Among the scores of forums and events that litter the travel industry calendar, there has been a noticeable absence over the past few years.
The independent travel management company (TMC) community is one of the only niche areas within the wider travel sector not to have benefitted from a conference tailored specifically to its needs.
The Guild of Travel Management Companies runs a number of successful members-only events throughout the year for its independent and multiple TMC members.
But on Monday February 7 – a day prior to the Business Travel and Meetings Show at Earl’s Court – the UK’s leading independent TMCs will converge in London for the inaugural Independent Business Travel Agents’ Conference (Ibtac).
Lawyer Ian Skuse and accountant Andrew Burnham, both of whom specialise in the affairs of the travel business, are spearheading the conference, which is taking place at The Grange, St Paul’s, in the City of London.
Over the last five years both Burnham, of MacIntyre Hudson, and Skuse, of Piper Smith Watton, have moderated, spoken at and organised dozens of industry forums, but feedback from corporate travel delegates suggested there was often too much focus on the leisure sector for it to be relevant to their businesses.
The Ibtac conference is, therefore, an attempt by the duo to fill what they consider to be a “significant gap” in the market.
“We both have a range of independent TMC clients have told us there is nothing out there that addresses their specific needs,” says Burnham.
“We’ve picked up an number of clients for our seminars and they tell us there are parts of the leisure side that are of no interest.”
Advantage Travel Centre’s director of business travel, Norman Gage, has played a crucial role in the development of Ibtac.
Though his agency consortium is central to the event, the industry stalwart is also engaging with independent members of other consortia, including Worldchoice and Uniglobe.
Confirmed speakers so far include:
John McEwan, chief executive, Advantage Travel Centres
Tony Matharu, managing director, Grange Hotels
Anna Doran, national sales manager, Virgin Trains
Richard Gooding OBE, chief executive, London City Airport
Anthony Ainsworth, sales director, Avis
Following the morning debate, delegates can participate in interactive sessions with leading experts, including Advantage’s director corporate Ken McLeod, as well as Skuse and Burnham.
Agents are being asked to send their questions in advance, to [email protected].
www.ibtac.co.uk