The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) with support from the Associação Brasileira de Gestores de Eventos e Viagens Corporativas (ABGEV) and Associação Latino Americana de Gestores de Eventos e Viagens Corporativas (ALAGEV) hosted its 2012 Executive Forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil at the Centro Fecomercio de Eventos.  The event brought together the region’s leading buyers and suppliers of business travel to discuss issues facing the industry.

“The event provided Brazilian business travel professionals the opportunity to delve into the issues and challenges facing our industry,” said ACTE Executive Director Ron DiLeo. “Participants were able to gain new perspectives from a variety of presenters and through unique and creative educational programming.”

The Sao Paulo Executive Forum kicked off with a provocative, interactive panel discuss moderated by DiLeo and included Valerie Fender, Corporate Travel Manager, Blackboard Inc., Vivianne Martins, President and Founder, ABGEV and Eduardo Murad, Latin America Travel Procurement Lead & Council, IBM as panelists. The discussion centered on:

·      Optimal organizational structure for travel sourcing and program management

·      Evolving roles in corporate travel and the future skill sets required for success

·      Shifting expectations for effective buyer-supplier- traveler relationships

·      New tools and strategies for influencing traveler behavior

The day also featured an ACTE Whitepaper Presentation entitled “Travel Management of Tomorrow:  Doing More with Less.” This session, presented by Fernando Marcomini, Manager, Latin America Sales and Client Relations, RADIUS, detailed data garnered from an ACTE research study and subsequent whitepaper (sponsored by RADIUS) that was produced from the results.  The study includes more than 250 travel managers and procurement executives from companies of all sizes and all regions of the world who have shared their views of corporate travel management five years into the future.  The white paper reveals respondent’s predictions.

Additionally, the Forum featured “Speed-learning Roundtables on Industry Issues,” during which attendees selected four topics of interest related to industry challenges, and spend time with their peers gaining insights through small-group discussions.  Roundtable topics included:

·      Ancillary Fee Management & Reporting
·      Data Analytics & Consolidation
·      End to End Integration
·      Mobile Apps for Travelers
·      Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
·      Traveler Communication
·      Traveler Safety & Security

Following closing remarks, attendees will enjoy a networking lunch.

“With dozens of Brazil’s top business travel decision-makers in attendance, the discussion at the Executive Forum today was very energetic,” said Vivianne Martins, President, ABGEV/ALAGEV. “Brazil is a critical business travel market, not just for Latin America, but for the global community. Interactive sessions and learnings from events like this one provide keys for advancing the business travel agenda in Brazil, and well beyond its borders.”