Monday 20 March 2023

The Summit Day I
Conference Room

Master of Ceremony: Rajan Datar, Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC

09:00 – 09:45 Opening Ceremony

09:45 – 10:30 Economic Outlook

The Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe investment landscape for 2022 and beyond. Insights on the key opportunities and challenges in the travel and tourism industry

10:30 – 10:45 Networking Break

10:45 – 12:00 Leaders Talk

Building a comprehensive Tourism resilience framework for the travel and tourism sector and supporting its development to attract and optimize FDIs in the Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe

12:00 – 12:40 The Future of Sustainable Urban Tourism: challenges, best practices and transforming initiatives for cities

12:40 – 13:25 Financing and investing in infrastructure and tourism projects to drive growth across the Central, Eastern and Southeast European tourism markets

13:25 – 14:30 Networking Lunch

14:30 – 15:15 Advancing Gender Equality in tourism by empowering women in breaking the glass ceiling

15:15 – 16:00 Investor’s Perspectives: Air Connectivity opportunities and challenges in Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe

Moderator: Gerald Lawless, Director ITIC and Ambassador WTTC

16:00 – 16:15 Networking Break

16:15 -17:30 Destination Focus

A Case Study of successful investments in Bulgarian Tourism

20:00 – 22:00 Gala Dinner and Cultural Show

Tuesday 21 March 2023

The Summit Day II
Conference Room

Master of Ceremony: Paul Hoskins, Director ITIC and Former Chairman PATA UK & Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO ITIC Ltd & Invest Tourism Ltd

09:15 – 10:00 How to better understand the fundamental aspects of doing business in Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe

A conversation with Rajan Datar, Presenter and Broadcaster of the BBC

10:00 – 10:45 Investment in digitalized travel and tourism industry and how technology is revolutionizing the sector?

10:45 – 11:00 Networking Break

11:00 – 12:00 Presentation of Investment Destinations and their attractiveness

12:00 – 13:15 Investment Pitch – Presentations of Tourism Projects

Presentation by Developers and Owners of Tourism projects within the CEE & SEE regions

13:15 – 13:30 Closing

Speakers:

• Nikolina Angelkova, former Minister of Tourism, Investment opportunities in Bulgaria
• Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and Former Secretary-General, UNWTO
• Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and Former Secretary-General, UNWTO

13:30 – 15:30 Networking Lunch

15:30 – 17:00 Networking sessions/social visits

Tuesday 21 March 2023

The ITIC Deal Room
Financing Travel and Tourism Development Projects
&
Presentations by Destinations and Project Owners

10:00 – 16:00

On 14 September, project tourism owners and developers from the SEE region will be able to showcase their tourism projects to investors and members of the ITIC team in private deal rooms. The ITIC team invites tourism projects owners or developers who are looking for investment to submit their projects so that ITIC can screen them in the Deal Room to be set up at Hyatt Sofia, Bulgaria. Project Developers in quest of investment can fill in the form by clicking this link.

The ITIC team will provide actionable advice for attendees, striking mutually beneficial agreements and channelling investments into their projects. ITIC will also to ensure that your project integrates the best environmental, social and good governance practices. We will then actively interface with investors and fund managers to turn your tourism project into reality.