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Agenda 2023

17:00

Press conferences

Radisson Collection Hotel, Magdalena Plaza Sevilla

18:30

Welcome Reception

Welcome drink with Spanish wine and tapas – rooftop Radisson Collection Hotel, Magdalena Plaza Sevilla

19:30

Private visit Alcazar of Seville

invitation only

20:30

Mayor’s Dinner

invitation only

9:30 – 9:40

Opening and Welcome

by Peter Greenberg This event is structured based on industry shifts towards the future. As such there are 5 distinct shifts we are tracking: Climate, Environmental, Technical, Economic and Social. Each session is indicated as a Plenary session and the shift focus. Speakers will spotlight their particular entities’ actions in that direction and then the panels will discuss each other’s activities, pros and cons. There are two plenaries per focus.

  • Christian Delom, General Secretary, A World for Travel

9:40 – 10:20

What Urban Visions are Being Delivered Around the World?

Peter Greenberg sets the scene and explores some unique planning concepts with selected visionaries:

  • As one of the most threatened cities by global warming, Seville has a comprehensive medium and long-term vision to become a climate neutral city by 2030 and tourism is aligned with this vision through the Seville Tourism Plan and the Tourism Sustainability Plans. Hon. José Luis Sanz Ruiz, Mayor, Seville City EUROPEAN SMART CAPITAL 2023
  • The Blue Ocean Global Network is the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to open up a new market space and create new demand. It is about creating and capturing uncontested market space, thereby making the competition irrelevant. Jason Hunter, Sr. Global Practitionner, Blue Ocean Global Network Tim Harris, Chair, South African Board of Tourism
  • Urban resilience and sustainable destination development will be presented proposing how human habitats and activities (including leisure and hospitality) can transition towards reintegration with resource efficiency, bio-diversity, heritage and resilience. Dr. Ripin Kalra, Technical Director for Innovation, Urban Resilience and Sustainability, ICF will draw upon applied experience and reflections from international and inter-disciplinary practice.

10:20 – 11:00

PLENARY – CLIMATE SHIFT

  • “Shifting Towards the Future – Advancements in Sustainable Tourism, How are countries adapting to a Future that is or is not Being Dictated by Domestic Demands? Destinations from around the world will give their perspective on climate effects, domestic demands or economic needs and corresponding activities in their geographical area.
  • OPENING – ICELAND ADDRESSES CLIMATE CHANGE
    The First Lady of Iceland, Madame Eliza Reid is interviewed by Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor for CBS News, New York on social and environmental aspects of tourism development. She will share how Iceland looks after the local population as it is simultaneously a magnet for tourists.
  • H.E. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica with Nikolaos Gkolfinopoulos, Head of Tourism, ICF reporting from Uzbekistan at the UNWTO 25th General Assembly (virtual)
  • PANEL Madame Külli Kraner, Head of Tourism Policy, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Information Technology, Estonia Eliza Reid, First Lady of Iceland Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News
Moderator: Rajan Datar, Travel Host and journalist, The Travel Show, BBC

11:00 – 11:20

Break

11:20 – 12:10

PLENARY – ENVIRONMENTAL SHIFT

Maritime Tourism

70% of the planet is water, makes for fantastic cruising and water sports but what are the major seafaring companies doing on their path to net zero?  What are the social implications? How is itinerary planning being handled with an eye towards sustainable operations?  How can advancements in artificial reefs help save maritime tourism? What can maritime tourism learn from aviation? OPENING: Discussion with Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News and Roberto Martinoli, Sr. Advisor to President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group PANEL
  • Roberto Martinoli, Sr. Advisor to President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group
  • Dr. Will Bateman, CEO, Ccell Renewables
  • Linden Coppell, Vice President Sustainability and ESG, MSC
  • Spiros Almpertis, Vice President, Port Operations, Itinerary Planning and Management, Crystal Cruises
  • Isobel Gibson, Sr. Consultant, Sustainable Aviation, ICF
Moderator: Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News

