level courses focus on business strategy, with participants using an interdisciplinary approach to uncover the opportunities and challenges of doing global business in today’s fluctuating and hi-tech environment. Topics include strategic thinking, managing culture and talent, change management and more. ITM also produces templates and diagnostic tools to assist travel managers and buyers in producing a more effective programme. These include: • Travel Self Assessment A diagnostic tool by Advito that allows travel buyers to self-assess where their programme needs improvement.
• Travel Policy Assessment A modular template which allows travel buyers and managers to create a tailored travel policy with all the requisite elements.
ACTE The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is a not-for-profit body established to provide executive- level global education and peer-to-peer networking opportunities. Membership spans all business travel sectors, and ACTE has more than 6,000 executives in 80 countries. ACTE webcasts are a series of one- hour online discussions presented by industry and subject-matter experts. They give members a convenient, efficient view of hot issues, informing them of dynamic trends, economic analyses, crisis management techniques and more. Half-day Powertalks fuse networking and education, offering candid, small group discussions and off-the-record analyses of vital business issues. Executive Forums are held regularly
throughout the world. Designed to be responsive to key issues affecting the travel industry, they offer informed commentary from industry leaders and suggest marketplace solutions. A typical forum will bring together 75 to 140 corporate travel buyers and suppliers. ACTE also offers two global conferences
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a year, one in north America in late April or early May, and one in Europe in October. Each conference attracts more than 1,000 business travel professionals from around the world and focuses on providing education and analysis of emerging trends. Around the World in 80 Hours is a hands-on, global immersion training-and- development programme resulting in a certificate. Participants gain additional market knowledge via a customised
itinerary that includes as many destinations as a schedule allows. Included at each destination is comprehensive classroom instruction, industry and cultural briefings, VIP networking events and site visits to key suppliers. Finally, in London, there is a twice-
yearly Forum organised in conjunction with Management Solutions-UK. n For further information, visit www.acte.org
GBTA EUROPE/ITM The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Europe is run in association with the Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM), which has an established and widely recognised education programme. This includes the fundamentals of business travel management – the key elements of a managed business travel programme for junior positions or those new to the sector. Topics include managing supplier relationships, safety and security, travel technology, and measuring success. The course is also available online. A manager-level programme
(from autumn 2012) is designed to grow managers’ and directors’ expertise in developing travel programmes. The course looks at how business travel is integrated with the changing global business environment, and ways to realign programmes for optimal productivity and efficiency. Topics include risk management, contracting, communication, budgeting and data management. There is also a global leadership
programme, which is geared towards senior professionals. These advanced-
• Meetings ‘How to’ Toolkit A guide covering everything from mapping the market and stakeholder engagement to creating policy and outsourcing.
The Guild of Travel Management Companies’ (GTMC) training programmes are now run by the Confederation of Tourism & Hospitality (CTH). Each training group is small, with a maximum of 12 participants per programme, which are designed to minimise time away from the office using workplace and home study. Courses are available to non-GTMC members (though fees are cheaper for members) and range from starter qualifications to management certificates. n For further information, visit www.cthtraining.com
OTT Online Travel Training (OTT) is a leading provider of travel and tourism e-learning. It partners and works with key travel industry organisations, including Advantage Travel Centres, Buying Business Travel and Lufthansa City Centre travel agency. It offers more than 100 free travel product training courses. Many of these are geared specifically to travel buyers and corporates, and are featured in OTT’s Business Travel Academy, supported by Buying Business Travel. Courses include those on Avis, London City Airport, Easyjet, Star Alliance, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Qatar Airways, and Lounge Pass. n For further information, visit www.buyingbusinesstravel.com