The Institute of Travel and Tourism is to co-host two one-day conferences for lecturers and academics this year.
The lecturers’ events will take place at De Vere West One in London on March 17, and the Copthorne in Birmingham on June 30. They will provide an opportunity for lecturers of travel and tourism students to meet key trade figures.
The ITT is co-hosting the events with The Tourism Society. The conferences be limited to 120 delegates and speakers will be from the trade.
The programme will focus on how to ensure graduates qualify with suitable skills for the industry.
ITT chairman Steven Freudmann said he hoped the events will help to resurrect the Aspire conference for 2009.
Aspire, an event for up-and-coming travel professionals and students, has been cancelled this year. “We were unable to secure support from a UK city to hold the event and, with uncertainty about whether we can get industry sponsorship, I regret to say we’ve decided not to hold Aspire this year. We will review it for next year,” Freudmann said.
“If we are going to resurrect Aspire it will be good to open dialogue with the lecturers in travel and tourism.”