ACTE Recognizes Two Members for Outstanding Accomplishments

(Tampa, FL, USA, April 23, 2001)--The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has recognized two members for outstanding accomplishments during 2000. Jeff Kurn, Hewlett-Packard Company (HP), has received ACTE's Business Professionalism award, while Scott Gillespie, Travel Analytics, has received the organization's Industry Professionalism award. The announcements were made today by ACTE President Ron Wagner at the organization's annual spring conference, continuing here through April 24.

"It's especially meaningful that Jeff and Scott were nominated by their colleagues for these awards," explained Wagner. "The difficult part was narrowing the field of candidates, since ACTE members contribute so much, both to their own employers and to the entire corporate travel industry."

ACTE honored Kurn, global strategic sourcing manager - travel, for his role in saving the computer giant more than $40 million in travel costs. A group led by Kurn accomplished this by completely resourcing all the company's travel suppliers, consolidating agencies, and implementing a new travel policy. In the process, HP became the first Fortune 20 company to establish an online auction for its global car rental program, and to use online bidding for its hotel program.

ACTE recognized Gillespie, founder and principal of the travel industry consulting firm, Travel Analytics, for developing a software program that helps corporations easily examine airline pricing, and as a result, slash millions from their airline expenditures. Airlines also have found the program useful for analyzing data for bid negotiations with potential and renewal clients.

Kurn and Gillespie each received a commemorative award earlier today. Additional ACTE members will be honored with President's awards, to be announced at a luncheon tomorrow.

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Founded in 1988, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives is the only organization wholly dedicated to the science of business travel management with an international constituency. ACTE membership totals more than 2,400, including entities in Asia, Europe, Canada and the United States. The organization is headquartered in Alexandria, Va., and its web site is www.acte.org.