ITT to hold UK event for new entrants

THE Institute of Travel and Tourism will hold its first conference for aspiring travel professionals in the UK early next year.

The move follows calls during this year’s main event in Malta for the ITT to be more inclusive and encourage the participation of new entrants into the industry (Travel Weekly June 16).

ITT chairman Steven Freudmann met representatives from Springboard UK, London City Airport and Travel Weekly last week to thrash out plans for the event, provisionally due to take place next March.

Springboard UK will liaise with TTC Training to avoid any clash with its two student conferences which traditionally take place around the same time of year.

It was agreed the original idea of a student conference should be broadened to include any new entrants into the industry keen to develop their careers.

Springboard UK managing director Anne Walker said: “The conference should be aimed at aspiring professionals interested in career development. It shouldn’t exclude older entrants or non-students.”

The two-day event, which the ITT hopes will attract between 500 and 1,000 delegates, will feature business sessions and a social programme and will be limited to delegates aged 18 and over.

It will take place at a central UK venue with sessions on the first afternoon and second morning to enable delegates to reach the conference from anywhere in the country.