Singapore, July 2, 2003 - In its first series of executive forums in Australia, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) will address the state of the Asian economy and what impact it is likely to exert on Australian business. Mr. Ian K. Perkin, former Head of the Economic and Legal Affairs of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce will deliver his analysis in Melbourne and Sydney on July 16th and July 18th respectively.

The address is a timely injection of information for Australian corporations as some economies in Asia recapture some pace whilst others struggle to cope with the negative after-effects of terrorism, SARS and the war in Iraq.

A severe casualty was business travel and the suppliers of business travel services. The already besieged industry found itself sinking even faster than ever before. Across the globe, travel was avoided and in many cases travel was banned while companies sought alternative ways of maintaining international business relationships and fulfilling business commitments that required travel. The cumulative downward pressure rendered heavy blows on already fragile economies with some showing signs of slipping back into another recession.

Will the ripples of Asia's economic woes reach Australia's shores? Where and when will the impact be most felt and how can companies brace themselves? Which Asian economies are on the road to sustainable recovery? These questions are likely to be answered at ACTE's executive forums on 16th July in Melbourne and 18th July in Sydney.

ACTE is proud to present its educational forums as part of its mission to advance the industry with the support of its regional sponsors Abacus International, Business Travel International and Raffles International Hotels & Resorts. The official venues and local sponsors for these executive forums are the Holiday Inn Melbourne and Merchant Court Sydney Hotel. For more information and to register, please visit www.acte.org or contact ACTE's Asia-Pacific office.

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 2,500, 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

Contact:
ACTE Asia-Pacific
37th floor, 50 Raffles Place
Singapore 048623
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +65 6728 3820
Fax: +65 6728 3863
Email: [email protected]