12:10 – 13:05

PLENARY: TECHNOLOGY SHIFT

Positive Developments with Whole of Industry Approach: Collaboration, Innovation and Technology

Collaboration is key to achieving SDGs and Net Zero goals but also in developing the climate for public private sector engagement and ensuring regenerative processes within the industry.  Leaders will discuss the future of their collective actions.
  • Inge Huijbrechts, Global Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Radisson Hotel Group
  • Lucas Bobes, Sustainability and ESG Officer, Amadeus
  • Ibrahim Osta, Sr. Advisor, Economic Growth and Trade, Chemonics International
  • Nicolas Brumelot, Co-founder & CEO, Digitrips
  • Ada Xu, Alibaba Group, Regional Director EMEA, Fliggy
Moderator: Rajan Datar, Host and journalist, BBC

13:05 – 14:00

PLENARY – ECONOMIC SHIFT

Profitable Yet Sustainable Businesses from Multiple Sectors

As the industry adoption rate continues to rise, how are transformation challenges being addressed, from the cost of infrastructure that varies across sectors to the concerns around consensus on terminology. Should or have companies reconstruct their decades old businesses into sustainable models? Is the time and investment worth it? What is each sector’s roadmap to net zero? How does this deliver shareholder value? Can margins increase?
  • Airports/Airlines – Jean-Louis Baroux, Founder, APG
  • Hospitality – Eric de Neef, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Commercial Officer, Radisson Hotel Group
  • Transportation – Jason Dunderdale, Global Head of Sales, BlackLane
  • Car rental – Jehan de Thé, Car rental, Group Public Affairs VP, Europcar Mobility Group, & Maas Alliance Board Member
Moderator: Rajan Datar, TV presenter, Host, Journalist, BBC

14:00 : 15:30

Lunch

15:30 – 16:15

PLENARY – SOCIAL

MICE Recovery – Is Business Travel Leading Change? 

Companies around the world are looking to the business travel sector to take the lead on the sustainable path.  Regenerative travel is also entering the business travellers’ planning, how?  These organizations are stepping up, we will spotlight each organization’s efforts and then hear their collective discussion on the probability of success. How is MICE market facilitating transformation? OPENING -Maribel Rodriguez, Vice President of Membership, WTTC will give the overview of the business travel sector and its importance in moving sustainability forward for the whole industry. Panel:
  • Catherine Logan, Regional Sr. Vice President, EMEA and APAC, GBTA
  • Raimonds Gruntins, Director, Regional Affairs Department, Europe, IATA
  • Jason Dunderdale, Global Head of Sales, BlackLane
  • Eloisa Urrutia, Head of M&E Sustainability – American Express Global Business Travel
  • Maribel Rodriguez, Vice President, Membership, WTTC
Moderator: Rajan Datar, Host and journalist, BBC

16:15 – 17:00

PLENARY – TECHNOLOGY SHIFT

Communication, Technology and the Enablers of Education

The message and the tools to deliver it are critical.  With the rise in AI will communicating become better or is it fraught with inherent bias?  How do we educate businesses internally as well as the travelling public? Can we distinguish and polemicize mis or disinformation? OPENING – Dr. Misa Labarile, Policy Officer, European Commission Panel:
  • Brodie Carr, Head of Global Partnerships, Exceptional Alien
  • Mireia Prieto, Regional Director for Western Europe, Booking.com
  • Marcello Notarianni, Sr. Associate, SMA Tourism
  • Raj Gyawali, Partner, Ethical Travel Portal, Norway; Founder, Socialtours, Nepal
  • Dr. Misa Labarile, Policy Officer, European Union
Moderator: Kate Harden-England, Executive Editor, Travolution

17:00 – 17:40

PLENARY – ENVIRONMENTAL SHIFT

How Are Luxury and Convenience Putting Sustainability in the Spotlight?

