Press Release
For Immediate Release
29 October 2008
ACTE AND MEXICANA AIRLINES TO OFFSET CARBON EMISSIONS FOR LATIN AMERICA EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Alexandria, Va. --
Reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), in partnership with Mexicana Airlines, will offset the carbon emissions of the association’s Latin America Education Conference, 29-30 October at the Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico City. ACTE’s Munich conference, held in October 2007, resulted in a 674.6 tonne reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2).
“ACTE has been leading the way to a sustainable corporate travel industry since 2004,” Susan Gurley, ACTE Global Executive Director, said. “Being a good corporate citizen is about being responsible environmentally and also socially, and ACTE is fortunate to have the support of key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategic partners and sponsors, such as Mexicana Airlines. We are delighted to be working with Mexicana, for the first time, to offset carbon emitted by attendees' travel to and from the conference.”
“For several years, Mexicana has worked in programs for the care and protection of the environment, which have permitted us to actively contribute to the quality of life in the communities in which we operate,” noted Adolfo Crespo, Senior Vice President Customer Service and Corporate Communications, Mexicana Airlines. “We are very glad to partner with ACTE on this important carbon offset project, and know that it will not only benefit the world community, but will reinforce our commitment as a Corporate Socially Responsible airline,” he added.
After the Latin America Education Conference, ACTE and Mexicana will work to evaluate investment in projects around the world that save equivalent amounts of CO2 projected to be emitted by the conference (approximately 500t/CO2). These projects will benefit local communities directly through solar and hydro schemes, improvement of health and creation of jobs, forestry projects, etc.
ACTE launched its CSR Initiative in the Fall of 2004. It was the first organization in the business travel industry to recognize this key issue, and to educate members on the positive corporate/social benefits of sound CSR practices.
In the last four years, ACTE has engaged in numerous global CSR initiatives, including:
• Instituting, in 2006, an Environmental Considerations RFP document for green meetings
• The ACTE/KDS Survey on the impact of CSR in the business travel industry (its fourth year)
• Partnering with VCD, a major German transport and environmental organization, on its Green Travel Project
• Hosting carbon-low global conferences in partnership with Marriott and British Airways (the ACTE Global Conference in Munich, October 2008, resulted in a reduction of 674.6 tons of CO2)
• Global Symposium at the ACTE Singapore Conference in August 2008 on Mainstreaming CSR in Business Travel Management
• Partnering with The CarbonNeutral Company to provide a travel carbon calculator to members to measure their emissions
• White paper, Carbon Neutrality – An integral part of the corporate travel supply-chain, ba
• Support of the United Nations Global Compact
• Member of the UNEP International Taskforce on Sustainable Tourism Development
• Partnering with international organizations such as International Office of Migration and MTV Exit Europe Foundation to end exploitation and trafficking of women and children
• Serving on 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 incorporates environmentally-friendly practices into its global conferences and throughout its regional offices, and remains committed to reducing carbon emissions at all events. Twice a year, ACTE gives its CSR Award, the first of its kind in the industry, to those business travel executives who incorporate eco-sensitive practices into their travel programs.
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 €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
“The Most Widely Adopted Standards in the Industry”
Education • CSR • Traveler Safety/Data Privacy • Advocacy
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Contact:
Héctor de los Santos
Regional Director, Mexico & Central America
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
t: +52 (55) 5660-8820
e: [email protected]
Kathleen Brannigan
Senior Director, Global Communications
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
t: 1-703-683-5322
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