BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull has replaced newsreader Huw Edwards as moderator of the Travel Convention.
Edwards is no longer able to attend the conference in Malta as he will be covering the Treasury’s spending review, which will be announced on October 20.
Turnbull has been presenting Breakfast since 2001, and has also appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. His unique “torn-ligament” tango and good-natured sparring with the judges were highlights of the programme.
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “We are delighted that the face of BBC Breakfast, Bill Turnbull, will be with us in Malta.
“His journalistic ability and natural empathy with an audience will make him an outstanding moderator.”
Turnbull also journeyed Around the World in 80 Days for Children in Need with Breakfast colleague Louise Minchin in 2009. They travelled from Mongolia, through Russia and South Korea, before crossing the Pacific on a container ship and landing in California.
A graduate of Edinburgh University and the Centre for Journalism Studies in Cardiff, Turnbull began his career as a Radio Clyde reporter in Glasgow.
Turnbull first joined the BBC as a reporter, covering the Lockerbie disaster and the Romanian revolution of 1989. He also spent four years as Washington correspondent, which coincided with the OJ Simpson trial and the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Ken Livingstone to speak
Ken Livingstone to speakFormer London mayor Ken Livingstone will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Travel Convention.
Livingstone’s tenure as mayor came to an end in May 2008 when he lost to Boris Johnson.
He is now running to be Labour’s candidate for mayor of London in 2012 and is being challenged for the role by former MP Oona King.
He has promised to “put ordinary Londoners first” by “holding down fares and fighting tirelessly to protect investment in London’s transport system from the threat of catastrophic government cuts”.
The result of Labour’s ballot will be announced on September 22.
Born in Lambeth and now living in Cricklewood, Livingstone will talk about the changes he made during his eight years as mayor.
Kane Pirie and Clive Jacobs to give views on the future of the industry
Travel Republic managing director Kane Pirie will share his experiences as an entrepreneur on stage at the Travel Convention on Tuesday, October 19.
Pirie will be joined on the panel by TWgroup chairman Clive Jacobs, who set up Holiday Autos, and both will be interviewed by BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull.
Turnbull will ask both businessmen about the challenges they have overcome and how they see the future of the travel industry unfolding.
Pirie’s online travel agency Travel Republic was at the centre of a high-profile prosecution by the Civil Aviation Authority over Atol regulations, which lasted two years. His agency was cleared of breaching the regulations after a trial at Stratford Magistrates’ Court.
Travel Republic is set for a record-breaking year this year, with turnover expected to exceed £300 million.