Guidance for buyers on travel planning
The UK and Ireland Institute of Travel Management (ITM) has launched a new programme to guide and assist members in cutting their companies' travel meeting costs in the economic downturn.
The new programme consists of a five point plan for buyers to cut costs.
These include:
- Hosted free breakfasts offering to promote the ITM's "The Travel & Meetings Efficiency Programme"
- A "special deals zone" on the ITM website where suppliers can upload offers for business travellers
- A set of tip for savings which can be sent out to buyer members
- Advice on a complimentary travel plan from Transport for London, worth £20,000 but free to buyers who sign y up for ITM's Icarus Project.
- Sessions on economic and efficiency at the Institute's annual meeting in Liverpool in March regarding managing demand and switching to self booking tools.
The ITM also said it was freezing membership fees at 2008 levels as well as offering six webinars free of charge for buyers and suppliers involved with green programmes.
ITM said it was also launching a new dynamic directory and networking system in June for members to contact one another and share best practice.
Caroline Strachan, ITM's chairman, said: "When we were putting together our list of priorities for 2009 the creation of a package of activity to assist members and their companies in these hard times was right up there at the top.
"We intend to help members as best we can and have created a programme of activity which is both diverse and practical."
www.itm.org.uk