ITM LAUNCHES MEMBER COST-CUTTING PROGRAMME
Caroline Strachan Announces A Series of Measures to Help Members In Difficult Times
As the economic pressures bite harder on the UK & Ireland's travel and meetings sector, ITM has thought about the assistance we can provide and has launched a programme of cost cutting measures for you, our members, during 2009. The programme is comprised of two elements. First, a series of reduced costs to members directly and second, guidance and assistance with reducing travel & meeting programme costs within your companies.
Firstly, we are delighted to announce that member rates will remain fixed at 2008 prices for the year and that we have removed charges for our programme of 6 webinars for buyers and suppliers engaging with green programmes throughout the year, the first of which is scheduled for buyers and details can be found at http://www.itm.org.uk/go/events/corporate_client_change_agenda.html. In addition we are planning to launch our new on-line dynamic directory and networking system, "ITM Exchange", in June which will allow members to network harder and share best practice easier. Contained within "ITM Exchange" will be the ability for both suppliers and buyers to post documents within their profile, allowing suppliers to post research or special deals and buyers to post policy documents for restricted members of their network to view. Finally, we are planning a number of events throughout the year with low sponsorship entry levels, to give suppliers greater coverage for less money.
To assist buyers and suppliers in reducing travel & meeting programme costs the association is offering raft of new measures. These include:
- "The Travel & Meetings Efficiency Programme" - A series of free hosted breakfast events throughout the year for both the Meetings & Events and Business Travel buyers - details to follow soon.
- A Special Deals Zone on www.itm.org.uk for suppliers to upload special offers for corporate travellers (Scheduled for June 2009)
- A paper giving tips for Traveller Savings - this PDF can be sent out by buyers and suppliers to travellers as advice for saving money (Scheduled for March 2009)
- Complimentary Travel Plan consultancy from Transport for London (TfL) worth £20,000 for companies which sign up for the ICARUS commitment. Details will be forwarded to those already committed to ICARUS.
- Economic & Efficiency focused sessions at ITM's annual conference - looking at managing demand, increasing adoption to SBT's, improving data use and driving compliance
Caroline Strachan, ITM chairman, says about the package, " When we were putting together our list of priorities for 2009 the creation of a package of activity to assist members and their companies in these hard times was right up there at the top. We intend to help members as best we can and have created a programme of activity which is both diverse and practical."
