The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the global business travel industry—today announced the creation of a new exploratory task force to develop a local chapter membership plan for Atlanta and the surrounding local markets.

This task force will be led by Jim Wilkins , Director, Corporate Travel Services, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and he will be joined by:
George Dunwoody – Head of Global Travel, Travelport, Inc.
Robert McGurk - Vice President, Corporate Travel Services, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
Jeff Messer – Senior Director of Travel and Event Management, Cox Enterprises, Inc.

This group of influential business travel thought leaders will work on behalf of the GBTA membership and in conjunction with the GBTA Board of Directors and staff to design and implement this local market plan.  Additional members of this team will be announced shortly.

“GBTA is looking forward to working with the Atlanta business community to meet their needs locally, regionally and globally as part of our overall chapter approach,” said Kevin Maguire , GBTA volunteer president and CEO. “The Atlanta market remains one of the strongest business travel economic growth engines in the country and the business travel community must have one voice.”

In a related move, GBTA has elected to withdraw its arbitration claim against the Georgia Business Travel Association.  Michael W. McCormick, GBTA Executive Director and COO, added: “We feel the most productive course of action for us is to focus our time and resources on implementing the robust platform we are developing for the overall chapter system in the Atlanta market.”