Travel companies and providers are working to have balance between traveller demands for luxury and convenience. How is this being addressed by travel product creators and governments? POINT
  • James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid
  • Rajan Datar, Interviewer/Host, The Travel Channel, BBC

COUNTERPOINT
  • Prof. Dr Willy Legrand, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Germany
A group discussion follows.

17:40 – 18:15

CLOSING PLENARY – ECONOMIC SHIFT

Resilience in Destination Development – Addressing Challenges, magnifying successes. Global lessons in resilience and announcing the Resilience and Innovation Summit in Sarajevo, June 2024 powered by USAID/Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. OPENING

  • James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid with Rajan Datar, Host/journalist, BBC
  • Ibrahim Osta, Sr. Advisor, Economic Growth and Trade, Chemonics International
  • Resilience examples Morocco, Bosnia Herzegovina, Columbia, Phillipines, Pakistan
DISCUSSION
  • James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid
  • Daniela Wagner, Director Global Development, Jacobs Media Group
  • Ibrahim Osta, Sr. Advisor, Economic Growth and Trade, Chemonics International/USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina International Destination Development Advisor
Moderator : Rajan Datar, Travel Editor, Host and journalist, BBC

18:15

End of Day 1

20:00

Gala reception & Dinner

Hosted by Seville City Center Buses depart show area/hotels for cultural dinner experience in Seville.

9:30 – 9:40

OPENING

Master of Ceremony – Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News Roland Berger – presents amazing new data that squarely shows the industry’s position across industries and geographies over time. QR Code access will allow attendees to download the expansive information. Didier Brechemier, Sr. Partner, Global Head for Transport, Logistic and Tourism, Roland Berger

9:40 – 10:00

Artificial Intelligence and how it impacts the Travel Industry, Sam Altman, Researcher and Consultant, Jacobs Engineering; Co-Producer, Innovations of the World. Our speaker, a U.S. Army Reservist now working through Jacobs Engineering to harness the best of current technologies to benefit the US Federal Government. Sam will break down all the aspects of AI and how more profitable models can benefit travel’s bottom line, and what governance needs to be deployed and by whom.

10:00 – 10:50

PLENARY – ECONOMICAL SHIFT

Where does the cost for sustainability come from?  Are profits sustainable? Will AI & blockchain improve or worsen profitability?

With the margins tight in travel how are companies funding transformation or is government stepping in? Investors and financial institutions bring to bear regulatory requirements, where and how can profits be maintained? What are the costs to be considered? Can AI or blockchain improve the margins?
  • Pablo Castillo, Co-Founder, Chain4Travel
  • Cat Jones, Founder & CEO, Byway Travel
  • Jose Luis Cordoba, Managing Partner, Andalucia Lab
  • Didier Brechemier, Sr. Partner, Global Head for Transport, Logistic and Tourism, Roland Berger
  • Sam Altman, Co-producer, Innovations of the World; Researcher, Jacobs Engineering; Army Innovation Officer – US Dept of Defense
Moderator: Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News

10:50 – 11:40

PLENARY – CLIMATE SHIFT

Adapting to Climatic Changes

Ministers/DMOs from various countries will share how their societies are adjusting.
  • Spain – Mrs. Blanca Cros, Head of the European Projects and International
    Relations Department, Catalan Tourist Board
  • Bosnia Herzegovina – H.E. Mirza Hujic, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations
  • APAC – Paul Pruangkarm, Chief of Staff, PATA (virtual) will update the summit on climate change reactivity in Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Moderator: Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News

11:40 – 12:15

Break

12:15 – 13:30

PLENARY – SAFETY AND SUSTAINABLITY

Has Sustainability Outflanked Safety and Security?

Many studies and surveys have been conducted over the years always with the same result: safety is the key priority of travellers.  Additional studies by Google and Booking.com indicate that travellers present concern for sustainability, but the thought – action gap persists.  So what is the industry doing to combine safety and sustainability?
  • Alastair Crossley, Global Head of Travel Solutions, AXA
  • Isabel Hill, Consultant; former Director of United States Travel and Tourism Office, US Department of Commerce; Envoy, Sustainable Tourism Global Center; Board member, PYXERA Global
  • Carlos Cendra Cruz, Partner and Chief Marketing Officer, Mabrian Technologies
  • Katherine Atkinson, CEO, Safer Tourism Foundation
Moderator: Rajan Datar, Travel Host/journalist, BBC

13:30 – 14:15

PLENARY – SOCIAL

The human impact and how is the travel industry workforce structured, developed, and reinvigorated?

