ACTE PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ACTE Examines Practices Best Suited For China
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Singapore 11 October 2004 - It has been said that some seeds cannot survive, let alone thrive; the transplantation into a different environment. ACTE called travel professionals to heed that advice as it raised questions surrounding the practice of corporate travel management that is best suited for China at its executive forum held on 16th September in Hong Kong hosted by the Langham Place Hotel Mongkok. The questions form part of growing concerns regarding the ability to manage travel given the scarcity of reliable delivery of some key services. Corporations, global travel management companies and vendors of business travel services have expressed varying levels of frustration in introducing processes that have proven records of successful implementation in parts of the world and many attribute this divide to the embryonic phase of a market that is witnessing soaring levels of business travel.
The forum presented facts and data about China's travel industry, the manner in which business is conducted in its markets, the state of development for services such as air travel and the many cultural nuances that shroud the true intent of local business practices which elude the non-Chinese business professional.
Genevieve Sulway who recently relocated to Beijing as the Asia-Pacific Travel Manager for Finnish mobile phone manufacturing giant Nokia said, "It's much more than just applying a different set of norms in business practice to this market; it's also the different development phase of the sourcing cycle where China is at right now. What seems like a very logical conclusion to a travel issue does not always translate into practical reality - you truly have to understand how effective any solution will be in reality for this emerging market."
The forum paid attention to questions asked by business travel management professionals in Hong Kong who in spite of their close geographical proximity to China's mainland markets still seek answers to many questions suggesting a high level of complexity in the Chinese business travel management environment.
The forum also featured a dialogue session that reviewed the main points of presentations, first made at the regional conference addressing emerging markets, which listed over 20 issues of concern about managing business travel in China. ACTE Among these were new issues such as availability of skilled manpower for the industry, managing the growth of the supply of travel services and even the question of China's labour laws.
ACTE has leveraged the information coming out of these discussions to construct a global survey that is currently being conducted to establish the top ten concerns regarding managed travel in China. The findings will be presented at its Beijing forum on 5th November and will offer first assessment by business travel professionals of the identified challenges and marks the first formal survey by a professional travel association on the subject.
ACTE's Executive Forums are made possible by the generous support of Global Executive Forum Supporter, TravelPORT and Asia-Pacific sponsors, Business Travel International, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Cathay Pacific Airways and Raffles International Hotels & Resorts.
To register for the Beijing forum go to:
Online: http://www.acte.org/events/beijing_110504/teaser.shtml
Telephone: 65-6336 4341
Email: [email protected]
For more information, contact:
Kenneth Phua
Director Asia-Pacific
Tel: 65-6336 4341
Email: [email protected]
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