Travel journalist Simon Calder (pictured) and Abta chairman Noel Josephides will speak at Elite Travel Group’s conference later this year.
Calder has been confirmed as the headline speaker for the conference, which is being named The Travel Conference for Independents. For the first time Elite is encouraging all independent agents to attend the event, rather than just Elite members and suppliers.
Elite said Calder,who is senior travel editor at The Independent, was chosen for his “honest, albeit controversial assessments of travel industry matters“. He will give his views on the industry before taking part in a questions and answers session.
The conference will be held at the Apex International Hotel in Edinburgh between October 4 and 6.
Josephides will speak in his role as chairman of Abta, concentrating on the planned amendments to the Package Travel Directive.
Alan Bowen, from AGB Associates, will also be highlighting the response he gave to the Department for Transport’s Call for Evidence in relation to planned changed to the Atol regulations.
Neil Basnett, chief executive of the Elite Travel Group, said: “We are delighted to be holding this conference in the beautiful city of Edinburgh – this is an attraction in its own right.
“Due to the quality and relevance of the speakers confirmed to date together with presentations from some key suppliers, we felt that there was an opportunity here for other independent travel agents to attend as key issues will be discussed.
“With attendance costs deliberately kept low, this should prove to be a truly relevant conference for any independent travel agent as it does not discuss internal matters.”
For further details of prices and bookings email wendy@elitetravelgroup.co.uk