ACTE
Press Release
Immediate Release!
ACTE
to Establish Asia/Pacific Office; Region Targeted for Grassroots
Development
(AMSTERDAM,
The Netherlands, October 22, 2000) – The
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) today approved
creation of a support office in Singapore to serve the organization's
expanding membership in the Asia/Pacific region. The vote took
place at a Board of Directors meeting at ACTE Global 2000, the
organization's annual international forum, continuing here through
October 24.
The Singapore office will handle general administration, event
planning, direct marketing and liaison with local vendors, according
to Huub Smeets, ACTE vice president - global development. "We
want local members to feel comfortable knowing that we have an
office dedicated to them, that operates in their time zone and
in a language they speak," he explained.
ACTE reports more than 70 members in the region - which includes
Japan southward through Australia - as a result of a grassroots
membership development effort begun last year. "Because the area
is geographically large and culturally and technologically diverse,
it represents ACTE's biggest development challenge to date," commented
Smeets.
While the region inarguably has its challenges, ACTE-sponsored
educational forums in Singapore and Hong Kong have met with overwhelming
approval. "People are really absorbing what we bring in," said
Smeets. "Unlike some parts of the world, where changes are implemented
in phases, people throughout Asia/Pacific have been thrown into
an environment that includes commission caps, the Internet and
all kinds of other new technology. Their desire to learn is incredibly
high."
To assist with development efforts, ACTE earlier this year established
a four-person Asia/Pacific council composed of business travel
professionals from the region. The volunteers meet monthly to
strategize about how to promote ACTE on a country-by-country basis.
Immediate plans include educational forums next year in Singapore,
Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. "Each forum will focus on a travel
management subject that is timely in that particular country,"
said Peter Choo, council chair.
For more information about ACTE's Asia/Pacific activities, contact
Choo at (65) 226-0960 or [email protected].
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 2,400, 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:
Kate Farrell
Manager of Marketing & Membership
ACTE
515 King Street, Suite 330
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA
1-732-283-2826
[email protected]
www.acte.org
