Abta has announced a change of moderator for its 2023 Travel Convention in Bodrum, Turkey, with ITV news presenter and royal correspondent Chris Ship no longer able to attend due to work commitments.
LBC radio presenter Sangita Myska, a former presenter of the BBC Holiday Show, will replace Ship.
Myska described travel as “an industry close to my heart” and said: “My first TV presenting roles were ‘Holiday’ and ‘Summer Holiday’ on BBC1.”
She told Travel Weekly: “I’m really looking forward to moderating my first Travel Convention. It’s an exciting time for the sector and will be interesting to discuss how the industry will embrace new technologies such as generative AI and how it will accelerate the pace of decarbonisation.”
Ship, who has moderated the annual Travel Convention since 2016, said: “I’ve loved my time as moderator of the Abta Travel Convention which I’ve been proud to do every year since Abu Dhabi.
“Together, we’ve navigated some of the most challenging times for the industry, including Brexit and Covid. I’ve always been impressed and inspired by your resilience and ability to find a way through.”
He added: “I’ll miss being with you in Bodrum this year as I planned, but I have an unavoidable clash with the day job. It’s with much regret I’ve had to withdraw but I wish each and every one of you success.
“Thank you for your support and friendship. I’m confident your businesses and your industry will go from strength to strength.”
Myska’s live, unscripted LBC show – on which she takes a direct approach to interviewing politicians – has attracted a growing audience since she joined LBC in September 2022.
Her show is on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm to 4pm, with well over 500,000 people tuning in on both days.
Prior to joining LBC, Myska spent 17 years as a BBC national news TV and radio correspondent, working on major news stories for The News Channel, BBC 1’s One, Six and Ten o’clock news, and the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4. She was also presenter and co-creator of Positive Thinking on Radio 4.
The Travel Convention, Bodrum, Turkey, October 30 to November 1
Full details and registration: thetravelconvention.com