ITT aims to attract young members

THE Institute of Travel and Tourism will launch a raft of initiatives this year in a bid to regain credibility and attract younger members.

Despite its financial problems last year, including a £36,000 black hole in its accounts, membership renewals are at the same level as 2001 and more corporate members have joined.

The ITT has simplified its membership categories by reducing them from seven to three – associate, member and fellow. Student membership has been scrapped but they will get a better deal by becoming an associate, the fee for which has been slashed from £70 to £25.

The reduction is part of the ITT’s campaign to encourage more younger members to join.

Chairman Steven Freudmann said: “We’ve successfully attracted a lot of retired and senior management figures but not the younger members we need to ensure the future of the ITT.”

To achieve this, the ITT will be launching a younger members campaign in March. This will coincide with two big student conferences in Blackpool where the ITT will be distributing membership packs. It will also be working with the Travel Training Company to encourage college students to become members when enrolling for travel-related courses.

In a bid to regain credibility, the ITT is setting standards for members to meet before they can join and use the initials F Inst TT after their name.

A fellow must have five years’ industry experience plus a degree or NVQ level four or equivalent before they can use the initials.

“Previously standards were not enforced and the initials were devalued but we will now be enforcing new standards,” said Freudmann.

The ITT has also sought to overturn criticism about its lack of training by introducing 90 correspondence courses by e-mail in conjunction with Chameleon.

It will also be expanding to include regional events, more affordable functions and more events targeted at younger members.

* Crete has made a late bid as a venue for the ITT conference in June after Jordan was scrapped. The other frontrunners are Marbella and Ireland.