Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel Welcomes OVBTA April 25 - 26, 2012

We would like to thank the Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel for generously sponsoring our April 2012 meeting!  The Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel offers special amenities and value for business travelers.

Offering 242 stylish guestrooms, we invite you to discover the Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel, the only hotel located on the grounds of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and next to the world class I-X Center.  This exceptional location offers quick and easy access to the terminals and airport gates.  And just 12 minutes from Downtown Cleveland makes it the ideal setting for visiting the Cleveland area. 

Enjoy a restful night in our Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed.

Get energized with our 24 hour fitness facility and indoor heated pool.

Stay connected to all the things that matter most with our complimentary high-speed Internet access and the Link@Sheraton.

Enjoy a diverse menu of distinctive American fare at Hemispheres, which offers friendly service in a casual atmosphere.

Find inspiration for your next event in the 16,000 square feet of meeting space.  With our recently remodeled 13 meeting spaces, on-site meeting planners, superb catering, banquet department, and talented audiovisual technicians, your event is sure to be a great success.

Membership Committee Co-Chairs, Susie Woods and Jane Simmons, are looking for new members! If you know of someone in the business travel industry who is not involved in Ohio Valley BTA, please send a note to Susie and Jane.  They will reach out to potential members and let them know all the reasons they should be part of OVBTA.  You may reach Susie and Jane at membership@ovbta.org.

OVBTA is social!  For those of you who enjoy the social media experience, please take the time to follow us!  While we will concentrate our efforts with a LinkedIn group, we will also maintain a Facebook page and Twitter account.  Click on the links below to connect with our social networking sites and let the following begin!

Education is the foundation for the existence of the Ohio Valley Business Travel Association. Each of our meetings is designed to enhance your professional growth by offering you the latest travel industry trends. In addition, OVBTA supports the pursuit of professional certification through scholarship programs for our members.

All of this is made possible through the support of our generous sponsors. Sponsors have exposure to members in OVBTA and have the opportunity to access a vast number of travel managers, meeting planners, and suppliers.

Please take a few moments to review our new sponsorship opportunities for 2012 by clicking here.

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact Georgy Huffman or Mary Pelino to make contributions: 

Georgy Huffman                                              Mary Pelino

614-716-1882                          614-324-9025

ghuffman@aep.com                                      mary.pelino@hilton.com

The GBTA is challenging its 40 Chapters to engage their elected officials. Chapters meeting these 5 tasks will be recognized as Partners.

Goal

• 30% of membership sends a communication to one of their elected officials through the Legislative Action Center
• 34 of 188 members =18% of membership has completed this.  We need  22 more members to do this!  If you haven’t already done so, please visit via the link : Legislative Action Centertoday!
•  
• Invite an elected official to speak at a chapter meeting or host an GBTA government relations focused meeting
• Tom Patton to speak April 26^th - done
• Chapter sends a letter to its Representative or Senator endorsing an GBTA endorsed bill or vote 
• Completed in March 2012 - done
• Chapter appoints a liaison to the GBTA Govt. Relations Dept.
• Kelleree Conrad - done
• Raise $1,000 in PAC contributions regardless of Chapter size, must have 30% of members contribute
• $2075 raised with 47 of 188 members is 25%

 Chapters who meet each task will be recognized as Chapter Challenge Partners

 Challenge runs Convention to Convention (September 1, 2011 through July 13, 2012)