ITM Platinum Pathways: Shaping future business travel strategy

Happy 70th Anniversary ITM! 

ITM Platinum Pathways is a new initiative launched by the Institute of Travel Management (ITM) to mark its 70th anniversary. 

Part of the "Festival of Ideas," this year-long programme brings senior travel buyers and business travel industry experts together to tackle critical challenges. 

What is the Festival of Ideas?

To celebrate seven decades as the voice of the UK and Ireland’s business travel community, ITM created the Festival of Ideas.

Platinum Pathways forms the central pillar of this programme. It moves beyond standard networking to create a closed, trusted environment where buyers and suppliers collaborate on practical solutions.

The initiative focuses on producing toolkits, frameworks, and reporting guidance that travel managers and procurement professionals can apply immediately to their programmes.

Key Strategic Theme

FCM Consulting is leading one of the programme's founding pathways, addressing one of the most pressing topics in corporate travel.

The business case for managed travel

Lead by: Jo Lloyd, Global Head of Customer Management & Consulting at FCM

What the group will explore: Managed travel programmes offer significant value, yet communicating that value to senior leadership remains a challenge for many procurement teams. This pathway helps travel managers move the conversation beyond simple cost control.

Jo Lloyd added: “Managed travel delivers enormous value to organisations, but that value isn’t always articulated in ways senior leaders recognise. This pathway is about reframing the conversation; helping travel managers clearly demonstrate how their programmes support business goals, manage risk and enable productivity, not just control cost.”

What will be the result of the Platinum Pathways?

For travel managers, these working groups offer more than theoretical discussion. They will deliver tangible resources that travel managers and suppliers can apply immediately.

•    The pathways are designed to produce:
•    Practical toolkits, reports and guidance.
•    Conference updates, member briefings and collaborative sessions.

“As we celebrate 70 years of ITM, Platinum Pathways represent exactly what our community stands for – connection, collaboration and collective progress," said Scott Davies, CEO of ITM. "This initiative is about bringing the industry together to solve shared challenges, build common understanding and shape a stronger future for managed travel.”