Tuesday 10 May 2022
Tourism Investment Summit
ATM Global Stage

 

Master of Ceremony: Amjaad Al Salmi, Founder and CEO, Amjaad Public Relations

 

14:00 – 14:10 Welcome Notes

 

• Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and Former Secretary-General UNWTO
• Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director – Middle East, RX

 

14:10 – 14:30 Global Economic Outlook 2022 by Scott Livermore, Oxford Economics

 

14:30 – 14:45 Reenergizing air connectivity to support tourism growth in the Middle East

 

A conversation with Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO Flydubai and Sameer Hashmi, Middle East Business Correspondent, BBC News

 

14:45 – 15:30 How the Middle East is reinventing the financing of future tourism projects?

 

The Middle East facilitates access to finance on favourable terms. In addition, the region offers appropriate financial instruments to raise capital for tourism projects and agile financing modalities through investment loans or shared ownership.

 

Moderator: Gerald Lawless, Director ITIC and Ambassador WTTC

 

Panellists:

 

• Sandip Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International
• Badr Alherbish, Executive Director of Strategy Tourism Development Fund, Saudi Arabia
• Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations & Development, Middle East, Africa & India, Swiss-Belhotel International
• Dinky Puri, Founding Partner, Eaglewing Group

 

15:30 – 16:00 The economic integration of women through the tourism industry

 

Tourism can contribute in a decisive manner to achieving gender equality and empower women for their economic and inclusive development. What effective strategies and interventions can be rolled out to further engage women in the tourism’s labour force and go beyond traditional sociocultural barriers?

 

Moderator: Elizabeth Maclean, Co-Managing Director, Herdwick Communications

 

Panellists:

 

• Khadija Mohammad Turki, Acting Director General, Ajman Tourism Development Department
• Marloes Knippenberg, CEO, Kerten
• Aradhana Khowala, CEO, Aptamind
• Maryam Toorani, Director of Marketing & Promotion, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority

 

16:00 – 16:30 Destination Focus – Investment Opportunities

 

Ras Al Khaimah forges ahead

 

• Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
• Alison Grinnell, Chief Executive Officer RAK Hospitality Holding LLC
• Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO of Marjan

 

16:30 – 16:45 Presentations of Tourism Projects Financing

 

16:30 – 16:35 John Sage, Founder & CEO of Accessible Travel Solutions

 

16:35 – 16:40 Wild World by Guillaume Pellerin, CEO

 

16:40 – 16:45 Shackle by Mark Abraham, Founder & CEO,

 

16:45 – 17:15 Unlocking new mode of payments in the travel and tourism industry

 

The conversation will discuss the changing behaviour and decision-making process of international travellers, their new modes of purchasing travel and tourism products and services arising from the blockchain revolution, pervasive digital banking, Fintech and the growing usage of NFT and cryptocurrencies whilst keeping the global network trusted, protected and secured.

 

A conversation between Dirk Van Loggerenberg, CEO of Dale Capital Group, Dr. Kamlen Pillay, CEO UWell and Yariv Fisher, Chairman of Flyeast GRP

 

17:15 – 17:55 Enhancing tourism resilience to mitigate the impact of future crises and improved financing through better preparedness

 

Destinations must have high levels of preparedness to reduce the impact of future catastrophes and enable effective operational responses through awareness, education and warning systems especially as areas are increasingly prone to calamities due to climate change. The overall paradigm shift will ultimately lead to better financing possibilities for the tourism industry

 

Moderator: Sameer Hashmi, Middle East Business Correspondent, BBC News

 

Panellists:

 

• H.E Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica and Co-chair GTRCMC
• Paul Griffiths, CEO Dubai Airports
• Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and Former Secretary-General, UNWTO

 

17:55 – 18:00 Closing

Dr. Taleb Rifai, Gerald Lawless & Ibrahim Ayoub

Wednesday 11 May 2022
The ITIC Deal Room

 

On 11 May, project tourism owners and developers 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 ATM. Project Developers in quest of investment can fill in the form by clicking this link.

The ITIC team will provide actionable advice to Project Developers, 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.

Day 2 – 12 April 2022
Summit

 

Master of Ceremony: Tokozile Xasa, Former Minister of Tourism, South Africa

 

10:20 – 10:30 Welcome Notes

 

• Carol Weaving, Managing Director REED South Africa
• Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and Former Secretary-General UNWTO
• Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, City of Cape Town

 

10:30 – 10:45 Africa Economic Outlook 2022

 

Hon. Minister David Maynier, Minister of Economic Development & Opportunities, Ministry of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Western Cape Government

 

10:45 – 11:30 Addressing the issues of air connectivity in Africa

 

To boost intra-African tourism, a regional airline is a must. African governments should take a coordinated and holistic view to address the issues of air connectivity, tackling the gradual and balanced liberalization of air services to expand routes and traffic throughout the continent and beyond. Taxes and airport charges should also be taken into account.

 

Moderator: Amanda Michelle Mvinjelwa, Key Account Manager, Airlines and Government Agencies, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)

 

Panellists:

 

• Hon. Philda Kereng, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Botswana
• Aaron Munetsi, CEO, Airlines Association of Southern Africa
• Luis Millan, Head of Research, Forward Keys
• Ken Osei, Principal Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Sadiq Dindar, Marketing and Promotions Manager, South Africa Tourism

 

11:30 – 12:30 Rethinking the financing modes of Africa’s new tourism projects

 

Financing tourism projects has become more challenging due to the adverse effect of the Covid pandemic. This approach has sparked a debate on the need to look for alternative modes of financing new projects.

