The Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) board has pledged to review its constitution over the next year after re-electing Steven Freudmann as chairman.
At this week’s board meeting and annual general meeting, Freudmann was re-elected unopposed to the position for the next year, despite rumours of a challenge by board member Lawrence Assock. Assock did not stand and remains on the board.
Meanwhile, Bill Maxwell was re-elected treasurer, Paul Cowley as company secretary, and Claire Steiner as chairman of the training and education committee.
Recent calls for Freudmann’s role of chairman and chief executive to be split in two have in part led to the decision to review the articles governing the institute, last reviewed 15 to 20 years ago. The review will consider whether to reduce the number of board members, currently 16, and keep the industry sectors, represented by eight board directors.
Members will be asked if they want changes to be made, and will be consulted on any recommendations, which would require a 75% majority vote at an extraordinary general meeting to be approved,
Freudmann said: “We will be looking at all the rules to see if they need changing. We want to be completely frank and open with members, and will be inviting their comments to see if they think the rules are out of date and need revamping.”
Freudmann was recently voted back on the ITT board as a director for two years, despite controversy surrounding the collapse of Seligo’s parent company Unpackaged Holidays, of which he was a director, in March, leaving large-scale debts to creditors. However, he was forced to resign as a director of ABTA the same month.
Following this week’s meeting, the ITT website will also be reviewed and updated after the work has been put out to tender among members. It is hoped the work will be completed by this autumn to provide a more comprehensive site to offer training and networking information, while a picture archive of all ITT events will also be included in the site.