Press Release
For Immediate Release
9 June 2008
NIGERIAN TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS CANDIDLY DISCUSS BSP IN LAGOS
Alexandria, Va. -- Business travel management professionals from Lagos and throughout Nigeria conducted a series of candid and high-level talks regarding the recent Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) developments in the region, at an Executive Forum hosted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) on 6 May 2008.
The group participated in a three-part educational program covering multiple phases of the BSP issue. The first session dealt with the benefits of the BSP to the Nigerian travel industry, while the second was an open discussion dealing with the challenges facing the corporate buyer in regard to the BSP. The third was an interpretive session focusing on this issue.
“This was the second ACTE Executive Forum held in Nigeria within the past six months,” said Susan Gurley, ACTE Executive Director. “This event set the record for corporate attendance, drawing nearly a 50 percent ratio of buyers to other attendees. ACTE strives to bring locally relevant education to all of our regions, and it is a testament to this mission that the Lagos event was so well received.”
Olufemi Adefope, travel veteran and Managing Director from HRG Nigeria, opened the first session with a presentation highlighting the potential of the BSP to advance the travel industry in Nigeria through improved transparency, better control over service levels and improved technological functionality.
During the second session, delegates were encouraged to openly discuss some sensitive issues focusing on the current environment within the industry, specifically looking at the BSP. One of the key challenges facing travel managers is the change in payment terms granted by their travel management companies now that the BSP requires bills to be settled within seven to 14 days. Surprisingly, corporate buyers agreed that shorter payment terms were better for the industry and assisted them in gaining improved control over their TMCs service levels.
The final session featured panel members Yomi Jones from BCD Nigeria, Loretta Ekpagha from Shell, Folake Soetan from Virgin Nigeria and Olabimpe Kola-Jebutu from UBA.
One of the key elements emerging from the roundtable discussion was a motion by local travel professionals to create a committee that will focus on advancing the industry and improving communications between key stakeholders. The purpose of this committee is to sustain the momentum generated by the group for various ob
“I am delighted with the warm reception that ACTE received in Nigeria, and with the amount of delegates who offered their support to the Committee, which will be established in the near future,” said Monique Swart, Regional Director for ACTE Middle East & Africa.
“This event was very successful and I learned a lot of important information that will have a direct impact on my company,” said Grace Shiyanbola, Indirect Procurement Executive for British American Tobacco.
Commented Bimpe Kola-Jebutu, Regional Director Victoria Island Region for the United Bank for Africa plc, “The forum as a whole was highly informative and revolutionary, as delicate but salient topics were addressed. At the start of BSP in Nigeria, the timing couldn’t have been better!”
For additional information, please contact Monique Swart, Regional Director, ACTE Middle East & Africa at [email protected] or +27 11 888-8178.
ABOUT ACTE:
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) represents the global business travel industry through its international advocacy efforts, executive level educational programs, and independent industry research. ACTE's membership consists of senior travel industry executives from 82 countries representing the €200 billion business travel industry. With the support of sponsors from every major segment of the business travel industry, ACTE develops and delivers educational programs in key business centers throughout the world. ACTE has offices in Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and the United States. For more information on ACTE, please go to www.acte.org.
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