Press Release
For Immediate Release
5 August 2008
ACTE & IOM Partner to Educate the Corporate Travel and Hospitality Industries on Labour-Related Issues
Alexandria, Va --
With an estimated 80 million migrant workers around the world, labour migration has moved to the top of the economic and social agendas of many countries. The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) will convene a high profile panel discussion at its upcoming Global Education Conference in Rome, 5-7 October on labour migration, its impact on the hospitality industry, and how it can tap into this potential labour pool.
The panel, Possibilities and Problems – Labour migration issues facing the corporate travel and hospitality industries, will consist of two speakers from the International Office for Migration (IOM): Scott Schirmer, Private Sector Liaison and Panel Moderator, and Jonathan Martens, Counter-trafficking Expert.
The two-hour seminar will focus on the employment challenges and labour issues faced by the corporate travel and hospitality industries, and how the industry can collaborate with international organizations and the business sector to access the migrant labour pool. The session will also highlight how the industry can develop programmes to respond to the long-term impacts of labour migration and labour mobility, which can mutually benefit migrants and the hospitality and corporate travel industries.
“Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the corporate travel industry is not just about reducing carbon emissions,” said Richard Crum, ACTE President. “The industry is now facing an unprecedented talent gap, and ACTE is working with both industry and international organizations to tap into this shifting labour pool for the economic benefit of all. ACTE has partnered with IOM, and also is collaborating with the International Hotel and Restaurant Association, to raise awareness of this issue and to offer solutions on how to promote and increase more responsible practices.”
“Labour migration issues are having a huge impact on reshaping societies,” said Scott Schirmer, IOM’s Private Sector Liaison. “IOM’s role in labour migration is to facilitate the development of policies and programmes that can individually and mutually benefit society. Therefore, we are delighted to be partnering with ACTE to help engage and inform the corporate and hospitality industries on these key issues.”
In addition to the panel discussion, the ACTE Global Education Conference will feature a keynote presentation by National Public Radio European Correspondent Sylvia Poggioli, A Common Thread: Weaving New Immigrant Populations into Europe’s Social Fabric, and two education sessions on CSR-related issues: New Technologies for Business Travel and Managing the Pain/Cost of Green.
For more information on the panel discussion, and to register for the ACTE Rome Global Education Conference, please go to http://www.acte.org/content/Rome_08/Conference_Home.
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.
In the last three years, ACTE has been involved in a number of CSR initiatives, including:
• Featured speaker Thomas G. Ehr, Chief Executive of the MTV Exit Europe
Foundation and Executive Producer of MTV Exit, MTV’s multiplatform European
campaign to End Exploitation and Trafficking at ACTE 2006 Asia-Pacific
Education Conference in Singapore
• Joined as charter member of the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), leading
the industry response for a more cohesive and streamlined energy policy in
the United States
• Support of the United Nations Global Compact
• Active member of the UNEP International Taskforce on Sustainable Tourism
Development
• Partnered with Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD), a major German transport
and environmental organization, on its Green Travel Project
• Serve as 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)
ACTE will continue to commit itself, now and in the future, to promoting the economic prosperity of the business travel industry in conjunction with CSR initiatives.
For more information on ACTE and its CSR initiatives, please go to http://www.acte.org/initiatives/CSR.php.
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 Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and the United States. For more information on ACTE, please go to www.acte.org.
Innovators to the Business Travel Management Profession
“The Most Widely Adopted Standards in the Industry”
Education • CSR • Traveller Safety/Data Privacy • Advocacy
ABOUT IOM:
Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. With 125 member states, a further 16 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems, and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.IOM activities that cut across these areas include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants' rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration. For more information, please go to http://www.iom.int/jahia/jsp/index.jsp.
ABOUT IH & RA IH & RA:
Officially recognised by United Nations, as the Only Global Association representing the Private Hospitality Sector with over 300,000 Hotels and 8 Millions Restaurants Worlwide. Founded in 1946 in Paris, France. www.ih-ra.com
For more information, contact:
Kathy Brannigan
Senior Director, Global Communications
t: 703-683-5322 x203
e: [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