ACTE
Press Release
Immediate Release!
(Alexandria, VA, USA, June 5, 2000) - The science of business
travel management is shrinking the world again, as the Association
of Corporate Travel Executives prepares to convene its first business
travel forum in South Africa. Representatives from finance, manufacturing,
communications, the chemical industry and every facet of the global
transportation/hospitality community will meet in Johannesburg,
South Africa on 6 June, 2000, to discuss changes in the client/agent/supplier
relationship, the evolution of the distribution system, and the
maturation of the travel management profession in its course from
service to science.
"The world's horizons fall within the range of ACTE's membership
with the advent of the this travel forum in South Africa,"
said Huub Smeets, the association's vice president of Global Development.
"Africa is a colossus of resources, new markets, and blossoming
business potential. This forum is a natural progression of market
factors demanding a standardized approach to business travel management
in this vital region."
According to a statement issued by forum co-chair Allan Lunz,
managing director/Concorde Travel, the changeover from a commission-based
industry to a fee-based operation now requires a new perspective
regarding the value-added services provided by travel agents.
"Though well established in other countries, the changeover
from commission to fee-based booking is not an easy transition
in South Africa, where people are not used to thinking in these
terms," said Lunz.
The program will commence with welcoming remarks delivered by
forum co-chair Caroline Ravenall, SA sales director/Virgin Atlantic
Airways; an introduction from Herman Mensink, director EMEA/ACTE;
and a presentation on the first steps of ACTE in South Africa
by Derek Jewson, managing director/Baggage Direct, U.K.
Toby Joseph, vice president strategic sales EMEA/Carlson Wagonlit,
will provide an industry overview on Changes in the Travel Distribution
Structure. The keynote speech "Is SAA's Strategy For Winning
Working" will be presented by South African Airways executive
vice president commercial, chief financial and information officer
Andre Viljoen.
Chris van Veen, vice president and manager global business travel
program/ABN-AMRO Bank will lead a presentation on implementinga
travel management program, best practices, and communicationto
senior management. The application of specialized travel management
procedures for this region will be the subject of a presentation
by Ray Lecolle Brown, group company secretary of Unilever South
Africa. The program will conclude with a panel discussion on best
practices.
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives has 2,400 members
worldwide, and serves as the primary educational resource for
the global business travel management profession.
For more information, contact: Herman Mensink at +31.40.284.4493
or [email protected]
Kate Farrell
Manager of Marketing & Membership
ACTE
www.acte.org
