Press Release

For Immediate Release
27 August 2007

ACTE and FBTA Explore Four Travel Management Challenges in Joint Executive Forum

-- Two of the most reliable sources of information in the travel management profession -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and the Finnish Business Travel Association (FBTA) -- will examine four issues currently in industry headlines. Scheduled for 25 September 2007 in Helsinki, the program will focus on multi-channel purchasing, corporate social responsibility, GDS deregulation, and the implications of international aviation agreements.

"Each of these issues represents a subject on which ACTE has recently commented, presented, or researched," said Gurley. "And our stance has always been objective, but with a distinct European perspective."

Multi-channel purchasing has been a popular topic at ACTE conferences and executive forums. The Helsinki event will explore the latest developments in this aspect of purchasing, and provide interesting best-practice case studies for applications in Finland. ACTE was the first global professional association to adopt corporate social responsibility as a major initiative, and the first to provide the industry with a systematic approach to implementing a CSR program .

ACTE testified before the European Commission (5 June 2007) on the best way to incorporate change in GDS regulations. The association's stance basically called for deregulation (with a few regulations remaining), and a lot of dialogue. ACTE representatives contended that the "American" manner of GDS deregulation wouldn't work in a European market.

"This agenda is extremely interesting and important to our membership," said Jutta Luoma, Managing Director of the FBTA. "The program was developed in conjunction with ACTE, with substantial input from FBTA. Our objective was to increase the scope of the forum, while also increasing the distribution range of its findings. ACTE, with FBTA involvement, will give these issues thorough coverage in a number of ways. Through this cooperation FBTA can offer added value to its members, increase industry awareness and highlight the efforts of FBTA as The Forum for travel management professionals in Finland."

The Helsinki Forum is a prelude to ACTE's Global Conference in Munich on 21 - 23 October 2007. ACTE's philosophy is to conduct a progression of educational events, leading up to a global conclusion of issues, presented at major association conferences held three times each year. In this manner, no issue is left uncovered. The theme for the Munich Conference is "Harnessing The Power of a €200 Billion Business."

Founded in 1984, the Finnish Business Travel Association is an organization for business travel professionals, both buyers and suppliers, committed to enhancing the understanding, knowledge and skills required in corporate travel management and procurement. FBTA´s aim is to enhance the status and visibility of travel management through stimulating public discussion on topical travel management issues. FBTA has more than 170 members of which 65% are corporate travel buyers and 35% travel suppliers. FBTA buyer members manage total travel expenditures of more than €1 billion per year.

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives was founded in 1988 as the education and research resource for the global business travel management profession. With 2,500 members in 50 countries, ACTE conducts international conferences, executive forums, PowerTalks, and webcasts on every continent except Antarctica. More than 6,000 ranking travel management executives attended 65 ACTE events around the worlds last year.

To register for this event, go to www.acte.org.

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Fitzgerald
Regional Manager, Europe
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
Riedestrasse 10
38102 Braunschweig, Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 531 389 3190
USA: 1(401) 441 5783
Cell: +49 (0) 176 20 79 8780

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