A new educational resource designed to provide independent research on economic, technological, managerial, and cultural issues at the highest levels was launched by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives…
A new educational resource designed to provide independent research on economic, technological, managerial, and cultural issues at the highest levels was launched by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives under the name of Global Centre for Research and Education, a dynamic new educational partnership focusing on direct relationships with corporations worldwide.
ACTE defied conventional wisdom 19 years ago by introducing a new model for associations that represented the interests of travel industry purchasers and suppliers on an equal basis. The process is about to begin again. ACTE`s Global Centre for Research and Education is a new model for industry foundations, where the funding of education and research is shared among all parties who benefit from the investment, said Susan Hopley, TRX Executive Vice President, Emerging Markets, and the Centre`s Chair.
With the need for higher and more advanced professional education backed by independent research on the rise, ACTE leadership recognized the cost of research and program development would also increase. Yet the association concluded that it was unreasonable to expect the burden of these costs to remain largely with the suppliers — who are typically expected to fund such industry ventures.
Clearly another model was required, said Susan Gurley, ACTE`s Executive Director. Suppliers must build their contributions to associations like ACTE into their rates. In the end, the corporate consumer is paying a portion of these costs anyway. ACTE`s Global Centre for Research and Education evenly divides the cost of professional advancement between the beneficiaries.
Gurley added that this new level of collaboration will bring higher recognition to the joint efforts of corporate and supplier donors, while providing relief for suppliers who are also funding trade shows and legislative ventures throughout the year.
ACTE`s Global Centre for Research and Education is under the direction of its own Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Serving on the Executive Committee are:
- Susan Hopley (Chair), TRX Executive Vice President, Emerging Markets
- Susan Gurley (Executive Director), ACTE
- Michael Platt (Treasurer) Group Industry Affairs Director, HRG
The Board of Directors are:
- Dr. Fariba Alamdari, Vice President, Business Strategy and Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
- Vince Eavis, Director, Head of International Business Development, Citigroup, Global Transactions Services, Commercial Cards
- M.N. Rao, Managing Director & CEO, E2E SerWiz Solutions Ltd (Tata Group)
- Richard Tams, General Manager, UK & Global Corporate Sales; British Airways
- Professor Geof Tomlinson, Pro Vice Chancellor of Research, The University of Sheffield
The Global Centre for Research and Education will pursue studies at the direct request of the association, or through commissioned requests of corporations, academia, and other trade groups. The first major project undertaken by the ACTE Global Center for Research and Education has been commissioned by the founding contributors, IBM, TRX and the University of Sheffield. The project will provide insight into climate change issues facing corporations. The independent research undertaken by Dr. Paul Armsworth, lecturer in Biodiversity and Conservatism at the University of Sheffield, will explore the impact of and current initiatives developed within the corporate travel industry, thereby exploring the economic efficiencies of carbon responsible programmes.
Carbon reduction has become a highly emotional and frenzied topic in the business travel community, said Hopley. We see changing statistics and different `scientific` assessments regarding climate change on a regular basis. The purpose of this study is to take the emotion out of the equation, to present the industry with an accurate assessment of business travel`s impact on the environment, and to provide ACTE members with a reasonable course of action to follow that will produce measurable results.
This independent research initiative, while providing users with travel industry specific data, will present recent developments and concrete information based upon figures and case studies, which an organization can utilize and incorporate into informed conservation investment decisions on a global basis.
Dr. Paul Armsworth will be presenting on Climate Change and its impact on Corporate Travel at the upcoming ACTE Global Conference in Miami, May 6-8, 2007.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
