Press Release

For Immediate Release
15 January 2009

ACTE Reinforces Commitment to Sustainability by Co-Locating with BTN at 2009 Global Education Conference in Washington, D.C.

Alexandria, Va --

To further serve its commitment to sustainability, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) announced plans today to once again co-locate with Business Travel News (BTN) at the association’s upcoming Global Education Conference at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., 5-7 April. Last year marked the first time the two organizations had combined forces for the global event.

By co-locating with BTN, ACTE will reduce carbon emissions at the conference. Co-locating is one of the new ways that ACTE is incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into its sustainability platform. “Through co-location with BTN at the Global Education Conference in Washington, D.C., ACTE will meet its objective to keep carbon emissions from the event low and support its environmental CSR charter,” said Susan Gurley, ACTE Executive Director. “ACTE was the first industry association to hold a carbon low conference, and we will continue to select hotels and conference centers, as well as potential conference partners, based on their green initiatives. Since 2004, ACTE has made CSR an integral part of its global education programs, and we will continue to do so for the benefit of our members and the environment.”

The co-location trend for conferences and meetings, where companies hold similar meetings simultaneously in one venue, has grown in the past few years. Top benefits cited by companies include cost savings and fulfillment of CSR objectives, followed by enriched meeting programs, recruitment, enhanced sponsorship revenue and increased membership.

Co-locators often partner with companies within the same industry, companies in a related industry or trade associations. Conferences are the most frequently co-located events, followed by association meetings, trade shows, special events and training meetings.

In addition, TransACTE, the environmentally-friendly trade show concept developed by ACTE, will make its 2009 debut at the conference in Washington, D.C. TransACTE was introduced at the 2008 Global Education Conference in Rome to rave reviews.

British Airways will once again offset the carbon emissions associated with the ACTE Global Education Conference in Washington, D.C. British Airways has been a sponsor of ACTE’s global education conferences since 2006.

TransACTE has a much smaller carbon footprint in comparison to that of a traditional trade show. This is in keeping with ACTE’s commitment to bringing environmentally-friendly solutions to the business travel industry.

TransACTE offers a turnkey alternative to traditional trade shows. For one low, all inclusive price suppliers may choose from two booth configurations, depending upon which model best suits their business needs. The first option is a Demonstration style set-up, designed for product demonstrations and includes a kiosk and Internet connection. The second option – a Meet & Greet set-up is a lounge style set up (with Internet), conducive to organizations that don’t necessarily have a product demonstration, but want a place to meet customers and prospective clients. Each booth option displays identical signage – with the corporate name and logo – on a header. Participants are also welcome and encouraged to have a combination of both options in a double booth.

For more information, and to register for the 2009 ACTE Global Education Conference in Washington, D.C., please click HERE.

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

ABOUT BTN:
Business Travel News has been the voice of authority for corporate travel buyers throughout North America for nearly 25 years. BTN publishes 25 print issues annually, including 19 newspapers and six Reference/Resource magazines. In addition, BTN offers BTNonline.com, the Web site for news and research for businesses that manage travel. BTNonline provides original daily news updates, Business Travel News newspapers in a searchable archive that dates back to 1996 and access to BTN's seven annual research works. BTN and BTNOnline.com are Nielsen Business Publications, USA, Inc. and Nielsen eMedia productions. Nielsen Business Publications, USA, Inc. penetrates and enlightens the travel industry with print, face-to face and online information.

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Contact:
Kathleen Brannigan
Senior Director, Global Communications
Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
t: 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