Institute of Travel Management (ITM) is lending its name to a southern Africa division in response to a group of travel managers who approached ITM with their new, buyer-led association. The division is ITM Southern Africa ITM SA.
ITM executive director Paul Tilston explained: ”This is not the start of an international expansion strategy for ITM. We responded to an approach from a group of travel managers who wanted to affiliate with us as a like-minded body committed to providing business travel buyers with an agenda and effective industry voice. We saw that there was an opportunity to extend our principles with a group that shares our own commitment to education and inclusive debate.”
ITM chairman Mark Avery stressed: ”ITM has not taken over, merged or acquired an interest in the new ITM SA. Neither is ITM seeking to expand outside the UK. What we are doing is providing support and structure to a newly-formed association.”
Eight travel managers run the new division.