The Mediterrenean island of Malta has been chosen to host the 2014 Institute of Travel and Tourism conference, it was announced last night.
Guests at the ITT’s annual president’s dinner held at The Dorcherster hotel were told the news by the institute’s chairman and chief executive Steven Freudmann. He said bokings open today for the event that will take place on June 2 to 4.
Malta has become a popular choice for overseas UK travel industry conferences in recent years, Abta and Advantage Travel Centres having opted for the destination and Aito due to hold its winter conference there later this year.
Alex Incorvaja, UK director of the Malta Tourism Authority, said: “We are delighted in securing what is one of the most prestigious events in the travel calendar for the UK trade.
“Malta continues with its drive to position itself within a very important channel of business – the UK market. Over the past four years, we have hosted Abta’s Travel Convention in 2010, the Advantage Travel Centres’ conference in 2011 and now the ITT conference in 2014, which just shows our commitment to this market.”
Asked if delegates who’d previously been to Abta’s Travel Convention or the Advantage conference were going to get exactly the same experience, Incorvaja promised:
“We will be offering a completely different programme to what they have experienced in the past. Apart from staying in the same hotel, the Hilton Malta, which is the best hotel on the island and offers phenomenal facilities to allow a conference to work seamlessly, plus amazing pools and restaurants, there will be no other repeat venue.”
He said the ITT programme would be “diverse and energising”. “Those who have already been to Malta will get a great new experience, and Malta virgins will get a real appreciation of the island.”