Business Travel Market, the conference and exhibition for European travel buyers taking place on 22rd & 23rd June 2011 at London’s ExCel, has this week announced changes to its management team.

BTM has made three new exciting appointments: Neil Simpson joins as Sales Director in January from Centaur Media where he was directing their Travel Technology Show. Nikki Stimson, has already taken up the role of Marketing & Partnerships Director, expanding her short term contract involvement in BTM into a permanent role and Judit Mora has been appointed to a Sales & Administration Support position. Loraine Holdcroft continues her role as VIP Hosted Buyer Programme Director for a third year. The Operations continue to be looked after by Anna Anson of IQ Events.

Mark Harris of Travel Intelligence Network has left Business Travel Market following the completion of his contract.  Harris and BTM founder Paul Robin linked up in 2008, when the ex-ITM marketing head handed them a remit to help set up, launch and establish the industry’s first conference & exhibition backed by a fully hosted buyer programme.

Business Travel Market took place for the second time in 2010, when buyers from 20 countries including the UK, with a collective travel spend of over €15 billion, attended 2,500 pre-arranged meetings at the event. After just two years the event is firmly established in the corporate travel calendar and having completed two successful events, BTM has already garnered support from the buyer and supplier communities across Europe, culminating in a new partnership with ACTE, and retained 100% of its sponsors in its second year.

Harris, who will now focus on other TIN client projects, commented on his departure from BTM, “I’ve really enjoyed working with sponsors, partners, delegates and the BTM team to get the event off the ground. I’d like to wish Paul and the team continued success for BTM and look forward to working together on new projects in the future.” 

Robin commented, ‘It has been a great pleasure working with Mark who has been a key factor in BTM’s initial success. But the time is right for BTM to strengthen its team in different ways.’