The World Travel Market 2008 events programme features a number of seminars, presentations and workshops aimed at providing an insight into future trends and innovations within the tourism industry.
Travel Weekly offers a guide to the highlights of the next three days.
Tuesday November 11
What? Low Cost Airline Chief Executives Panel Debate
When? 11am-12pm
Where? North Gallery 6 and 7
Who? Speakers include Clickair chief executive Alex Cruz and Asia Air X chief executive Azran Osman Rani.
Details: The panel will discuss issues affecting the low-cost airline industry and its future strategy. Likely topics will include: How are airlines tackling the rising cost of fuel? What structural changes are likely to be seen in the air transport industry and what is the outlook for airline failures, acquisitions and mergers in this challenging climate?
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What? Hard Rain Presentation by Mark Edwards
When? 2pm-2.45pm
Where? Platinum Suite 4
Details: Sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme, Hard Rain combines stunning photographs and vocal presentation by internationally acclaimed photographer Mark Edwards.
Set to the soundtrack of Bob Dylan’s haunting A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, the images illustrate the issues that are defining the 21st century – climate change, pollution, poverty and habitat loss.
Essays by leading scientists and thinkers in the environmental movement explore the steps we must take to prevent global collapse.
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What? Peace through Tourism: The Next 20 Years
When? 3pm-4pm
Where? Platinum Suite 4
Details: Organised by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism, this event takes place on a poignant day – November 11 2008. This is the precise 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War – the so-called ‘war to end all wars’, in which nine million people died.
Since then 100 million people have been killed globally as a result of conflict. The forum will unite industry leaders to share their visions on the future of tourism as a vital force in building a culture of peace.
Wednesday November 12
What? China the Future of Travel – WTM ChinaContact 3rd Annual Forum on China’s Tourism Industry
When? 10am-5.30pm
Where? South Gallery Rooms 21 and 22
Who? Speakers include ChinaContact managing director Roy Graff and China Tourist Office London representative Chen Qixian
Details: In the wake of the Olympic Games in Beijing, this conference offers a forum for discussion about how to develop business with China as a destination, service provider and tour operator.
Supported by the likes of VisitBritain, the China National Tourism Administration and the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, experts will share their case studies of tourism both to and from China.
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What? Youth Travel – The Bright Future
When? 2pm-3pm
Where? North Gallery 8
Who? Speakers include chairman of the British Educational Travel Association Dick Porter and STA Travel chief executive Peter Liney
Details: Youth travel represents about 20% of all international arrivals and is one of the tourism industry’s fastest growing sectors. Key aspects of destination development are youth budget accommodation, cultural routes, information services, web portals, tour packages and discount programmes.
This session will help profile the youth traveller, explore their expectations and look at the media used to research this type of travel. A panel of experts will also look and emerging markets, hot topics and the bright future that lies ahead.
Thursday November 13
What? Tourism Futures
When? 11am-1pm
Where? North Gallery Room 6
Who? Speakers include Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, deputy director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research at Bournemouth University and forumforthefuture.org sustainability adviser Vicky Murray.
Details: This session will bring together academic and professional tourism experts to examine the major trends in tourism supply and demand and how the international tourism industry needs to respond.
The event – which involves three research-based presentations to stimulate discussion – aims to identify new trends, opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
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What? Tourism Society – How to Climb the Tourism Career Ladder
When? 2pm-3pm
Where? North Gallery Room 7
Who? Speakers include Tourism Management Institute continual professional development co-ordinator Cathy Guthrie, and director of Live Tourism Mandy Lane
Details: This panel discussion aims to show how people can secure a bright future in the travel industry. Advice will be given on how to approach continual professional development and make the most of online training solutions in order to expand your CV and prove you are up to date with the sector.
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