Comment: Storm-proof your business

This year’s event has a theme of Risk and Resilience and, as I mentioned last week, the industry is certainly in a position where these two themes are particularly pertinent.

Today’s sessions kicked off with our Travel Weekly Business Breakfast, which included the launch of the prospectus-style careers magazine Take Off in Travel and a debate on the topic of recruitment, retention and development of staff.

It was fascinating to hear the views of industry executives on a subject that really should get more focus, and presents a real risk if ignored.

Monarch’s chief executive, Andrew Swaffield, went as far as warning of a “demographic time bomb” formed by an ageing population and a shortage of skilled staff entering the workforce.

And it became clear that the travel industry has to quickly weigh up what it must do to attract the calibre of staff required to thrive and grow.

Later in the day, we heard about a range of political and economic storms on the horizon – but also about plenty of reasons for optimism, from growing demand to technological innovation offering cross-border opportunities.

I’m sure tomorrow’s sessions will offer more food for thought, and hopefully more practical advice to ensure delegates future-proof their businesses to weather the storms ahead.

Make sure you check out our full coverage from the event at travelweekly.co.uk and in next week’s edition.