Press Release

For Immediate Release
1 June 2007

ACTE to debate critical global Travel Industry issues in Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) will be addressing two critical issues currently facing the South African Travel industry at an Executive Forum hosted on 21 June 2007 at the Inter-Continental Sandton Sun & Towers.

Based on requests buy the Corporate Travel Community in the region, this event will focus on critical travel issues affecting the industry as a whole, including:

• Best Available Rates and how they affect the Corporate Buyer
• The emergence of a Skills-Gap in the South African Travel Industry

The issue of an emergent Skills-Gap is being experienced across the globe, with the international travel community expressing a concern with the lack of effectively trained staff coming into the travel industry. With the continuous evolution of the industry, the need to attract young workers with effective education and skills is fast becoming a difficult task to fulfil. ACTE intends to advance the industry by addressing this issue and discussing possible long-term solutions at upcoming educational sessions around the world.

“I am very much looking forward to the next ACTE Executive Forum on 21 June as the topics are of extreme relevance to Sasol. The issue of Hotel Best Available Rates is one that we are dealing with at present, and I will be very interested to hear the panel debate on this session and to learn some information regarding the different perspectives, as well as to get an understanding of benchmarked practices,” said Talitha Redelinghuis, Travel Manager for Sasol Ltd.

The Johannesburg event will also feature a Self Booking Tools Technology Showcase. Following on from ACTE’s March Event where corporate buyers requested additional information on Self Booking Tools available in the market, this showcase will feature product displays and demonstrations of all the Self Booking Tools available to corporate buyers in South Africa. This session is not to be missed for any corporate buyer wishing to investigate the different Self Booking Tools available, as well as current SBT users who may want to get additional insight into the functionality of their product.

The regions leading travel management professionals will present sessions and panel discussions regarding these pertinent Travel Management issues.

Speakers and Panellists at this event include:

- Kobus Meyer, Senior Specialist Travey – Vodacom
- Malcolm Muggeridge, Revenue Manager – Southern Sun Hotels
- Felicity Meyer, Managing Director – Catalyst Travel Management
- Professor Berendien Lubbe, Travel & Tourism Deparment – University of Pretoria

ACTE Executive Director, Susan Gurley said “ ACTE is pleased to be working with such an engaged membership in the region.”

For more information please contact:

Monique Swart
Regional Manager, Middle East & Africa
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
Tel: +27 11 888 8178
E-mail: [email protected]


For more information, contact:
Debbie Flynn
CEO
Brighter Group
The Pod, London's Vertical Gateway
Bridges Wharf, Battersea
London SW11 3BE England
T: 020 7326 9880
F: 020 7326 9890
E: [email protected]
W: www.brightergroup.com