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A LETTER FROM ACTE PRESIDENT, GARTH JOPLING
On 12 October 2003, 950 business travel executives from 37 countries sent a message from ACTE's Global Conference in Dublin to the worldwide travel management profession.
They spoke with one voice... They acted with one purpose... And they made their point...
Their message: This industry needs a major realignment.
Major entities are creating strategies, regulations and products without taking into account the impact these developments might exert on other sectors of the business travel industry. From the current governmental dispute over data privacy to the archaic nature of IATA regulations, the fragile recovery of the business travel management industry is still in danger of stalling. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, once regarded as an obscure piece of business reform legislation in the United States, is sending tendrils into any nation with companies that wish to raise capital on a U.S. stock exchange. Against this backdrop, we are still confronted by specialized issues dealing with procurement and other areas of complex cost containment.
Never was it so clear that current industry issues once thought of as "regional," now carry global implications. ACTE's Global Conference was a both a call to action and the scene of action:
Data privacy has become a tug of war between nations. From the floor of the Dublin Conference, ACTE sent a communication to the European Commission and to the TSA calling for a moratorium on penalties, fines or restrictions levied against international carriers caught in the data privacy crossfire -- until various government agencies can reach agreement.
Long overdue IATA changes are financially hobbling corporate Europe, and companies elsewhere that do extensive travel in Europe. The EU has removed many international barriers to business. As a result of this conference, ACTE is working to amend IATA regulations, bringing them into line with the spirit of the EU's most significant changes. ACTE is committed to removing the final barrier: outdated IATA regulations that are inconsistent with this new European model.
Sarbanes-Oxley means extensive new levels of reporting for travel managers in the United States -- and for many in Canadian, European and Asian companies. A new initiative -- driven by an association task force -- has locked onto the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to study it, and will cut it down to size for ACTE members.
Distribution issues are remaking this industry. ACTE presenters made distribution foremost among the issues presented at this conference. Through a global education program that extends as a logical progression from conference to forum, from forum to Webcast, and from Webcast to conference, ACTE members will have a distinctive distribution edge.
ACTE leadership defined global goals for the association at this conference. These include expanding government advocacy and corporate influence, building bridges with other associations and redefining the profile of the buyer and supplier. The key to fulfilling these objectives is to constantly address and review the subject matter. We have 35 international educational events planned for next year. And we'll do more as circumstances require.
It's an honour for me to stand at the head of this association.
Regards,
Garth Jopling
ACTE President
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ACTE
Over 2,500 Business Travel Professionals Working Together to Advance the Industry
ACTE's Core Purpose:
To Advance the development and growth of the business travel professional worldwide
ACTE's Strategic Intent:
To be the leading worldwide network of business travel professionals.
ACTE US and Canada
515 King St, Suite 340
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel: 1-703-683-5322
Fax: 1-703-683-2720
[email protected]
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Avenue des Gaulois 7
B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 32.2.743.1589
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ACTE Asia Pacific
333 North Bridge Road
#05-00, KH KEA Building
Singapore 188721
Tel: 65-6336 4341
Fax: 65-6336 2583
E-mail: [email protected]
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