Press Release
For Immediate Release
3 July 2008
ACTE AND CSR ASIA TO CONDUCT HIGH-LEVEL CSR BUSINESS SUMMIT
Alexandria, Va. -- In response to hundreds of companies throughout the international business travel community seeking to advance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ob CSR within the corporate travel industry it not just about reducing carbon emissions but also deals with issues such as human trafficking and labour migration. The industry faces increasing social challenges such as changing demographics, increased labour mobility as well as the recruitment and employment of migrant workers. “Preserving the environment, protecting travellers, and contributing to the betterment of humanity have become basic business fundamentals for the travel management profession,” said Marie Morice, ACTE Global CSR Director. “Yet, just as every other aspect of our industry has grown in sophistication and expectation, so too have CSR ob “Corporate travel contributes to a significant proportion of a company’s carbon footprint. However, in most cases business travel is not yet integrated to corporates’ overall CSR strategy,” said Stephen Frost, CSR Asia Director. “This is why we’ve partnered with ACTE, to work together to raise awareness on CSR issues related to the business travel industry, and to promote and increase the implementation of more responsible practices.” Summit topics will include: Attendance is by invitation only. Please contact Marie Morice at [email protected] if you are interested in attending this event. In addition to the summit, the ACTE Asia-Pacific Education Conference will feature a keynote presentation by Stephen Frost, “em ACTE officially launched its CSR Initiative in the Fall of 2004, and was the first organization in the business travel industry to recognize this key issue, and to educate members on the positive corporate and social benefits of sound CSR practices. ACTE’s Global CSR Committee is member driven and is represented by leading organizations across the industry and around the world. It offers a comprehensive package on relevant CSR issues for corporate travel buyers, hotels, airlines and TMCs, including practical tools and resources, and innovative education events with leading experts and state-of-the-art research. The Committee also develops strategic alliances with leading organizations to provide a wide choice of innovative, inspirational and integrated solutions as well as expert speakers on key relevant CSR issues such as carbon management, labour migration and corporate duty of care. In the last three years, ACTE has been involved in a number of CSR initiatives, including: Support for the United Nations Global Compact Active member of the UNEP International Taskforce on Sustainable Tourism Development The ACTE/KDS Survey on the impact of CSR in the business travel industry – now in its fourth year Partnering with Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD), a major German transport and environmental organization, on its Green Travel Project Hosting carbon-low global conferences in partnership with British Airways in Washington, D.C. and with Marriott and British Airways for the ACTE Global Education Conference in Munich in October 2007 (which resulted in a reduction of 674.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide) Launched ACTE Carbon Calculator with the Carbon Neutral Company in 2006 The hire of a dedicated Global CSR Director, Marie Morice, in Singapore The creation of the white paper, Carbon Neutrality – An integral part of the corporate travel supply-chain, ba Cut ACTE’s internal consumption by 65 percent and reducing its carbon footprint by half in the last two years Serving as a committee member for the Green Meetings & Events initiative, led by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Holding the opening and closing receptions within walking distance from our Washington, D.C. Global Education Conference venue ACTE Centre white paper, “Corporate Air Travel and Climate Change” ACTE will continue to commit itself, now and in the future, to promoting the economic prosperity of the business travel industry in conjunction with environmental protection. For more information on ACTE and its CSR initiatives, please go to http://www.acte.org/initiatives/CSR.php. ABOUT ACTE: ABOUT CSR ASIA: # # #
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 Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and the United States. For more information on ACTE, please go to www.acte.org.
CSR Asia is the leading provider of information, training, research and consultancy services on sustainable business practices in Asia. Operating as a dynamic social enterprise, CSR Asia occupies the unique middle ground between civil society organisations and fully commercial consultancies. This enables us to provide independent and cutting edge services and expert insight into the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues facing companies in Asia. CSR Asia builds capacity and promotes awareness of CSR in order to advance sustainable development across the region. For more information, please go to www.csr-asia.com.
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