Former John Lewis customer service guru Andrew McMillan (pictured) and businessman and philanthropist Billy Gammon are to speak at next month’s Travel Network Group conference.
Andy Cohen of the Civil Aviation Authority and Damon Wright of accountancy firm MacIntyre Hudson will address Atol reform, TOMS, Flight Plus and the changes to the package travel directive.
Travelport UK and Ireland managing director Simon Ferguson will talk about how delegates can take advantage of new technologies.
Delegates will also hear from members who have put in place successful innovations to shape their future in their businesses – including one member who has gone ‘brochure-less’.
A range of business-focused workshop activities are also planned at the event at Lake Bled in Slovenia on May 17-19.
More than 150 members, together with 63 business partners, have signed up to attend the conference.
Many delegates will travel to Slovenia on a specially chartered Adria aircraft from Stansted to Ljubljana.
Group managing director Gary Lewis said: “We have chosen ‘shaping your future’ as the conference theme this year to reflect the need for our members to continue to adapt their businesses in these times of change and challenge for our industry.
“Feedback from our last conference told us what members want to get from conference: great networking opportunities with colleagues and the trade; good speakers who can give practical skills and insights that they can implement when they return to work; experience of a new destination; and some fun.
“We believe that we have the balance just right for our conference in Lake Bled for it to be not only a very worthwhile event, but a hugely motivational experience.”
He added: “With trading conditions likely to remain tough, and changes in industry policy and consumer behaviour changing all the time members need to be prepared to adapt and innovate. We are confident that the agenda we have planned will be hugely beneficial in all these respects.”