Prague (27 October 2009) – Two of the highest awards recognized by the global business travel industry were presented by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) at their recent Global Education Conference In Prague (25 Oct. – 27 Oct.) to a travel management innovator and to a model regional partner. During a plenary session on Tuesday, Lutz Stammnitz, President of Corporate Mobility Services for Siemens AG, received ACTE’s “Advancing The Industry Award,” and Pascal Struyve, President of the Belgian Association of Travel Management (BATM) and the Global Travel, Fleet & Meeting Services Director for Ingersoll Rand Enterprise Services, accepted ACTE’s President’s Award on behalf of BATM.
Stammnitz was honored for travel management innovations and processes that drive a huge travel program with an annual budget in excess of €2.3 billion and more than 300,000 travelers from 190 countries – according to industry resources. Processes used by Siemen’s travel program run the gamut of the latest travel technology, to some of the most innovative applications of proven practices in procurement, consolidation, and strategic meetings management.
ACTE’s “Advancing The Industry Award” is not only the association’s highest recognition for professional development, but also a world-wide acknowledgement of an individual, and his/her company’s, willingness to share successful programs and processes with the rest of the travel management profession. “Siemens has always played a prominent role in ACTE Global Educational Conferences, Executive Forums, and other events,” said ACTE President Richard Crum. “They don’t hesitate to share their results nor to demonstrate the processes that serve their company and its travellers best. ACTE is proud to present Lutz Stammnitz — and Siemens — with our thanks, and the honor they so richly deserve.”
The Belgian Association of Travel Management (BATM) has been one of ACTE’s closest partners in promoting critical issues within Belgium by bringing specific market expertise to ACTE, while ACTE contributes the international business travel perspective. Co-sponsoring joint events with ACTE since 2005 — and drawing over 100 participants to this year’s Executive Forum with a 50 percent corporate attendee rate — the BATM was presented with the President’s Award, which is reserved for individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding service and support for the Association.
“The BATM have been a major resource for the travel management profession in Belgium and throughout Europe for years,” said Crum. “Their work with ACTE has provided a model partnership for the interchange of data and information, mutual collaboration in the development of regional forums combining market expertise and international benchmarks, and the intercultural knowledge unique to ACTE regional events. It is my privilege and pleasure to present their leadership with ACTE’s President’s Award.”
In a related statement, Crum also acknowledged the efforts of other regional associations in Europe, which constitute a vital link in the association’s global education program: AEGVE (Spain), AFTM (France), Cortas (Netherlands), ITM (UK), MSUK (UK), VDR (Germany), The Finnish, Israel, Norwegian and Swedish Business Travel Associations. ACTE regularly partners with national Business Travel Associations to support the global corporate travel industry on a regional basis. ACTE operates Executive Forums throughout Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States to provide an opportunity for each region to discuss global issues at a local level.
