Members of the Incentive Travel & Meetings Association (ITMA) have voted to merge with the Corporate Events Association (CEA) and form a new trade body – Eventia.

At an extraordinary general meeting, held on 22 November 2005 at London’s Grange City Hotel, members voted to change the ITMA’s existing Articles of Association to allow for a new membership structure.

They also voted to change the name of the Incentive Travel & Meetings Association to Eventia with effect from 1 January 2006.  The Association’s corporate entity - ITMA Ltd - will become Eventia 2006 Ltd.

An earlier CEA extraordinary general meeting had already given its board directors full approval to work towards the merger. 

ITMA Chairman Nigel Cooper said: “This is a fantastic move forward, which will enable us to create a new body that truly embraces the broader events industry.”

He emphasised that the Board of Directors was nevertheless committed to  ensuring that the standards and credentials of members would be maintained, adding: “Eventia will stand for excellence in all areas of event management.”

At the EGM, Members also voted to reduce Event Organiser Fees to make membership more affordable for smaller agencies; slightly increasing the fees for the larger Partner Members, (those whose turnover exceeds £2m) – to create a more equitable fee structure.

Under Eventia’s new constitution, existing members of the ITMA will automatically transfer to Eventia on 1 January 2006. Members of the CEA will be invited to join Eventia and will not be required to pay initial enrolment fees.

All companies that have lapsed membership of either association during the last two years will be invited to join Eventia without the requirement to pay enrolment fees.