For Immediate Release
ACTE Conference Attracts Record Crowd
Six Hundred Thirty Participants Convene in Seattle
Seattle -- ACTE VIII Seattle, the eighth annual conference of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives opened here today to a record attendance of six hundred thirty. The conference occurs during a period when ACTE is experiencing record membership growth in the US, UK and Canada.
"This year marks the one-year anniversary of commission caps -- the beginning of an unprecedented transformation of the travel management process" said Fred Miller, vice president of Renaissance Hotels and co-chair of the ACTE VIII conference. "ACTE VIII is designed to help participants make sense of the dramatic changes sweeping the industry."
A series on technology, offered by ACTE in conjunction with the Independent Travel Technology Association, features a variety of seminars and workshops on such topics as agentless reservations, on-line information via the Internet and travel agent productivity. Industry hot topics - the continuing influence of commission caps, ticketless travel, negotiations, global travel and engineering are addressed, in depth, as well.
The conference features four keynote presenters:
Bob Wayman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hewlett-Packard delivers " A CFO's View," his perspectives on the role of travel management as an integral component of sound financial management.
Lorraine Ausley Ellis, Executive Director of the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism addresses "The White House Conference," the overall impact of the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism and the future of the US travel industry.
Sheila Murray Bethel, author, lecturer and chair of the Bethel Institute delivers "Hang On, White Water Ahead", a blueprint for thriving in the midst of global competition.
Jean Pigott
Evening events at the conference include an opening reception at Seattle's remarkable M useum of Flight and a gala dinner at the Seattle Sheraton followed by a Fantasy Casino.
"Traditionally, ACTE's conferences have represented invaluable opportunities to network with colleagues and the industry leaders who are shaping the future of corporate travel" said Nancy Holtzman, conference co-chair and director of corporate sales for System One/ Amadeus. "This year's conference is no exception."
Established in 1987, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives was formed as a non-profit association to elevate the standards of the business travel industry internationally. ACTE's efforts are in the areas of education and professional development and are designed to expand levels of competence in corporate travel management and to promote, protect and advance the
interests of the business traveler.
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