Contact: Tanya Andreadis ( [email protected]
)
ACTE
MEMBERS CALL FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION
(Alexandria,
VA, USA - November 15, 2001) Results from a survey conducted
by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) among
its US members early this week, clearly indicate that quick resolution
to travel security issues by the government is of the highest
priority to the professional corps of business travel managers.
The survey sought membership opinion of calls for action on three
security issues related to business travel. Those actions include:
» Immediate resolution between
the House of Representative's proposal and the Senate proposal
regarding federal involvement in airport security
» An expeditious/cooperative
effort between the business travel industry and government for
development and adoption of traveler ID technology that will heighten
security and reduce check-in times for business travelers.
»
An immediate, full exploration of potential measures
to monitor checked baggage and ensure security in the cargo
holds of aircraft.
Within 36
hours more than 325 survey responses were submitted to ACTE. The
responses were split 60/40 between corporate travel buyers and
corporate travel suppliers. "The rapid and remarkable number of
responses to these issues indicate that we have touched on several
industry raw nerves," stated ACTE president Ron Wagner. A tremendous
majority of responses agreed with the statements of ACTE representatives:
»
96% of the respondents agreed that the House of Representatives
and the Senate must come to an immediate resolution, which was
accomplished in the evening on November 15. In an area for respondents
to add commentary, opinions differed on which direction the government
should take. One survey taker said, "The private companies have
been doing security badly for years." While another claimed, "…When
government takes over security functions, funding and personnel
matters become too rigid to respond to changes in air travel demand."
Many shared the observation of one respondent who said that the
delay in Congress' approving security legislation is not only
a travesty in itself-the result of the most partisan political
maneuvering in the House-it is the single largest impediment to
making Americans feel better about traveling.
»
88% of those surveyed agreed ACTE support of an ID
technology solution. The proposed traveler ID is envisioned to
especially favor the business traveler by providing an expedited
screening process for those ID-enabled travelers at security points
in airports. However, most who did not agree expressed a need
for more information before reaching a decision. One offered this
perspective, "Adoption of some kind of retinal scan, finger print
reader, etc. scares me more than any terrorist."
»
ACTE members reached a close consensus (97%) on the
call to fully explore potential measures to monitor checked
baggage and ensure security in the cargo holds of aircraft.
One comment read, "The attacks were NINE WEEKS ago. Airport
security is slightly improved…All checked luggage needs to be
x-rayed; and all airports and all terminals need to follow ONE
approved security model."
Earl Foster,
ACTE Chairman announced, "ACTE will move forward on the input
from its members on these matters through press releases, convening
with the nation's legislators and initiating an industry checkpoint
to track progress on the actions promised both by the federal
government and the private sector. The results of the checkpoint
will be published on a monthly basis." Foster added, "ACTE will
be part of the solution and participate to its fullest in efforts
to move these proposals forward."
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.
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