Two new appointments have been made to the Institute of Travel & Tourism’s education and training committee to support the activities of the Future You Foundation.
G Adventures EMEA marketing director Ant Stone and University of Surrey senior lecturer Sumeetra Ramakrishnan join the group.
Meanwhile, Surrey University becomes the ITT’s ninth centre of excellence university in the UK.
The committee sets the strategy for the Future You Foundation and its activities, to help raise the profile of careers in travel and amplify industry initiatives to attract talent into the sector.
Stone headed global strategic partnerships and campaigns at STA Travel before joining G Adventures.
His appointment to the committee will help raise the profile of Future You and its social media initiatives.
Stone joins other industry colleagues on the committee, with representatives including Abta, Advantage, British Airways, Northern Training Academy, Thomas Cook, Tourism Ireland and Tprofile.
Stone said: “I’m very proud to join the ITT’s education and training committee to support the crucial work that’s underway to inspire, engage, and encourage more young people to consider travel and tourism as their industry of choice.
“I’m passionate about future-proofing our industry, and believe that starts with our workforce.
“I’m a firm believer in providing young people with a pathway to succeed. I benefited from that chance in the media sector, and since my career progressed to travel, I have never lost that desire to pay that chance forward.”
The University of Surrey has been ratified as the ITT’s 9th ‘Centre of Excellence’ education establishment, since the accolade was launched back in 2010. This leads to Sumeetra
Ramakrishnan, senior lecturer and programme director for hospitality management, said: “I am very excited and looking forward to joining the ITT education and training committee, and contribute to the valuable work around engaging and motivating young people from diverse backgrounds and experiences towards a career in travel and tourism.
“I am passionate about tackling the challenges and barriers – visible and invisible – towards achieving inclusion in education and employment within travel and tourism and keen to work with ITT towards developing innovative strategies and opportunities to address the career ambitions and life aspirations of students from diverse backgrounds and identities.”