ACTE was founded in 1988, through the vision of travel industry suppliers and corporates, seeking justifiable representation in the travel management profession. The ACTE founders foresaw a global organisation, in which corporate travel managers and suppliers were treated equally, and could work together in a mutual partnership to develop a unique educational resource for the business travel profession. Joined by progressive senior-level travel managers, their model called for an international network which emphasized smaller but more numerous educational forums held throughout the world.
ACTE has offices in London, Paris, Johannesburg, Singapore, Buenos Aires, Ottawa, Hamburg, and Washington, DC with professional staff providing support to ACTE members in over 50 countries worldwide. ACTE is also working with ministries and government agencies in Asia, Canada, Europe, and the United States.
While ACTE analyses legislative developments regarding industry matters such as safety, security, privacy, and customer service issues, it declines political activism or political action committee fundraising. As an international organisation, ACTE cannot raise money for legislative efforts that puts one nation at a greater advantage over another, nor support legislation in potential conflict with other member supported efforts. ACTE advocates on behalf of all of our members, representing the voice of each segment of the industry. ACTE’s role is to educate individuals on the issues, foster dialogue, and encourage balanced solutions.
ACTE has pioneered, advocated, and initiated a generation of global travel management industry innovations and improvements. The association has been in the forefront of:
– security legislation
-contagion/business preparedness
– GDS evolution
– technological development
– safety and communications procedures
– corporate social responsibility
– government policy
– taxation
– hotel processes and theory
– safeguarding proprietary information on computers
Global from the ground up, ACTE’s international board (with over 50 percent representation from outside the US) recommends an integrated approach of national culture, corporate culture, and common objectives in proposing uniform travel standards. The association does not export one country’s interpretation of travel management policies as the “best practice” for the industry worldwide. (ACTE relies on the experiences and expertise of our members, leaders, and staff in the regions to develop the most relevant programs).
Nineteen years after its founding, ACTE remains the primary resource for global corporate travel cost containment. Our vision has carried the industry through SARS, wars, 9/11, economic downtrends, and industry upheaval. Nearly two decades after it was first proposed, the ACTE model has become widely replicated in education, communication, and industry initiatives. We are pleased that many of our initiatives are being replicated by other organisations such as ACTE’s leadership in CSR, business resiliency, etc.
Yet its originality has never been challenged. With the introduction of its Global Centre for Research and Education, ACTE has unveiled the first industry centre that reduces the financial burden on suppliers by increasing corporate contributions.
Our membership’s enduring philosophy has brought ACTE to over 50 countries, through educational events that reach more than 6,000 executives annually. If you have additional questions, please visit our newly developed FAQ section of our website.
As you may have heard by now, ACTE has expanded to six independent regions, thus transforming EMEA to Europe and Middle East & Africa.
Europe has certainly had some exciting developments in the first half of the year, with 10 Executive Forums, Power Talks and Partnered sessions taking place throughout Europe from January to June.
The second half of 2007 will be no exception with ACTE’s Global Education Conference taking place in Munich, Germany from 21 to 23 October 2007. The conference theme, Harnessing the Power of a €200 Billion Business, is completely woven throughout the entire conference programme.
The fall will see a schedule of ACTE events in Europe to include; four executive forums – Helsinki, Manchester, Madrid/Toledo, Paris and 2 Partnered Events – Brussels and London for the remainder of 2007. This year’s schedule boasts educational programmes focusing on forecasts for 2008, globalisation, hotel programs, meetings consolidation, CSR, sustainable procurement and much more. The local planning committees are working hard to produce worthwhile, regionally focused education sessions so please check the online Education Calendar for the most up to date agendas.
In line with all of these developments, the ACTE Europe team has also seen some changes this year. We are delighted to inform you that Christine Dunton-Tinnus of DuntonTinnus Consulting out of Stuttgart, Germany will provide strategic support to ACTE in the European region. Christine, who was responsible for global travel purchasing for Daimler, will be working closely with Jennifer Fitzgerald, ACTE Regional Manager, Europe.
We are truly delighted by the warm welcome that ACTE has received in the region and by the level of passion and commitment that delegates have shown towards education and the advancement of the travel industry in the Middle East and Africa. Since the two launch events, our member base has increased to over 60 members and we look forward to further growth in the coming months.
