee Services.  Kathy will be working with LABTA Director of CSR, Kjarsten Philipsen.

Save the Date:

May 13 LABTA Program

Plan to join us on May 13 at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., in Torrance for LABTA's monthly meeting. 

Will Tate of Management Alternatives will moderate an "Ask a Travel Manager" panel.  More details will be available soon.

The 2009 NBTA International Convention & Exposition will be in San Diego from August 23-26.
 
Volunteer positions for the convention will be posted at www.sdbta.org for ALL attendees starting June 1, 2009.   

Good News! LABTA members will be able to volunteer before this date but after SDBTA members.  The date will be sometime after May 15, 2009.
 
Please check the SDBTA website regularly. New information is coming soon!

April Program Explored the Business Travel Outlook for 2009

The LABTA's April Event was held at the Pasadena Hilton.   David Grossman,  Travel Writer for USAToday.com, was the guest speaker and provided attendees with his Business Travel Outlook for 2009.  David reviewed the many challenges faced by the airline, hotel and car rental industries during this economic downturn from his perspective as a travel writer.  Some highlights from his discussion:

• While corporations are trimming and downgrading travel spending, airline capacity cuts continue and ancillary fees proliferate.
• Travel suppliers are focusing on their best clients.  For example, first class and business class cabins are being upgraded in pursuit of business travelers. 
• There are more empty hotel rooms and less car rentals.   Fewer flights mean fewer air travelers. Hotels and car rentals are hurting as well.  This paves the way for bargains.
• Meetings are being reduced and canceled.  This affects all aspects of the travel industry.

Although it appears to be all bad news, the good news is that it's a great time to travel for business travelers...there are many travel bargains available.