The Future of Travel & Tourism
Financial strategies for recovery

09:15 Connecting Time

 

 

09:30 Welcome

• Rajan Datar, BBC

• Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and former Secretary-General UNWTO

• Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, WTM London

• Ibrahim Ayoub Group CEO & MD, ITIC LTD

 

09:40 – 10:00: Covid-19 has transformed our future. Where the travel and tourism sector stands now?

Introductory conversation hosted by Rajan Datar, Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC

• Gloria Guevara, President and CEO WTTC

 

10:00 – 10:15: The current Global Economic Outlook and future investment perspectives.

• Nicolas Mayer, PWC Industry Leader Hospitality and Tourism EMEA & Managing Partner Global Center of Excellence Tourism & Hospitality

 

10:15 – 11:00: Why health protection is the key to recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector?

Countries are introducing new safety standards in a bid to restore travellers’ confidence. It’s a big task: hygiene training & certification affects everyone in the chain: from the taxi driver serving the airport through to the tour guides & waiters at the other end of your journey. Our panel will assess what’s been achieved and what needs to be done.

Moderator:

• Rajan Datar, Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC

Speakers:

• Hon. Majd Mohammad Shweikeh, Minister Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan

• Tom Jones, Senior Partner, Healthcare, Finn Partners

• Rob Broere, VP-Industry Change, Emirates Airline & Chairman, IATA – Travel Standards Board

• Prof. Dimitrios Buhalis, Bournemouth University

• Ashwin Seetaram, Director of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Mauritius

 

11:00 – 11:45: Planning for the future: Understanding globalisation in the post Covid-19 world and the investment measures needed to boost recovery of the global travel and tourism industry

Panellists are drawn from tourism leaders, international investment banks and private equity firms. The travel business has changed, the global economy has changed and investment and banking options are changing too. This session will examine the range of financial mechanisms to support the travel & tourism sector in its recovery.

Moderator:

• Prof Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford and the Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Technological and Economic

Speakers:

• Hon. Najib Balala, Minister of Tourism, Kenya

• Keith Barr, CEO IHG

• Raki Phillips CEO Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority

• Dinky Puri, CEO Eagle Wing Group

 

11:45 – 12:00: Investment prospects in travel and tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Speakers:

• His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of Baseera Group and Mr. Raed Habiss, Vice Chairman of Baseera group, CEO of RHH Consultancy and former Director of Tourism Investment of OIC in conversation with Dr. Taleb Rifai Chairman of ITIC and former Secretary- General of UNWTO.

 

12:00 – 12:45: Rethinking investments for better preparedness against potential future catastrophes

This session will discuss investment and protection for the future. Panellists operate at government level, tourism leaders, investors and epidemiologist. They will discuss options for building resilience and sustainability through new financing mechanisms and examine the support offered by different governments in the wake of Covid-19. What are the options for partnerships with the IMF / IFC / Government and the private sector?

Moderator:

• Peter Greenberg (CBS News)

Speakers:

• Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism Jamaica

• Hon. Elena Kountoura, Member of the European Parliament

• Nicolas Mayer, PWC Industry Leader Hospitality and Tourism EMEA & Managing Partner Global Center of Excellence Tourism & Hospitality

• Dr. Peter Tarlow, President, Safer Tourism

• Alain Saint Ange, President, Africa Tourism Board

 

12:45 – 13:15: Video Presentation

 

13:15 – 14:15: Concluding remarks
The way forward: Foresights, initiatives and changing paradigms.

The world has changed. Economies have changed. What we took for granted in 2019, no longer applies. As the world establishes a new economic order, how will the travel & tourism sector integrate? Panellists from across the tourism, hospitality and travel sector will reflect on where we are now, where they expect the sector to grow and offer their own forecasts.

Moderators:

• Rajan Datar, BBC and Gerald Lawless, WTTC Ambassador, Director ITIC & Advisory Board member Dubai Expo 2020

Presentations:

• Margaux Constantin, Partner, McKinsey Company

• Ben Lock, Senior Director, Edelman

Speakers:

• Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and former Secretary-General UNWTO

• Christopher Rodrigues, WTTC Ambassador

• Ambassador Dho Young-Shim, South Korea

• Mr. Haitham Mattar, Middle East Tourism Expert and CEO Beyond Tourism

• Todor Le, Marketing Adviser, Ministry of Tourism, Bulgaria

 

14:15: -Closing-

Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and former Secretary-General UNWTO Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, WTM London & Ibrahim Ayoub Group CEO & MD, ITIC LTD