This year’s Institute of Travel Management (ITM) annual conference featured an innovative seminar, which looked at the possibility of hosting meetings online through virtual reality sites.

With the help of New Business Horizons, a meeting space and conference facility has been set up digitally in the social environment known as Second Life, a virtual reality fantasy world which mimics reality.

Launching the Institute of Travel Management (ITM) Second Life virtual offices at the ‘Meeting in Cyberspace’ session at the ITM conference, the seminar considered the environmentally friendly aspect as well as the cost-savings involved with meeting virtually.

“Virtual world conferencing is a more complete experience than the webcam or teleconferencing suite, which means that the ITM’s initiative extends beyond saving money and improving CSR,” said Alan Haymes, New Business Horizons Director.

“In a virtual world, delegates can immerse themselves fully in the conference environment and truly feel part of a big event. Breakout and one to one sessions can be easily incorporated, there’s less pressure on performance and appearance ... and it can be more fun."

ITM’s Second Life offices include a “fully equipped” association room and boardroom, which means that ITM members can now hire out the ‘function spaces’ for their own virtual meetings and events.

“A Second Life presence will allow ITM to understand the application of this type of technology and to remain at the forefront of this debate,” adds Paul Tilstone, ITM CEO.

After presenting the seminar on Thursday, Mr Haymes will reprise the issue at the upcoming Business Travel Conference in London on September 22nd.