Press Release
For Immediate Release
6 July 2007
ACTE Hosts First Ever Travel Management Event in Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) recently held its inaugural Nigerian education event in Lagos on 2 July 2007. This was ACTE's first event in the region and also the first-ever Travel Management session hosted for Nigerian Travel Professionals.
After attending the event, Mike Umoh, Airline Contracts Officer for Shell said, "The ACTE Lagos event will drive the Nigerian Travel Industry to the next level and help align the market with global practices."
The half-day event was attended by over 100 delegates from 53 organizations including corporate travel buyers, destination management companies, travel management companies, hotels and the airline industry. ACTE was also delighted to welcome the highest number of press representatives to attend an event in Africa with 19 members of the media in attendance.
"I am delighted that the first ACTE education event in Nigeria was so well received", stated Susan Gurley, ACTE Executive Director, "Delegates expressed a keen interest in ACTE's educational offerings and future events planned for the region. The sessions were extremely interactive, with delegates being very open in sharing their views and opinions with regards to the changing culture within the Nigerian Travel Industry."
The opening session, a Corporate Case study delivered by Emmanuel Oklobia, Senior Travel Officer for Shell, explored the need to move away from Airline commissions towards TMC management fee remuneration models in order to enhance transparency and TMC service levels.
The remaining sessions followed this theme and explored how to deliver value in a competitive environment, with best practices shared by Olufemi Adefope, Managing Director for HRG Nigeria, and the final session featured a highly interactive round table and panel debate regarding the impact of Airline Commissions on Corporate Travel Buyers. Delegates were largely in agreement that in order to advance the Nigerian Travel Industry, the market needed to undergo restructuring with the corporate buyers forging stronger relationships with their TMC's and becoming more involved in a tri-partisan relationship between their TMC's and travel suppliers.
"ACTE looks forward to expanding the education and networking opportunities in the region with future events planned for Nigeria in 2008." said Monique Swart, Regional Manager for ACTE Middle East & Africa. ACTE members can access the post event site for the Lagos event (http://www.acte.org/events/details.php?id=146) to view PowerPoint presentations, photos and media coverage.
For More Details:
Monique Swart
Regional Manager, Middle East & Africa
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
[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