Professional associations “There are many reasons why I joined ACTE,” she says. “Firstly
WHY JOIN? “The industry constantly innovates and develops – if we work in isolation, disconnected from what is happening within the industry, quite simply, it will leave us behind,” asserts Caroline Allen, ACTE’s regional director for the EMEA region. “Participating in industry education, as a speaker or delegate, is about investing in the future of the corporate travel industry, both for companies and for individuals.” She adds: “ACTE’s sole mission is to help the wheels of the
industry turn – nothing more, nothing less. It was established by the industry, for the industry to provide a neutral platform for corporate travel buyers and suppliers to come together to identify and debate industry challenges, and work with each other to find equitable, working solutions. The association attracts industry leaders, so there’s a high calibre of thought leadership. Networking is of the highest level and it’s a simple fact that all around the world, people learn, create connections and business gets done at ACTE events.”
THE FACTS Senior executives: Suzanne Neufang (president); Ron DiLeo (executive director until December) Location: Head office in Alexandria, US, but regional staff focus on local markets. Date founded: 1988 Number of members: 30,000 Cost of joining: Ð345
KEY BENEFITS
• Exclusive access to valuable research tools, timely publications, networking opportunities, event registration discounts and professional development.
MEMBER’S VIEW Irina Kuznetsova is a vice-president in the finance department at Russian bank VTB. She joined ACTE in 2007, after visiting the Business Travel Market where she met Caroline Allen and soon found herself helping to organise the first Moscow ACTE forum.
I wanted to learn something new and to meet travel specialists. Russia is an emerging market where there are many companies which don’t have a travel policy, and where employees are booking and buying tickets online with no cost analysis and no corporate contracts. There is much for us to learn.” She has now been to four Moscow ACTE Forums and believes
great progress has been made in developing travel management skills in Russia. However, she doesn't ascribe her career development specifically to ACTE. “When I started my activity as ACTE country chairman I was already the Russian infrastructure and procurement leader in my company,” she says. “I was, though, promoted to a regional role covering 28 countries, and I think the knowledge and high-level contacts I got through ACTE helped me become established much more rapidly in that role.” She concludes: “If you want to improve your organisation’s travel
programme, add to your own knowledge, obtain skills and influence decisions or even become a decision-maker, I would advise you to join ACTE.”
WHY JOIN? “Now, more than ever, ITM is an association that is being relied on by thousands of professionals in this sector to help them connect with each other, share best practice and improve the work they do,” says CEO Simone Buckley. “An association is where you go for unbiased information, education and connections that can all help you in your work. Associations provide resources and knowledge beyond your own organisation. An association connects people who share a common goal or interest and facilitates improvements for individuals and, therefore, their organisations. ITM is the only UK association dedicated to achieving this for those people who work in the business travel industry.”
THE FACTS Senior executives: Simone Buckley (chief executive officer); Nicola Lomas (chairman) Location: Head office is in Amersham, but the ITM also has