The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) announced March 21 the creation of a new task force to develop a local chapter membership plan for Atlanta and the surrounding local markets.

The group will work with the GBTA Board of Directors and staff and on behalf of the GBTA membership to design and implement a local market plan. 

Members of the task force include:

• Jim Wilkins- Director, Corporate Travel Services, Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

• 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.

“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.”

GBTA also elected to withdraw its arbitration claim against the Georgia Business Travel Association from July 2012 when GBTA claimed its Georgia chapter breached its contract by announcing plans to wind down. The company instead wants to focus on developing the chapter system in the Atlanta market, according to GBTA Executive Director and COO Michael W. McCormick.