ACTE Update July 1998
ACTE President on Education... Growth...and Objectivity | ACTE Names Alana Mehic Director of Education | ACTE Moves to Generate Travel Industry Statistics | New Personnel Changes and Plan for ACTE Headquarters | ACTE X Smashes Previous Attendance Record | Good News? Tell Us!
ACTE President On Education... Growth... And Objectivity
Speaking before a packed business meeting at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives' Tenth Annual Conference in New Orleans, President Earl Foster revealed destiny and foresight as two critical elements woven into the association's charter.
"A sense of destiny and the gift of foresight are elements common to all visionaries," said Foster. "Ten years ago, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives was proposed as a forum for the equal representation of the entire sector of senior-level business travel professionals. This concept - so radical in its simplicity - was designed to offer a dignified, professional arena in which to address the key issues of our industry. ACTE's approach was to offer education instead of emotion... Planning as opposed to political posturing... And the mutual cooperation of a membership equally committed to shaping the future.
"A sense of destiny and the gift of foresight have brought us to New Orleans today. A decade after the founding principles of ACTE were first introduced, this association is recognized throughout our industry as the premier source of educational programs dedicated to this profession. Our town-meeting approach to problem solving has made us a global village, attracting members from every international crossroads. And the membership structure of our organization - once considered to be so radical - is now an industry standard. "
Turning his attention to the association's primary objective, Foster restated ACTE's commitment to providing the most diverse and regionally available educational program offered to the business travel industry. ACTE sponsored four regional seminars in 1985. In 1998, the association sanctioned fifteen in North America and another seven in Europe. Each of these seminars will range in size from 75 to 200 participants. According to Foster, attendance at ACTE forums is the very definition of "popular demand."
Also announced as part of Foster's presentation was a continued emphasis on technology by the Education Committee, with the intent of establishing new parameters of computer competency for members.
Foster credited ACTE's enduring and undiminished spirit to the volunteers serving on the sidelines.
"ACTE is volunteer driven and volunteer motivated," said Foster. "Virtually every function, forum, and meeting is the brainchild of a volunteer committee or volunteer members freely sharing their time and other resources to make events like this one possible. Our volunteer ethic helps to keep this association in touch with its members and out in front of the pack when it comes to embracing innovation. "
Two of the most sensitive issues addressed by Foster were the growth of the association and its continued objectivity. Some members have expressed a fear that ACTE's rapid growth would inhibit its effectiveness; others are worried that the association's diverse membership could prevent it from taking a critical stand on some issues.
"Our association is going to grow," said Foster. "It's got to grow to match the growing sophistication of our members. It has to match the pace of the profession it serves. And it has to grow to meet the demands of tomorrow."
"But it doesn't have to grow like a weed - uncontrolled, which if left alone, could consume the association."
In answer to the question of how big the association should be, the ACTE President stated: big enough to fulfill its objectives without compromising its integrity, without diluting the service it provides, or restricting its ability to act decisively in the face of industry developments.
"I advocate a policy of controlled growth," declared Foster. "ACTE has earned a reputation for attracting the most senior and experienced business travel professionals. The growth of this association must be directed to build upon this strength and to increase the professional think-tank aspects of our organization. The elements that have made this association the right choice for so many of us must be preserved. These elements include integrity, value, and the town meeting qualities of our events that enable us to address key issues without overwhelming each other with shear mass."
In dealing with the issue of objectivity, Foster likened the association to an extended family.
"There has been a concern that the growth of our organization will eventually inhibit our ability to take a stand or to voice a dissenting opinion," said Foster. " I regard this association as a kind of extended family; a family in which I am related to each of you through a marriage of economics and professional interests. Every family member has a different perspective. Simply having an opposite point of view should never be sufficient cause to threaten the family unit or even hobble a conversation. Membership in this organization should never preclude criticism or the discussion of sensitive issues.
We are not always going to agree on everything. But we can certainly reach an agreement on the importance of listening to everyone's viewpoint and acting for the common good."
