Business travel management professionals from Lagos and throughout Nigeria conducted a series of candid and highlevel talks regarding the recent Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) developments in the region, at an Executive Forum hosted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) on 6 May 2008.

The group participated in a three-part educational program covering multiple phases of the BSP issue. The first session dealt with the benefits of the BSP to the Nigerian travel industry, while the second was an open discussion dealing with the challenges facing the corporate buyer in regard to the BSP. The third was an interpretive session focusing on this issue.

“This was the second ACTE Executive Forum held in Nigeria within the past six months,” said Susan Gurley, ACTE Executive Director. “This event set the record for corporate attendance, drawing nearly a 50 percent ratio of buyers to other attendees. ACTE strives to bring locally relevant education to all of our regions, and it is a testament to this mission that the Lagos event was so well received.”

Olufemi Adefope, travel veteran and Managing Director from HRG Nigeria, opened the first session with a presentation highlighting the potential of the BSP to advance the travel industry in Nigeria through improved transparency, better control over service levels and improved technological functionality.

During the second session, delegates were encouraged to openly discuss some sensitive issues focusing on the current environment within the industry, specifically looking at the BSP. One of the key challenges facing travel managers is the change in payment terms granted by their travel management companies now that the BSP requires bills to be settled within seven to 14 days. Surprisingly, corporate buyers agreed that shorter payment terms were better for the industry and assisted them in gaining improved control over their TMCs service levels.

The final session featured panel members Yomi Jones from BCD Nigeria, Loretta Ekpagha from Shell, Folake Soetan from Virgin Nigeria and Olabimpe Kola-Jebutu from UBA.  One of the key elements emerging from the roundtable discussion was a motion by local travel professionals to create a committee that will focus on advancing the industry and improving communications between key stakeholders. The purpose of this committee is to sustain the momentum generated by the group for various objectives and local initiatives.

“I am delighted with the warm reception that ACTE received in Nigeria, and with the amount of delegates who offered their support to the Committee.