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Posted Dec 22, 2009
It goes without saying that 2009 was a challenging year for our industry and many others. However, I remain proud to be part of a group of business travel professionals that have led the industry through these difficult times and will be the leaders that define the new reality for 2010 and beyond. ACTE members around the world have again demonstrated themselves to being the leaders of leaders. Furthermore, I am honored and privileged to have the opportunity to serve the association as your president.
Posted Dec 3, 2009
National Business Travel Association leaders went with an industry insider when they hired their executive director this summer. By next April, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives should have its own new head of staff after taking applications this month and conducting interviews in the new year. It could be eventful.
Posted Nov 19, 2009
The airlines' continuing strategy to unbundle products and pricing remains troublesome for corporate travel managers keen to measure total trip costs. According to a recent survey conducted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, just 20 percent of 297 corporate buyers said their organizations track total trip expenditures "very well." When asked if they tabulate total trip cost for top destinations, more than three quarters of respondents said "no." Yet more than 40 percent said "unmanaged ancillary fees" of all flavors represent between 5 percent and 15 percent of their organizations' total T&E costs. Another 27 percent said such fees represent even more of the total.
Posted Nov 16, 2009
What the heck does baking have to do with travel data reporting, you ask?
It makes for an interesting metaphor. I used this concept in the speech I gave at the ACTE Canada conference last week in Toronto. I’ll admit that my skit was a bit hokey, but the points about poor preparation of data, half-baked analysis and hanging Christmas lights on plain-jane data were too good to pass up.
Posted Nov 16, 2009
Posted Oct 27, 2009
Getting a bit confused by mixed signals on the seriousness of the H1N1 flu virus (aka swine flu)? On the one hand, President Obama has declared a national emergency over the current rate of outbreaks, and more than 1,000 people in the U.S. have died from the virus.
Yet, so far, it doesn't seem like businesses are letting the threat affect travel.
Posted Aug 5, 2009
Over the last few weeks much has been said and written about a merger of ACTE and NBTA and the potential benefits this would bring the global travel industry. It has been interesting to see how throughout the letters and articles, the strengths of the different associations have been outlined. Specifically it has been stated (even by NBTA officials themselves) that ACTE clearly has a stronger program and presence outside the US and a lead when it comes to educating the industry.
Posted Jul 21, 2009
The only thing that surprises me about all this is that anybody is surprised. This has been a nailed-on certainty for the past few years and ties in neatly with other significant costs which many airlines have passed on via their intermediaries. In fact, this is the greatest value agents give airlines at the moment--the ability to transfer cost indirectly. Except, finally, they have gone for a big one that is visibly less stealthy than the others!
Posted Jul 16, 2009
Posted Jul 14, 2009
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