Press Release
For Immediate Release
28 October 2008
ACTE Canada Education Conference Provides Inside Data on Beating Uncertain Economic Future for Business Travel Industry
Alexandria, Va --
A global economy in flux, and an industry seeking the best response, is drawing a record number of business travel managers to the Association of Corporate Travel Executives’ (ACTE) Canada Education Conference, in Toronto, on 16-18 November 2008. According to Monica Hailstone, Regional Director ACTE Canada, the current economic environment is creating a stronger bond between travel industry buyers and suppliers determined not to lose hard earned gains to a growing sense of financial uncertainty.
“Business travel managers and suppliers are working more closely than ever before to defeat the sense of pessimism that has accompanied the growing global credit crisis,” said Hailstone. “And they are using ACTE events, like the Canada Education Conference, to build new strategies and to share their expertise in stimulating corporate growth during these difficult times.”
Hailstone added that ACTE predicted the current economic crisis over a year ago and altered its educational programs accordingly. “The association began a program of travel industry recession insurance last November, and began emphasizing new approaches like value management, demand management, and strategic meetings management, that can help corporations shave up to 15 percent off their travel budgets, or continue to fund revenue-generating travel,” she said.
The ACTE recession insurance formula includes a back-to-basics checklist of proven travel management techniques, plus a powerful combination of travel alternatives that make it unnecessary to institute across the board travel cutbacks. “This reduces the traditional travel industry bounce-back period following the inevitable return to better times, and maintains a stronger degree of corporate growth momentum,” said Hailstone.
Four leading economic and industry authorities will present a detailed perspective of the financial future – and the best way to deal with it in Canada and globally. On Monday, 17 November, Professor Louis Gialloreto, BA, BA (Hon) Law, MBA, LLM, MRAeS, will identify a number of key variables that spark new opportunities for growth in the business travel industry – and corporate growth for companies who anticipate these developments. An author of over 50 articles in various marketing and air transport publications, along with 20 years of corporate management experience with regional and major airlines, Professor Gialloreto has developed and/or taught on executive and management education seminars and corporate consulting mandates with representatives of over 100 companies in the last 15 years.
Also on Monday, November 17, Hall of Fame Inductee and Guinness World Record Holder, Bob Gray, will present a lively methodology for improving the memory for details that can have a significant effect on business acumen. This empowering technique and its many applications suitable for the business world provides immediate “walk away” value for participants negotiating new contracts or seeking buy-in from upper management.
The search for economic stability in the business travel industry will continue on Tuesday, 18 November, when Pedro Antunes, Director, National and Provincial Forecast, Conference Board of Canada, will reveal a national and provincial forecast spanning new trends and anticipated developments. Looking beyond the anticipated, the Antunes forecast will combine with the previous presentations to provide a multidimensional timeline of future events, enabling participants to plan their response in advance.
Evan Solomon, CBC Television Broadcaster, Journalist and Author will follow by sharing his insight about exploring the world of innovation, advances in technology, changing business paradigms, and creative approaches to managing and solving the complex challenges of sustainability in the 21st Century. A long-time print and broadcast journalist, Mr. Solomon is the co-host of the two weekly news and current affairs shows CBC News: Sunday and CBC News: Sunday Night.
“These internationally recognized keynote presenters not only set the tone for the conference, but provide a blueprint for the innovative thinking and advanced policies required to meet the current world credit crisis,” said Hailstone. “And as each of these individuals hails from Canada, there will be a strong emphasis on a unified response from the Canadian business travel industry,” said Hailstone. “While others are offering platitudes, ACTE is providing a plan of action.”
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 €463 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 representation 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
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Contact:
Kathleen Brannigan
Senior Director, Global Communications
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
t: 1-703-683-5322 x 207
e: [email protected]
Monica Hailstone
Regional Director, Canada
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
t: 613-836-7652
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