Foster concluded his presentation with his vision for the future - a global community where each street stretches from horizon to horizon. He stated that business travel was the resource that could make this vision possible and practical, provided its management was carefully nurtured. In some parts of the world, Foster conceded that the travel management function had yet to be introduced. His closing statement summarized ACTE's ongoing mission: "Since 1988, ACTE has come to stand for integrity, innovation, and a sensible approach to identifying and responding to business travel industry issues. Our main focus is to raise consciousness - not funds. We'd rather generate more progress than paper. We've staked our reputation on results, not promises. We're ACTE. We are the business travel professionals of today and tomorrow. We're your association."
ACTE Names Alana Mehic Director of Education
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives has named Alana Mehic Director of Education, capping a lengthy search for a candidate with a background geared for senior-level presentations and program development.
"Our educational programs, already recognized as the best, have reached a point where they need to be dovetailed into the association's overall strategy," said Colleen Guhin, Vice President of Education for ACTE and Global Travel Manager for Motorola. "Alana Mehic will be instrumental in engineering this transition."
Mehic's first priority will be to develop an educational plan based on an on-going analysis of membership needs, industry demands, and the expansion of the business travel management profession. ACTE has long-term plans to initiate educational programs specifically for established and new members, for international and national members, and for suppliers, as well as corporate purchasers.
Formerly responsible for program planning and management at the University of Maryland/ University College, Mehic has a strong background in electronically mediated workshops and conferences.
"Creating an educational format specifically designed for a computer-generated environment is high on my list of simultaneous priorities," said Mehic. "The challenge will be in developing one that meets the exacting criteria of this profession and the expertise levels of the average ACTE member."
"Distance learning, or using computer technology to take part in programmed or remote classes, is a resource that will serve our membership well," said Guhin. "The development of this resource ties in with our emphasis on technology and with a membership spanning seven continents."
Mehic also designed and coordinated domestic and international seminars for the Smithsonian Institution. At ACTE, she will work in conjunction with the association's leadership in identifying new areas of professional enrichment and managing logistics for the growing number of regional forums.
"We've been looking to fill this spot for quite some time," said Guhin. "With a growing number of regional forums planned for the U.S. Canada, and Europe, ACTE has become the industry leader in providing educational programs for senior-level business travel management professionals. Overseeing a program of this size and scope has become a full-time job for a specialist."
ACTE Moves To Generate Travel Industry Statistics
Citing a dearth of statistics in the business travel management industry, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives is implementing a membership polling mechanism specifically designed to substantiate existing facts, challenge old numbers, or forecast new trends. The polling plan was announced by ACTE President Earl Foster during the association's Tenth Annual Conference in New Orleans.
"Despite having some of the best management information systems at our disposal, our association fields hundreds of questions regarding simple statistics that are either not available, or available but unreliable," said Foster. "The nature of these statistics may range from issues that simply refuse to go away - such as frequent flyer management programs, data on the exercise habits of business travelers, and taking children on business trips - to far more technical questions dealing with passenger safety, ARC developments, and the evolving travel management function."
The mechanism behind the polling process is fairly simple. ACTE members will be asked to respond to a brief fax questionnaire. The answers, all strictly confidential, will be tabulated and released to the membership via the association's internal communications. ACTE will occasionally partner with the media or a travel service supplier on a particular issue. In time, ACTE hopes to conduct the entire process electronically, providing the fastest and most accurate information service of its kind.
"Programs of this nature usually stall because of low response rates," said Foster. "However, our membership is unusually responsive in recognizing their obligations to the association. We're not going to waste their time with complicated questionnaires or loaded questions. Our purpose in pursuing this program is to provide a more accurate representation of our profession while eliminating the myths."
ACTE's fax questionnaires will always be brief and to the point. "It will take longer to fax them back than to fill them out," said Foster. "We have no intention of bombarding our members with paper."
