ITM PROPOSED NAME CHANGE SEEKS MEMBERS' SUPPORT
ITM PROPOSED NAMES CHANGE SEEKS MEMBERS' SUPPORT
Meetings and events to be incorporated?
The Institute of Travel Management UK & Ireland (ITM) board today voted unanimously on two key issues relating to the association's position in the industry. The board has decided to move to change the acronym "ITM" to represent a new, revised name of "Institute of Travel & Meetings" from the existing "Institute of Travel Management".
In addition the board has unanimously agreed to take the proposed name change to the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) at their annual conference in Liverpool on 25th - 27th March 2009 for membership approval. This latter decision has been made to ensure that the move is endorsed fully by the members, in the spirit of a more open and inclusive association.
Caroline Strachan, Chairman of ITM, commented "We feel this move is absolutely necessary for a variety of reasons. First of all it recognises the increasing convergence of the business travel and meetings & events sectors in both procurement and supply. Secondly, it recognises the increased numbers of members we are attracting who are dedicated to the meetings & events sector and finally it sets in stone the commitment we made when I took up the chairman's position to incorporate meetings and event content into our every day activity."
The association is creating a Meetings & Events Working Party to drive content through the association and is holding its first breakfast forum for buyers of meetings & events on 25th November with MeetEngland in London. In addition, the annual conference in 2009 is to address a number of meetings and events issues through dedicated sessions and in other sessions where travel and meetings are to be discussed in tandem.
Diane Steed, ITM's new Head of Sales & Marketing, also stated, "This is a subtle change but a bold move by the association's board. It allows us to recognise the changes in the market and to continue to lead the industry on content whilst retaining the capital behind the "ITM" brand, something in which we have worked hard over the last few years."
Full details of the proposal are to be forwarded to the full ITM membership in advance of the AGM according to protocol and the board will set out its reasons in detail. This move is also to be incorporated into the Evolution of ITM Roadshow due in the South West, Scotland and Midlands region later this year. Full details of these events are available on the Event Calender of the website.
