Stan Berteloot, the new regional director of ACTEEMEA, plans to give the organisation a higher profile and a stronger voice in Europe.
He told BTE there were several issues, including the IATA rules campaign, GDS de-regulation and the advance of technology, where members could work together.
“In Europe I feel that ACTE needs to grow and it will grow as soon as we can work together on what we need.
“The IATA campaign is an excellent example of that. Another issue is technology. We need to develop a better knowledge of what bring to the industry. Some of our corporate members are confused as to how some technology can help their travel policy or how it can provide them with a solution on some matters.
“De-regulation of the GDS is another definite issue which we will need to work on with our members,” he said.
Mr Berteloot, a former journalist and communications director for technology company KDS, took over the regional directorship earlier this month when Philippe Leonard left after a brief tenure.
He said that since Herman Mensink, the regional director before Mr Leonard, left, ACTE EMEA had largely been managed from the USA.
Mr Berteloot said Europe currently had 267 members out of ACTE's global membership of around 2,500 which he planned to increase. Of the European members, 46% are suppliers, 36% corporates and the rest mainly from TMCs.
He said he planned to set up local focus groups that will work to provide information and education on issues facing members. “I am sometimes surprised to hear that ACTE has not been paying attention to the local market. It is a global organisation, not an American one.
“I really want to change that view. Maybe we can develop in Europe and give ACTE a European aspect,” he said.