For Immediate Release
07 September 2005

Participation In ACTE Asia-Pacific Conference Doubles From 2002

Singapore (7 September 2005) -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executive's (ACTE) recent Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Singapore (24-25 August) drew more than double the attendance of the organization's first Regional Conference in this region, held only three years ago. More than 300 senior-level executives representing the corporate travel interests of companies throughout Asia and the Pacific rim met to analyze, strategize, and implement best practices in getting the highest return on corporate travel investment.

"The Asia-Pacific market represents the fastest growing sector in the business travel management industry, " said ACTE President Greeley Koch and Regional Conference attendee. "Asia-Pacific travel management executives and procurement specialists are using our educational programs as tools to meet their corporate objectives, and to create (delete - region-specific) best practices of their own."

Following the proven ACTE conference format, the program included keynote speakers, who spoke on broad-range topics as a prelude to travel management seminars.

Erna Witoetlar, United Nations Special Ambassador MDG, for Asia and Pacific, focused on the role of business in supporting international law, the quality of life, and world peace. "The United Nations regards the principles of corporate social responsibility as so important that it named CSR a UN millennium goal," said Ambassador Witoetlar. She further stated that business travel is the prime vehicle for transporting this concept to all parts of the world.

Dr. Seamus Phan, author and entrepreneur for KnowledgeLabs New Center, revealed a new corporate growth trend in creating symbiotic enterprises, a critical step in growing a healthy world economy. The point of Dr. Phan's position was that national and corporate cultures are converging in exciting new ways. It is important that all cultures recognize how travel programs work, and how they should work.

Dr. Olivier Lo, Area Medical Director, International SOS, detailed the potential for the next pandemic, and the steps that have to be taken to prevent it. His message was disease is more than just a threat to the economic foundation of our profession, but a crisis in the making for every industrialized nation in a global economy. The speaker emphasized that the travel industry can be the vehicle for understanding, prevention of, and preparation for this threat.

Speaking before the conference's general assembly, Greeley Koch said, "We are compelled to address these issues against a changing background of government regulation, distribution concerns, data management questions, internet developments, industry trends, negotiation tactics, and bottom-line savings."

Educational sessions focused on topics such as:
• Strategic Foresight: Thinking Like CXOs
• Performance Measurement: How Does Your Programme Rate with Your Travellers
• China: Pressure Points for Managed Travel
• Getting Your Programmes to CXO-level
• India: Working in Tight Spaces

The Solutions Showcase was again one of the most heavily attended events on the program, providing a firsthand look at the latest in communications and travel management software. Plans to increase the showcase for next year's event (August 2006) are in progress.

"The success of the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference reflects our commitment to providing a global educational package on a regional scale," said Executive Director Susan Gurley. "The growth of our membership community in the Asia-Pacific Region reflects the successful application of the information we impart." In addition to the ACTE Asia-Pacific Regional Conference, ACTE also conducts two Global Conferences annually and numerous Executive Forums that are scheduled on a monthly basis around the world throughout the year. More than 5,600 travel management professionals attended ACTE events in the last 12 months. For more information on ACTE events view our online calendar of events at www.acte.org

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For more information, please contact:

Jack Riepe
Global Communications Director
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
Tel: 1-610-719-8396
Mobile: 1-610-256-0124
E-mail: [email protected]

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