The Association of Corporate Travel Executives held last week a successful education forum at the The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi.  The ACTE New Delhi Executive Forum, held 6 June 2012, welcomed business travel executives from all over the region, who came together to enhance their understanding of the corporate travel market, network with colleagues and openly discuss the future of the business travel industry.

“After three years of not carrying out any events in New Delhi, ACTE is proud return to this important area of India,” said Executive Director Ron DiLeo.  “It was a big success for all who attended.  The desire for industry professionals to come together here is overwhelming.”

The ACTE New Delhi Executive Forum, “Navigating a Changing Landscape & Keeping your Travellers Safe,” focused on three main industry hot-button issues:

·      “Airline Industry Update: Navigating a Changing Landscape” - The India airlines industry is experiencing unprecedented challenges and huge financial losses.  This session dove into the impact of rising oil prices, a shifting competitive landscape and a talent shortage in the industry.  It outlined how travel professional and business travellers are coping with this crisis.

Ø  Moderator:  Benson Tang, Regional Director, Asia, ACTE

Ø  Panelists:

o   Amarnath Lal Das, General Manager, India Travel, Accenture
o   Mohd Askari, Research & Market Analyst, Centre of Aviation – CAPA
o   Sandeep Rae, Associate Director, Traveler & Transaction Services, Carlson Wagonlit Travel

·      “Duty of Care: Keeping your Travellers Safe on the Road”- For many organisations, working and travelling in high-risk locations is mission critical. This panel highlighted where business travellers are exposed to the most risk, and what companies should be doing to mitigate and minimize risks.

Ø  Moderator: Umesh Mehta, Regional Security Manager - South Asia, International SOS

Ø  Panelists:
o   Aditya Loomba, Director, ECOS (India) Mobility & Hospitality Pvt Ltd
o   Rajesh Loomba, Chairman of the Convention Committee, Indian Transport Association
o   Jagrant Pandher, Lead Security Professional, Bank of America, India

·      “Industry Update – India’s Aviation Industry”- Mohd Askari, Research and Market Analyst, Centre for Aviation-CAPA, led a presentation discussing the region’s airline industry.

According to Amarnath Lal Das, General Manager, India Travel, Accenture and member of the ACTE Asia Regional Council, “ACTE’s forum in New Delhi was a great networking experience with solid substance in the panelist discussions.  We are pleased to welcome events back to this city and look forward to many more in the future.”