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