Recent college grads selected to travel the world during international business travel immersion program

Utrecht, the Netherlands, May 15, 2019 – Leading global travel management company BCD Travel today named three candidates selected from hundreds of applicants to participate in the Management Associate Program (MAP), an international business travel immersion program developed in partnership with the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).

Serena De Martino, Douwe Stoer and Mila Buga will spend six weeks traveling to Paris, Amsterdam, Utrecht, New York City, Atlanta, Shanghai and Mumbai from May through July 2019, learning about careers in the corporate travel industry. Upon their return, the MAP associates will embark on six-month paid internships at BCD offices around the globe with an opportunity to earn offers for permanent positions with the company.

“We are very pleased to welcome this year’s MAP associates to the BCD Travel team,” said Christian Dahl, SVP of Talent Management and Global Human Resources for BCD Travel. “This investment is not only evidence of BCD’s support of industry-wide initiatives in the talent management, recruitment and retention space, but our internal efforts as well.”

Now in its seventh year, the Management Associate Program aims to attract the next generation of business travel professionals, highlighting the benefits and opportunities available in a profession looking to draw younger talent. Despite the corporate travel industry’s worldwide impact and influence, many young people are unaware of the opportunity it presents to build a long, satisfying career. The MAP aims to increase overall awareness of the industry, as well as build a pipeline of top-level talent for BCD Travel, allowing the company to continue to provide unparalleled service to its clients well into the future.

“Despite the size and global importance of the corporate travel industry, there seems to be little awareness among college students and recent grads of this great career path,” said Korie Wilson, 2018 MAP associate and current global operations analyst at BCD Travel. “There are few industries that provide as much opportunity to grow both vertically and laterally as corporate travel. There are an incredible number of different professional roles and verticals to explore.”

“ACTE is proud to support the MAP initiative through the Around the World Programme and to see these talented individuals grow and thrive in this industry,” said Leigh Bochicchio, President, ACTE Global. “We’re excited to watch as this year’s MAP associates embark on their journey down this rewarding career path.”

This year’s MAP associates will receive formal training across departments within BCD Travel, as well as ongoing evaluation, coaching and feedback. Internship assignments for De Martino, Stoer and Buga will be based on individual skillsets, business needs and sponsoring BCD office requirements.

“Before applying for and being accepted into the MAP, I did not have any exposure to the corporate travel industry,” said Jenn O’Connell, 2018 MAP associate and current marketing coordinator at BCD Travel. “The benefits I gained extended well beyond the internship. The ability to be part of an incredible industry, gain exposure to and appreciation for different global perspectives, and access to senior leaders were unparalleled. All have helped me in my career thus far and will continue to do so well into the future.”

Those interested in learning more about BCD Travel’s MAP program may visit www.acte.org/ACTE/Education/ATWPaidMaps.

About the 2019 MAP associates

Douwe Stoer is a 2019 graduate of Applied Sciences from Breda University in The Netherlands. As part of his studies in the master’s program in Tourism Destination Management, he completed a three-month field research project analyzing stakeholder dynamics and future development for three tourism destinations in the Asia Pacific region.

Mila Buga is a 2019 international business graduate of Pace University in New York. After graduating with her bachelor’s in international trade and marketing, she spent several years working in procurement, gaining experience in sourcing, purchasing, negotiations, vendor relations, customer service, and management before enrolling in the Pace MBA program.

Serena De Martino is a 2019 graduate of the University of West London’s International Tourism and Aviation Management program. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in BusinessManagement, she spent three years in customer service roles in the London hospitality industry.

About ACTE

ACTE Global (Association of Corporate Travel Executives) has a 30-year reputation for leading the way corporate travel is conducted. As a global association comprised of executive-level members in more than 100 countries, ACTE Global pioneers educational and technological advances that make business travel productive, cost-effective and straightforward. ACTE Global advocacy and initiatives continue to support impactful changes in safety and security, privacy, duty of care and compliance along with traveler productivity that supports global commerce. Learn more at www.acte.org.