The theme for this years’ Conference is ‘The Journey to 2020’. The programme has been designed to help you identify opportunities, set some objectives for your business and create a plan to achieve these over the course of the next five years. When crafting a pitch to gather management approval of any conference, one of the first questions is, “what are the benefits” or “what will the Return on Objectives (ROO) be?” Ensuring a positive return/outcome is important for any conference delegate, whether a Corporate Buyer, a Supplier or indeed a Sponsor. Placing a financial value on the return of any conference attendance is difficult to do and is unique to each delegate. What value is that discreet conversation with a fellow buyer about their self-booking tool implementation or new multi-national TMC? What is the return of establishing a stronger relationship with a potential client through shared experience? These are likely to translate into tangible returns at a later stage but every conference attendee needs to demonstrate some form of return to justify the cost and time of attendance. To help make the case, here are some possible ROO’s from attending the ITM Conference 2015.

For Buyer Members:

1. Learn from other buyers.

During the Buyer Focus Group on Monday afternoon you will have the opportunity to talk privately with your peers about trends in their business and how they manage costs versus service levels, what techniques they are using to maximise the leverage of their business travel and meetings spend and what they do to minimise business risk while maximising business opportunity.

2. Improve your understanding.

Specific conference sessions are designed to help you learn more about the current and future challenges across our industry, and have a better understanding of what your current and potential suppliers are doing to embrace these.

3. Explore new potential.

The Atrium Exhibition Hub will give you the opportunity to explore new suppliers and find new ideas that today you don’t even know exist!

4. Explore new horizons.

The breakout stream “Around the world” has been designed to brief you on specific countries or regions that are different to conquer in a global travel programme including Asia, China, Africa, South America and many more.

5. Develop new skills.

Specialised breakout sessions will be providing short skills training in many areas including presenting better data, getting your voice heard, marketing and communication.

6. See the bigger picture.

Plenary sessions at conference will be bringing the latest views of the world economy and its impact on your business, thoughts on the future and how it will change our industry and personal stories that will inspire and motivate you.

For Supplier Members:

1. Learn from Buyer Member.

Improve your understanding of the requirements of UK, European and Global buyers.

2. Stay abreast of industry affairs.

Hear about the current and future challenges across our industry and have a better understanding of what your peers and competitors are doing to embrace these.

3. Expand your network.

Meet potential and existing customers and expand your industry contacts. Find new partners to build your service portfolio and those new ideas that today you don’t even know exist! Meet senior and inspirational figures from the travel and meetings arena.

4. Develop new skills.

Specialised breakout sessions will be providing short skills training in many areas including Optimising Linkedin for Sales and Getting Your Voice Heard.

5. See the bigger picture.

Plenary sessions at conference will be bringing the latest views of the world economy and its impact on your business, thoughts on the future and how it will change our industry and personal stories that will inspire and motivate you.

Please click here to download a suggested letter to send to your manager for approval to attend Conference 2015.