For Immediate Release
14 October 2005

ACTE Global Education Conference Already Setting Records
Unmatched Education Program and Speaker Line-up

London (October 14, 2005) -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is gearing up for its Annual Global Education Conference, “Breaking Barriers--Creating Solutions,” scheduled for October 23-24 in London.

Highlights of ACTE Global London include headline speakers and challenging educational sessions that will encourage lively debate and networking opportunities. The central themes of this year’s conference are Cooperation, Optimisation and Idealisation. Additionally, featured speakers and breakout educational sessions will focus on the two topics impacting the flow of all of today’s business—Globalisation and Technology.

Featured topics include an overview of the ACTE Traveller Security Task Force initiative and a discussion with Ann Barrett, Managing Director, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport Services, U.S. Department of State and Trevor Soames, Partner, Solicitor-Advocate & Barrister, Advocate, HOWREY LLP. This session will explore current US and EU policies around traveller identification technology and its privacy implications.

Trevor Soames, an expert in EU and Member State antitrust/competition and regulatory law, will also speak about the complexities of the business travel industry and its regulatory climate, as well as the role of the European Commission and ACTE members in shaping the future of the industry.Gus Hossein, Visiting Fellow, Information Systems, London School of Economics and Senior Fellow, Privacy International, will further explore this issue during the session entitled, From Security to Privacy Invasion: Finding the Right Balance.

The information-packed breakout sessions will also feature discussions on optimising online usage and the variety of self-booking tools across Europe. Conference delegates will also discuss the challenges involved in implementing a global travel management programme. This session will bring into focus the challenges and benefits of establishing and measuring consistent standards of service and delivery around the world as well as explore the technology and data management capabilities that enable—and at times—flummox these endeavours.

This session will be complemented by a discussion on Performance Measurement, which will share the ways leading-edge companies measure the performance of travel programmes involving multiple countries, currencies, policies, supplier agreements and spending patterns. Other important conference topics include optimizing hotel spend, gaining control over meetings spend, corporate social responsibility and the future of distribution.

The structure of this year’s educational series will be modelled on a Moot Court, which is a process used in many law schools as a means to teach law students the art of litigation. The process allows for audience participation and is administered by a senior "magistrate” with far ranging powers, so no question is off limits and no statement will go unchallenged. The combatant teams will be comprised of executive level subject matter experts from airlines, travel management companies, the GDSs, the "Genies" (GNE or GDS-new entrants) and corporate travel buyers.

In his first public industry appearance since taking the helm at British Airways, CEO Willie Walsh will be the featured guest speaker on Oct. 24th.

From keynote presentations and companion breakout sessions to the expanded Solutions Showcase—the Conference is designed to navigate travel industry professionals beyond the barriers of today’s complex business environment—from cultural, technological, geographical and regulatory challenges and the ceaseless pace and pressure of change—to new shores of improved performance and value creation.

Based on the unprecedented registration levels, which will make this Conference a record setter for ACTE EMEA, the association expects this year’s Conference will sell out quickly so both members and non-members are advised to register as soon as possible. To register for the ACTE Global Education Conference, visit www.acte.org/events.

About ACTE
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is a not for profit association established by business travel managers in 1988 to provide meaningful education and networking opportunities. ACTE recognizes the interdependence between corporate travel purchasers and corporate travel suppliers and accords both sectors equal membership. ACTE's membership spans all sectors of business travel, from corporate buyers to agencies to suppliers. ACTE currently serves more than 2,500 executives in over 40 countries.

For more information, contact:
Stanislas Berteloot
Regional Director EMEA
Association of Corporate Travel Executives
Tel +33 1 60 19 39 07
Tel. + 33 6 80 40 40 56
E-mail: [email protected]

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