Press Release

For Immediate Release
10 May 2010

“Inspirational Conflict Management” Focus of Keynote Presentation at ACTE Asia-Pacific Education Conference

Singapore --

Conflict in presentations, negotiations, and meetings could be costing the business travel management industry trillions of yen, yuan, rupees, or dollars annually, according to Ray Bigger, Sales, Marketing, and People Development Architect for“Think 8.” Recognizing and managing this conflict will be the subject of a keynote address, delivered by Bigger, at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) Asia-Pacific Education Conference in Singapore, 25-26 August 2010.

“The competitive nature of the business travel management profession is so intense, that any high-level sales or new process-oriented technique capable of giving an executive the edge in relationship or team-building is a tremendous advantage,” said Meredith Smith, ACTE Asia-Pacific Board Member/Travel Manager – APJ, Merck Global Travel Services. “Ray Bigger’s keynote address is a vital part of our program agenda to enhance the value a travel management executive can bring to their company, while significantly boosting their own individual capabilities.”

Conflict can manifest itself in many ways, ranging from an individual’s inability to fully grasp a concept or by simply blocking the enthusiasm required to support a particular corporate objective. In his presentation titled, “Inspirational Conflict Management,” writer, presenter, and seasoned business professional Ray Bigger will identify the various types of conflict, detail typical reactions, and demonstrate the most effective responses that will work to an executive’s advantage. He will examine the role emotional intelligence (EQ) plays in this process, prior to examining a conflict model that will help identify the best response style and the likely style of peers, colleagues, subordinates, and customers. One objective of this keynote address will be how to manage professional relationships to a greater effect.

“This presentation will give you a clear line of sight to some ideas for transforming conflict into an engaging —not disengaging — productive and effective process to drive the key performance indicators that you, your boss and the company have with much more vigour,” said Bigger, who has a highly diversified business profile. He served as CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore and is a current Board Member of the United World College of South East Asia whilst on the sporting side he was a panel member on ESPN Sports “Football Focus.” Bigger was also the founding Chairman of the Hong Kong Chartered Institute of Marketing 1994-1996 and the President and Co-Founder of the Asia Professional Speakers Association. His best known published works have appeared in the Coaching & Mentoring column in Travel Trades Gazette (TTG) and various British Chamber of Commerce publications.

Bigger’s keynote address will be delivered on Thursday morning, 26 August 2010. His presentation and the other general sessions at ACTE’s Asia-Pacific Education Conference will be supported by 12, highly informative education sessions focused on the following three themes: Travel Procurement and Sourcing, Travel and Communication Technologies, and Strategic Corporate Travel Management.

With a setting as dramatic as the event’s content, the conference will be held at the new Marina Bay Sands hotel, opening this week in Singapore. The Marina Bay Sands, a stunning architectural statement, offering over 2,500 distinctly appointed rooms; twenty-six restaurants and brand-new meeting facilities, with state-of-the-art support systems, will make this one of the most memorable and effective, venues for ACTE’s Conference.

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