The bosses of XL Leisure Group, Kuoni and Stella Travel Services are among a high-profile line-up of speakers planned for this year’s Institute of Travel and Tourism conference.
XL Leisure Group chief executive Peter Owen, Kuoni managing director Nick Hughes and Stella Travel Services chief executive Keith Stanley have all been named as speakers for the event at Aphrodite Hills Resort in Cyprus on June 9-11.
It will be the first time these speakers have appeared in front of a large-scale travel trade conference comprising senior figures in the UK industry, said ITT chairman Steven Freudmann.
“They will not have been heard before. One of the issues to be discussed will be the growth of the independent sector and unpackaging holidays,” Freudmann said.
Organisers have already announced that former deputy prime minister John Prescott will be a keynote speaker, addressing delegates on the industry’s lack of effective political lobbying.
Already more than half of the 400 delegate places for the conference have been sold through advance registrations.
Freudmann added: “It’s a real endorsement of the conference and shows people have confidence in the programme.
“We could easily increase the size but, to maintain the integrity of the conference, we are adamant that we won’t. ITT could be described as the chief executives’ conference and we want to keep it as such.”
The conference brochure is due out at the end of this month. Delegate places have been frozen at last year’s prices for registrations before January 31. Registration fees are £315 for members and £215 for partners. Fees will go up by £50 from February.