The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) today announced that NBTA members Michael W. Lyons, CCTE, Vice President, Corporate Events & Travel Services at HSBC will be honored with the NBTA President's Award. The award is presented each year at the NBTA International Convention & Exposition, to be held this year August 8-11 in Houston, to an NBTA Direct member (travel/meetings buyer) who has demonstrated steadfast dedication to NBTA and the managed travel industry as a whole.

Lyons has been in the corporate travel industry for more than 20 years, having held positions on both the buyer and supplier side of business. As an NBTA member for nearly a decade, Lyons has been committed to the association's mission, having served on the Board of Directors as Vice President and Director at large, as well as on various committees for NBTA and the NBTA Foundation. He has spoken at NBTA events around the world, including Australia, China, Brazil and Mexico. At the local chapter level, Lyons sits on the Education Committee for the Chicago Business Travel Association and has served twice as Vice President of the Los Angeles Business Travel Association.

Craig Banikowski, CCTE, C.P.M., CMM, NBTA President and CEO, said, "Michael Lyons is a perfect example of why NBTA created the President's Award. His commitment over the years to the association and its local chapters is astounding, and his dedication to supporting advancement throughout the corporate travel community is unmatched. NBTA is fortunate to have a friend and advocate in Michael Lyons, who is always willing help shape the direction of the association and the future of our industry."

About the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition

Widely recognized as the must-attend event for business travel buyers, suppliers, industry leaders and business travel journalists, the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition will be held in Houston August 8-11, 2010. More than 5,500 travel professionals are expected to take advantage of the Convention's programming, designed to empower attendees to maximize value for their companies, including more than 60 seminars on the most important topics in business travel, more than 400 companies exhibiting in the Expo and countless opportunities for networking with peers. For details, visit www.nbtaconvention.org.

About the Global Business Travel Association

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA's members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy.

Nicole Hayes
Assistant Manager, Communications
(703) 236-1133
GBTA