New date and format for ITM conference
The Institute of Travel & Meetings is to hold its 2010 conference at Chelsea Football Club in May.
The event is moving to a two-day format, on May 12-13, so delegates are not required to spend as long away from the office.
ITM said the later date is designed to allow sponsors to spread sponsorship budgets across two financial years, at a time when this financial alleviation is needed most.
Head of sales and marketing and conference director Diane Steed said: “We had an incredibly successful 2009 event but we never sit on our laurels and I was brought in by ITM to take a fresh look at the event, so that’s exactly what I have done.
“I have listened to delegates and sponsors and I am delighted the ITM board has agreed to the implementation of a number of changes I have recommended. The revised format will offer more value for money for both delegates and sponsors.”
ITM is hoping to get Jeremy Paxman back to kick off the conference with a series of keynote industry interviews, and to take part in a University Challenge-style session.
The conference theme will be ‘The Journey’, referring both to the traveller’s experience "as well as drawing inspiration from the journey the industry is going through and the personal development of the industry’s talent".
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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