The travel industry is exposed to human trafficking, issues of diversity, equality and industry perception issues, not to mention the deficit of workers. How is this being addressed and what each part of the industry do to improve? OPENING – Mariangels Fortuny, Head of Unit – Industries, Forest, Agriculture,
Construction and Tourism, International Labor Organization (ILO)
  • Dr. Sascha Gill, Vice President Environment and Sustainability, CLIA International
  • Valentina Girotto, Sr. Director International Development, ICF
  • Fedja Begovic, Chief of Party, Project Turizam, USAID in BiH, Developing Sustainable Tourism
  • Rika Jean-Francois, Commissioner, ITB Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Mariangels Fortuny, Head of Unit – Industries, Forest, Agriculture, Construction and Tourism, International Labor Organization (ILO)
Moderator: Rajan Datar, Travel host/journalist, BBC

14:15 – 15:30

Lunch

15:30 – 16:30

Stepping Forward

As seen in earlier sessions, the path forward is being guided by the business travel sector, what is yet to come and how is business travel affecting other the future of other sectors? Speakers will recapitulate the key elements for stepping forward sustainably as an industry, sector by sector. Where are the gaps and what actions are required. Destination development leader, Dr. Karl Wurster, Diplomat/Director Economic Development, USAID will give a summation of where travel and tourism should beheaded based on his expansive background on every continent either in energy, economic or developmental policy functions.

  • Phil Halanen, Head of Sourcing and Sustainability, EMEA, APAC, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts
  • Sanith de Silva Wiejeyaratne, Director/CEO, Climate & Conservation Consortium
  • Nico Nicholas, Co-Founder/CEO, Trees4Travel
  • Emilie Riess, CSR Director, Groupe Pierre et Vacances Center Parcs
  • Louis Gendry, Principal, Roland Berger
  • Dr. Karl Wurster, Diplomat/Director Economic Development, USAID
Moderator: Christian Delom, Secretary General, A World for Travel

16:30 – 17:00

Celebrating Thought Leaders in Action

Recognition of true thought leadership begins with understanding the challenges and finding innovative ways to change the paradigm or moving away from the status quo. Professor Lee Miles, Bournemouth University will shed some like on our 6 categories and why it is so important to cheer on and recognize those fighting for transformation.

  • Professor Lee Miles, University of Bournemouth

Response Awards

  • Climate Response
  • Environmental Action
  • Technological Thrust
  • Economic Management
  • Social Impact
  • Resilient Performance
Master of Ceremonies– Rajan Datar, Host, Journalist, BBC & Peter Greenberg, Travel Host, CBS News

17:00 – 17:30

Workshop Ideation

AWFT participants will participate in an interactive session providing answers to questions raised.  AWFT will issue the results after the event as a thank you and a written recap of the conclusions.

  • Dr. Ripin Kalra, Technical Director, Innovation, Urban Resilience and Sustainability, ICF
  • Sam Altman, Co-producer, Innovations of the World; Researcher, Jacobs Engineering; Army Innovation Officer – US Dept of Defense

17:30

End of Show

  • Antonio Castano, General Manager, Seville City Office
  • Marina Delgado, Executive, Regional Ministry of Tourism, Andalucia
  • Isobel Gibson, Sr. Consultant, Sustainable Aviation, ICF – Legacy project presentation
  • Daniela Wagner, Director, Group Development, Jacobs Media Group/ Global Travel and Tourism Council
Hosted by :
  • Christian Delom, Secretary General, A World for Travel
  • Frederic Vanhoutte, CEO, Eventiz Media Group