 

Moderator: Rashid Toefy, Deputy Director General, Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Western Cape Government, South Africa

 

Panellists:

 

• H.E Mahmoud Mohammed Mussa, Lord Mayor, City of Zanzibar
• Daniel Trappler, Senior Director, Development – Sub-Sahara Africa, Radisson
• Manish Nambiar, Area General Manager, Africa, Kempinski
• Gerald Lawless, Director ITIC and Ambassador WTTC
• Moseketsi Mpeta, Head Tourism and Services, International Development Corporation (IDC)
• Humphrey Nwugo, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Afrexim bank (Southern Africa)
• Ken Osei, Principal Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

 

12:30 – 13:45Networking Lunch

 

13:45 – 14:30 How tourism is empowering African women?

 

According to a UNWTO report on Women in Tourism, in Africa, women make up to 69% of the tourism labour force. This industry also offers opportunities for women entrepreneurship, enabling them to be financially autonomous. However, in many African countries which have a strong patriarchal legacy, women are still fighting to be socially or economically empowered.

 

Moderator: Nomasonto Ndlovu, Executive Manager – Tourism, Heritage & Hospitality, The Blue Train

 

Panellists:

 

• Hon. Memunatu Pratt, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Sierra Leone
• Catheryn Khoo, Professor of Tourism Torrens University & Gender Expert, UNWTO
• Ola Wright, CEO: West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO)
• Karen Matsiko, Pan Africa Head: Working Capital Product Management – Trade, ABSA
• Fayrouz Holliday-October, Travel Designer, Tourist Guide & CVO, Halaal Hopper Travel & Taste experiences; Exco member of Women in Tourism Western Cape; Interim Chair Lady of Halaal Tourism Association of South Africa
• Nikolatte Matuku, Global CEO, ZimAchievers Awards

 

14:30 – 15:15 Investment Opportunities – Destination Focus

 

• Dr Theuns Vivian, Destination Development Manager, City of Cape Town
• Botswana
• Tourism KwaZulu-Natal
• Sthembiso Dlamini, Chief Executive Officer, Gauteng Tourism Authority

 

15:15 – 15:45 Conversation: Unlocking Africa’s opportunities by leveraging on digital adoption

 

Africa offers tremendous potential for tourism investments in quest of new markets and favourable returns. The continent has been one of the world’s fastest-growing regions over the past decade and by 2030, it will be home to nearly 1.7 billion people, generating an estimated US $ 6.7 trillion worth of consumer and business spending. The barriers to business are being eliminated by investment friendly policies and growing political stability which are making market access easier. Furthermore, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 pandemic has induced unprecedented demand for digital health technology solutions for population screening and infection tracking. Africa’s technology adoption is underway with increasing internet deployment and the tourism industry will benefit from the ripple effects of the digital transformations. The conversation will discuss the changing behaviour and decision-making process of international travellers, their new modes of purchasing travel and tourism products and services arising from the blockchain revolution, pervasive digital banking, Fintech and the growing usage of NFT and cryptocurrencies whilst keeping the global network trusted, protected and secured.

 

Dave Ramsey, Professional Consultant in conversation with Dirk Van Loggerenberg, CEO, Dale Capital Group and Executive African Growth and Private Equity PCC and Ruben Miller, Executive, Futurefin

 

15:45 – 16:00 Networking Break

 

16:00 – 16:45 Supporting resilience through adequate funding to ensure the future of Africa’s tourism businesses

 

Preparedness is of critical importance in reducing the risks and managing effectively the negative impact of natural calamities and disasters such as the Russia-Ukraine war which has far-reaching disruptive effects on investments and the movement of travellers. This session will also unveil the need for building institutional capacity and emergency planning.

 

Moderator: Milton Nkosi, Chairman, MMN International Consulting

 

Panellists:

 

• Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica and Chairman, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC)
• Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC, Co-chair GTRCMC and Former Secretary-General UNWTO
• Rashid Toefy, Deputy Director General, Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Western Cape Government, South Africa
• Roland Vorwerk, Africa Nature Based Tourism Platform
• Dr. Esther Kagure Munyiri, Executive Director, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, East Africa

 

16:45 – 17:30 Investing in marketing Africa as a single brand: Challenges and Opportunities

 

Promoting African countries under a single brand will contribute to overcome negative stereotypes and enable the continent to realize its full potential by highlighting the complementary landscapes, cultures and wildlife through a common narrative and roadmap. This will also enable African countries to go beyond their traditional tourist markets.

 

Moderator: Cuthbert Ncube, Executive Chairman, African Tourism Board

 

Panellists:

 

• Themba Khumalo, Acting CEO South Africa Tourism
• Sthembiso Dlamini, Chief Executive Officer, Gauteng Tourism Authority
• Makhosazane Luthuli, Founder and CEO of Allegro Enterprises (Venture Capitalist)
• Lillian Ajarova, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Tourism Board
• Kwakye Donkor, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Tourism Partners
• Kojo Bentum-Williams, Voyage Afrique
• Ariella Kageruka, Ag. Chief Tourism Officer, Rwanda Development Board
• Fiona Ngesa, Ag. Director, Market Development, Kenya Tourism Board

 

17:30 – 17:45 Closing

 

• Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO ITIC & Invest Tourism Ltd
• Megan Oberholzer, Portfolio Director: Travel, Tourism & Creative Industries Portfolio for Reed Exhibitions South Africa

Day 3 – 13 April 2022
ITIC Deal Room

 

On 13 April, project tourism owners and developers from African 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 the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Project Developers in quest of investment
click to fill in call for projects form

The ITIC team will provide actionable advice to Project Developers, 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.