GTMC to undergo radical review

Outside consultants are being brought in to carry out a “radical” review of the Guild of Travel Management Companies.

The move was announced after the Guild’s Annual General Meeting yesterday by its chairman, Travel by Appointment’s Maurice Veronique.

Veronique said with GTMC chief executive Philip Carlisle retiring this year it was a “natural opportunity to look, in depth, at the shape and direction of the Guild”.

“The achievements of our strategy in 2008, coupled with the shape of the marketplace after the turmoil of an economic downturn in 2008 and 2009, make it prudent and sensible to examine every facet of the GTMC structure so that the organisation is truly ready for the next 10 years and fit for purpose going forward.”

An independent firm of consultants, Tenon Group PLC, will conduct the review.

“Tenon Group’s brief is simple and unequivocal. To get the GTMC fit for the future. Their focus will be on creating a Guild that meets the changing face of business and society in the future.

“We intend to use 2009 to undergo the most radical and sweeping re-evaluation of the GTMC’s structure, the most thorough review in our organisation’s 40 year history.

“This coming year is going to be tough – but we are ready for it. Through the GTMC partnership strategy that we are now pursuing, through the transparent communications and the preparation of our leaders of tomorrow, the Guild is determined to – and indeed will – continue to play a pivotal role in the travel management sector.”

The GTMC now has 33 members after three joined in the last year – Wexas Travel, Co-Operative Travel Management and Business Travel Direct.

He updated members on an initiative announced at last year’s AGM to form a Twenty/20 Group of up and coming middle managers drawn from the Guild’s membership.

He said a Twenty/20 delegation will travel to the GTMC conference in Dubai in May to unveil a major project, looking at the ‘digital native’, the business traveller of tomorrow.

At the AGM, Ajay Sodha of Key Travel and Adam White of Bath Business Travel joined the executive council.

Graham Ramsey of ATP International, Derek Barlow of Travel Alliance and Alan Spence of Fcm Travel were re-elected.

By Bev Fearis