As a travel manager, Foster is sensitive to the paper which accumulates on his desk. He is also aware that whole days could be subtracted from any travel management professional's work schedule by "just taking a few moments" to fill out every questionnaire that arrives in the mail.
"Unlike dozens of questionnaires designed to further some sales scheme or to push a particular product, ACTE's polling mechanism is intended keep this association on the pulse of developing business travel issues," said Foster. "Our occasional polls will enhance theassociation's position as an industry leader and provide our members with a gauge to challenge some of the myths which continually surface in print." He added that the polling results will be used in formulating position statements, research, and in keeping the association in tune with the membership.
New Personnel Changes and Plan for ACTE Headquarters
Personnel changes implemented by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives' headquarters office on July 1, 1998, are part of a comprehensive plan to match resources with demand. According to Executive Director Nancy Holtzman, the new plan allows the organization greater flexibility in assuming a more pro-active role in industry affairs, while placing a stronger emphasis on its core competencies: education and membership service.
Lisa Lopinsky, who joined the ACTE staff in 1995, has been named Director of Global Marketing and Membership Development. Lopinsky's new responsibilities include introducing a strategic marketing plan and developing more extensive membership services. Her department will also be responsible for selling advertising in the association's publications and generating sponsorships for various events and programs.
Rachel Cohen Svec has been named Conference Manager. Initially joining the ACTE team in 1995, Cohen Svec is ACTE's de facto meeting planner and will be responsible for all of the logistics and planning relating to the association's Annual Members Conference, ACTE Global, and the growing number of regional forums.
Jack Riepe, the former associate publisher of Business Travel Executive Magazine and a communications specialist to the business travel management industry since 1979, is now responsible for ACTE's public imaging and press relations. As the association's communication's officer, he will also edit ACTE Quarterly and ACTE Update.
"This logical realignment of human resources places the unique talents of our staff in the areas where this association is likely to grow the fastest," said Holtzman. "Yet one of the most significant aspects of the new plan changes the profile of the headquarters personnel structure. By outsourcing the communications function (Riepe is an independent contractor), ACTE gains the immediate benefit of having a new expert on board, while realizing substantial economies."
ACTE X Smashes Previous Attendance Record
More than 1,050 business travel management professionals converged on New Orleans to participate in the Association of Corporate Travel Executives' Tenth Annual Membership Conference last month. According to ACTE records, this is exactly 1,020 more than the number of charter members who convened the first Membership Conference, in the same city ten years ago.
Many of those charter members were on hand to see this assembly break yet another attendance record. Registration figures indicate this was the most heavily attended event in the association's 10-year history.
"You know everyone is coming for the seminars," said charter member Armand LeCompte, Director of Travel/Aviation for the Hoechst Corporation (and ACTE Chairman). "It's like they said in the movie Field of Dreams, 'Build it and they'll come.' ACTE offers the only business travel industry event based solely on education and people are coming."
This observation was seconded by fellow ACTE charter member and veteran travel manager Peter Buchheit, Director of Travel and Meeting Services for The Black & Decker Corporation.
"ACTE conferences have an unfrenzied atmosphere that's conducive to the business of learning," said Buchheit. "And learning more about this profession is the primary reason why we're here."
Sheila Bender, Manager/Corporate Travel for The Gillette Company, described ACTE's conferences as the "global classroom for the business travel management profession."
This may be a year for record-breaking attendance. Initial reports indicate that registration for ACTE Global is heavier than anticipated and that interest in ACTE XI (Washington, DC) is equally high. One of the association's recent regional Forums (Washington, DC, June 25th) drew a crowd of 120 for the day-long event. Detailed ACTE X coverage will be featured in the next issue of ACTE Quarterly.
Good News? Tell Us!
Get a promotion? Make a strategic lateral move? Start a business? If you've invented something, written a book, taken up public speaking, or have developed a radically new travel management program - let us know! We like reporting on ACTE members making headlines and generating news. Simply e-mail the details to: [email protected], and we'll write the story. Or contact Jack Riepe at (518) 946-1200; fax (518) 946-1201.
