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The big issue for the Association of Corporate Travel Executives‘ (ACTE) Canada Education Conference, in Calgary, (18-20 November) is "education." According to Monica Hailstone, the association’s director in the region, the ACTE Canada Education Conference is addressing a number of key issues, spanning economic, technological, and managerial topics as simultaneous priorities.
"While the conference agenda follows the proven ACTE model of taking the big picture and putting it into a regional perspective," said Hailstone, "we’re adhering to a membership mandate of addressing a series of big picture Canadian issues and analyzing their impact on Canadian travel markets. And while the emphasis is on a Canadian interpretation, our findings will still have international implications."
The "big picture perspective" will be set by five keynote speakers, who are leaders in technology trend setting, personal success philosophies, economics, and aviation issues. Michael Furdyk, Director of TakingITGlobal of Technology will explore the implications for individuals, businesses, and communities of the sweeping changes taking place in the wired, and wireless worlds. This is critical for travel managers who are about to be immersed in the tenets of demand management. Jennifer Corriero, Executive Director of TakingITGlobal will provide insight on how to connect with the youth demographic, both as customers and emerging workforce.
Tim Breithaupt, founder and President of Spectrum Training Solutions, will advocate the five essentials to turning untapped potential into awesome performance. Alexander Fritsche, Economist, Conference Board of Canada, will paint the picture of the 2008 economic overview profiling profitability outlooks within the accommodations, transportation sectors and more. Rick Erickson, Principal, RP Erickson & associates, will detail the future of the aviation industry in Canada.
"All of this is extremely pertinent," said Hailstone. "Coupled with our educational agenda, these keynote addresses will provide a multidimensional approach to increasing your productivity and expanding your corporate influence."
There are ten educational sessions that cover a variety od subjects ranging from sustainability to better meetings management, from best practices to managing risk, and from negotiations to communications. Thirty percent of the sessions are specifically buyer-oriented. Preparing for Successful Buyer Negotiations for Travel Services, Sustainability — Implementing The Vision, the Corporate Travel Buyer Only Roundtable are geared to boost "buyer" performance. Yet at least one session was developed with the supplier in mind. Capitalize on Communication Excellence was created specifically for supplier and will deliver improvements that will immediately impact daily encounters with internal and external clients.
"While ACTE Global Education Conferences are typically structured around providing solutions to specific problems on an international level, we have chosen a series of issues that are of importance in Canada. Providing solutions to these will help advance the entire industry," said Richard Crum, ACTE President.
Registration for the ACTE Canada Education Conference has been brisk with almost 300 participants already registered. According to Hailstone, arrangements have been made to accommodate an increase in participation this year, especially since last year’s event sold out. However, a strong effort is being made to preserve the "town meeting" atmosphere that has made this conference the industry standard in Canada.
"We know what our members want and expect," said Hailstone. "The challenge is meeting those expectations and moving a little further beyond, without compromising the original model."
At the meantime:
Marriott Hotels and Resorts Canada has joined a growing number of companies supporting the Association of Corporate Travel Executives’ (ACTE) green initiative by offsetting carbon generated by a major travel industry conference.
According to a statement issued yesterday (15 November 2007) by association Executive Director Susan Gurley, Marriott is underwriting the cost of offsetting carbon generated by ACTE’s Canada Education Conference, to be held in Calgary, 18-20 November, 2007.
"ACTE takes great pride in leading the industry in carbon low conferences and executive forums," said Gurley.
"Marriott’s generosity and insight makes it possible to extend our global carbon low initiative to national conferences within individual ACTE regions. In this case, we’ll be able to further reduce our carbon footprint in Calgary this month."
Following the conference, ACTE will submit to Marriott a complex table measuring the carbon generated by transporting and supporting 300 delegates to the three-day event. This process will make it possible to approximate the number of tons of carbon generated. Marriott will then fund a process, through a third party provider, offsetting the carbon generated.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
