The recipient of this year’s ACI EUROPE World Business Partner Recognition Award was Catherine Mayer, VP Industry Relations, SITA, and WBP Observer on the ACI EUROPE Board. She spoke to Ross Falconer.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General, ACI EUROPE, presented this year’s World Business Partner Recognition Award to Catherine Mayer, VP Industry Relations, SITA, and WBP Observer on the ACI EUROPE Board.
Having started in the industry over 38 years ago, working for airlines, airports and presently as VP Industry Relations of IT solution provider SITA, Catherine Mayer has always believed that the way to ensure safe and secure travel with the best service possible is to work together in a collaborative way.
“I never saw walls or thought of the company I worked for at the time as airlines versus airports, or vendors as an outsider,” says Mayer. “Instead, I have always focused on bringing together all stakeholders to share ideas, find solutions whether it be through airline-airport meetings, ACI and IATA committees, or SITA-led working groups. Aviation is unique in that we all play a key role in this global network, so any award I receive is actually an acknowledgement that we have all been successful at communicating and acting as a team.”
Indeed, the World Business Partner Recognition Award at this year’s ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards went to Mayer in recognition of her long-lasting membership service marked by passionate dedication and exceptional commitment to increasing synergies across the airport industry and promoting an innovative, digitalised era for air travellers.
“Receiving the award was a complete surprise, especially since I don’t consider what I do work – my actions and dedication to the industry are passions that help to make me who I am as a person,” Mayer explains. “So to be recognised for just doing what I love by ACI EUROPE, an organisation known for its own positive influence and driving change in the industry, makes it that much more rewarding.”
As for the digital era, Mayer has used her leadership position to help educate the industry about IT trends over the past 20 years from CUTE to CUPPS, to automated self-service, to business intelligence. “It is not about implementing technology, but rather understanding how to leverage its power for the specific airport environment in order to maximise benefits,” she comments. “It is also critical to evolve the culture – staff, partners and customers – when implementing technology, so we never lose focus on the human touch because this is what will enable airports, airlines and all businesses to really succeed.”
For SITA, the award is a positive reinforcement for its longstanding partnership and support of ACI EUROPE and the WBP programme since its inception some 26 years ago.
“Participation in ACI activities is really two-fold,” says Mayer. “Firstly, this is a global network and all of our actions have a further reaching impact. As such, it is important to share our expertise and experiences to help develop the best processes, policies, Recommended Practices, and business and operational practices. Secondly, SITA is dedicated to this industry and committed to providing air transport community services. ACI provides an ideal avenue to communicate and collaborate with all stakeholders to further SITA’s neutral efforts. We feel it is important for us to support ACI in its efforts to have its members’ voices heard, and be an equal partner with other industry organisations. These are compelling reasons for SITA to continue our commitment and collaboration with ACI.”
Meanwhile, SITA recently released the results of its annual Airport IT Trends survey, which shows that around three quarters of airports will be investing in initiatives that help smooth the passenger journey, specifically through the airport via beacons and other sensors. “These wayfinding solutions use the passenger location to advise time and route to the gate, and have the ability to customise messages about airport facilities and offerings. This technology has the potential to have a real impact on the passenger experience at the airport,” Mayer concludes.
