The Association of Travel Management Companies (ATMC) has begun the year with a bang, gathering its members in Sydney to discuss key focus areas for the coming months. With a primary theme of reinforcing the importance of TMCs in today’s rapidly evolving travel industry, the meeting covered two areas of significance: sustainability in aviation and supporting a competitive landscape.
David Wills and Steve Limbrick from Envest Global, an international carbon reduction strategy and investment management company, updated ATMC members on the state of sustainability in the aviation sector. Their presentation highlighted the urgent need for corporate Australia to make informed decisions around minimizing its environmental impact. Meanwhile, Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), briefed attendees on recent submissions to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the government.
As the top representative body for corporate travel agencies in Australia, supporting 26,000 companies with an annual corporate travel spend of $6.5 billion pre-COVID, ATMC has a busy year ahead. The association continues to grow market awareness of the depth and breadth of services and support offered by its members.
ATMC Chair Tass Messinis praised the event, saying, “ATMC’s first event of the year was highly informative and relevant given the rapidly changing nature of the corporate travel landscape. We had a strong turnout, and as usual, there was a detailed and frank conversation about the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
Messinis added, “ATMC is proud to be the independent voice for TMCs, including with corporates and suppliers, as we continue to reinforce the important role of TMCs in supporting corporate travelers. A big thank you to our speakers, David Wills and Steve Limbrick from Envest Global, and Dean Long, CEO of AFTA.”
As the world begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to prioritize sustainability and support a competitive landscape in the travel industry. ATMC’s focus on these key areas sets the stage for a successful and impactful year ahead. Travel management companies and their clients alike can benefit from a more sustainable and competitive industry, making it crucial to get involved in the conversations and initiatives spearheaded by ATMC.
Written by: Jill Walsh