The venue for The Travel Network Group conference in December has been switched from Jerusalem to Munich amid “operational challenges”.
The consortium said the overseas event will instead take place at the five-star Marriott Westin Grand Hotel in the German city from December 4-6.
Jerusalem had been selected to host TTNG’s 2020 conference but the plans were put on hold because of the pandemic.
In December 2022, TTNG said it had selected Jerusalem for its overseas 2023 conference and was working with the Israel Government Tourist Office.
Gary Lewis, TTNG chief executive, said: “Earlier this year, we announced that the dates of our overseas conference would change to early December, due to some operational challenges.
“Unfortunately, we could not overcome these, and so, for reasons beyond our control, we have decided to host the event in an alternative destination this year.
“Whilst we are incredibly disappointed that our 2023 conference cannot take place in Jerusalem, we are confident that in the future, we will be able to host our members and business partners in the city.
“In September 2022, approximately 60 of our members attended the two amazing fam trips in Israel, organised with the support of the Israel Government Tourist Office and we are looking forward to working together in the future.”
Sharon Bershadsky, director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism in the UK and Ireland, said that the destination is “looking forward” to hosting another conference at a later stage.
“With regret, we are saddened to announce that The Travel Network Group will no longer be hosting their upcoming conference in Jerusalem due to operational challenges,” she said.
“We wish our partners at TTNG a successful 2023 conference, and we look forward to working together in the near future.”
Commenting on the switch to the Bavarian city, Lewis added: “Our time in Munich will give us the opportunity to experience one of Germany’s most famous cities, in terms of its rich culture, fascinating history, outstanding tourist activities, beautiful castles and more.
“We are yet to reveal the full itinerary to our members and business partners; however, our plan is to host events outside the conference venue that will allow us to experience first-hand what this vibrant city has to offer.”
Picture: Munich Christmas market. Editorial credit: FooTToo/Shutterstock.com