GBTA is also proud to announce its second premier university partnership with the University Of Virginia Darden School Of Business. The partnership will offer an executive education program at the manager-level for practicing corporate travel managers and industry suppliers. The new program, available in the first quarter of 2012, will provide practical tools and the latest thinking on managing change and risk, balancing stakeholder needs, optimizing processes and using data to drive business decisions. Darden's top-ranking faculty and high-engagement learning methods will be hallmarks of the program as coupled with the latest GBTA knowledge of emerging industry trends. Specific dates and design elements will be available in the coming months on the GBTA Academy website.

GBTA Executive Director and COO, Michael W. McCormick said, "GBTA is the leader in offering educational programs and we are committed to excellence in education and professional development. We're thrilled to announce our new partnership with the University Of Virginia Darden School Of Business; they are a highly regarded institution that enables us to take our educational offerings to a new level in the business travel profession."

"The mission of the GBTA Academy is simple-to elevate the profession of business travel management. GBTA has a history of offering quality education and professional development. If you want to continue elevating in this profession, you have to continue to learn, and the GBTA Academy is the place to do it," stated Amanda K. Cecil, GBTA dean of education.

The GBTA Academy offers three certificates for business travel professionals at the associate-level, manager-level, and leader levels and the industry's first global certificate program in business travel management.

The associate-level education focuses on the basics of business travel management. The courses in this level are designed to identify the elements of a managed business travel program. It is recommended for travel buyers and suppliers with less than three years of experience in travel management.

The manager-level education is designed to enhance the management or development of a travel program. The curriculum's focuses is on how travel is integrated into the ever-changing global business environment. This program is recommended for those professionals with three to seven years of experience in travel management.

The leader-level education concentrates on business strategy and uses an interdisciplinary approach to reveal the opportunities and challenges of conducting business in today's global environment. This program will continue at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and Global Leadership Professional (GLP)™ designation program will continue to be offered.

At next year's GBTA Convention, being held in Boston, Massachusetts July 22-25, 2012, the GBTA Academy will unveil the first-ever travel management certification exam.