The Institute of Travel Management (ITM) has launched a campaign to help travel buyers to “re-enforce the strategic importance” of their roles within their organisations.
The move comes after buyers took on more complex extra responsibilities during the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years. This has included having to deal with constantly changing travel rules and managing the return of business trips.
To capitalise on the “elevated” positions of buyers within their organisations post-pandemic, ITM has established a Future Role of the Travel Manager taskforce of 12 buyer members to identify how to raise awareness of the role.
Scott Davies, ITM’s CEO, said: “While business travel ground to a virtual halt over the last two years, the corporate travel buyer’s ‘to do’ list certainly did not; in fact, it increased exponentially.
“Many buyers gained an elevated status among senior management, even at board level during this period, and they currently remain central in helping their organisation resume business travel safely and sustainably.
“Now is the time for buyers to secure their strategic position within their organisation, demonstrate their value, and educate their C-suite on the travel programme’s core function in supporting and delivering accelerated business goals such as sustainability, employee wellbeing, and DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion).”
The new taskforce will meet regularly over the next two months with sessions moderated by Louise Kilgannon from corporate travel consultancy Festive Road.
The campaign will then culminate in a webinar sharing the group’s key findings and giving practical advice for buyers. The subject will also be covered at buyer knowledge exchange sessions at ITM’s Accelerate conference in April.