The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) will be heading to Seville, Spain this week to attend the 19th Global Summit of WTTC on April 3 and 4. WTTC members are the chief executives, presidents, or chairs of the 100 largest companies from different sectors and regions within the travel and tourism industry. This year non-members are able to attend for a $4,000.00 ticket per delegate.
The event will be centered on the theme of ‘Changemakers’, harnessing the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world from Seville and the world-changing impact of that achievement.
WTTC aims to inspire delegates with change-making individuals and ideas to craft the future vision of Travel & Tourism. Entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, diversity, and inclusivity will drive the conversation. Delegates invested heavily to bring one of the “changemakers” to the summit. He is former U.S. President Barack Obama.
This is the final version of the program as it stands today:
DAY 1: Wednesday 3 April
0930 OPENING CEREMONY
Christopher J. Nassetta, Chairman, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) & CEO, Hilton
Hon Pedro Sánchez, President, Spain
Juan Espadas, Mayor, Seville
Juan Manuel Moreno, President, The Regional Government of Andalusia
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO
1010 Opening speech: ‘Shaping the Future’
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC
1025 The Future is …
Three leaders will give short presentations followed by rapid-fire Q&A. The leaders will give their perspectives on what’s next in the world of communications, technology, and sustainability and the challenges and opportunities for Travel & Tourism as a leading force for change.
Keynote: José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman & CEO, Telefónica S.A.
Keynote: Michael Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth, Mastercard
Keynote: Gary Knell, Chairman, National Geographic Partners
Q&A: Kathleen Matthews, Journalist & Presenter
1115 In the Hotseat
Back to back interviews with industry leaders who will share their vision of the future and what it will take for the Travel & Tourism sector to keep ahead of the curve
Hotseat 1: Mark Okerstrom, President & CEO, Expedia Group
Interviewer: Glenda McNeal, President, Enterprise Strategic Partnerships, American Express Company
Hotseat 2: Keith Barr, CEO, IHG
Interviewer: Tanya Beckett, Journalist & Presenter, BBC
1145 BREAK
1215 PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: Seamless Traveller Journey
WTTC’s Seamless Traveller Journey initiative aims to revolutionise travel security and facilitation by providing a seamless end-to-end journey which incorporates not only airports and airlines but cruise, hotel, car rental and other elements of the journey. Now in its second phase, the focus of Seamless Traveller Journey is on how the private sector and governments can work together to ensure increased security and less friction go hand in hand.
Scene setter: Kevin McAleenan, Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, US Government
Panelists: Sean Donohue, CEO, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Richard D Fain, Chairman, and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises
Tadashi Fujita, Executive Vice President, Japan Airlines
Tony Smith, Former Director General, UK Border Agency
John Wagner, Deputy Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, US Government
Manel Villalante, CEO, Renfe Operadora
Moderator: Isabel Hill, Director, National Travel and Tourism Office, US Department of Commerce
1300 The View from Spain
Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Spain
1310 In the Hotseat
Back to back interviews with industry leaders who will share their vision of the future and what it will take for the Travel & Tourism sector to keep ahead of the curve
Hotseat 3: Fritz Joussen, CEO, TUI Group
Hotseat 4: Luis Maroto, President & CEO, Amadeus
Interviewer: Tanya Beckett, Journalist & Presenter, BBC
1335 The Speed of Change…
Geoffrey J W Kent, Founder, Chairman & CEO Abercrombie & Kent, in conversation with Formula One racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart.
1400 LUNCH
Special Lunch Session: Innovating the Traveller Experience
The reality of an integrated, frictionless traveler journey is upon us, paving a path to a seamless experience, improved facilitation and security, operational efficiency for travel providers, and the opportunity for elevated and personalized service throughout the journey. Our panelists are leaders in the fields of biometrics, digital identity, security, and travel technology. They will provide their views on the current state of biometrics and digital identity, paths to implementation broadly across the travel journey, and opportunities that this new technology presents to the future of travel and tourism.
Panelists: Diana Robino, Senior Vice President, Global Tourism Partnerships, Mastercard
Virginie Vacca Thrane, Head of Strategic partnerships – Digital Traveller ID, Amadeus
John Wagner, Deputy Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, US Government
Gordon Wilson, President, WorldReach Software
Moderator: Jimmy Samartzis, Senior Principal, Oliver Wyman
1515 A Conversation with President Barack Obama
Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America
A global political leader will give their perspective on the current state of the world and the important role Travel & Tourism plays as one of the world’s largest economic sectors.
Interviewer: Christopher J. Nassetta, Chairman, WTTC & CEO, Hilton
1615 Ahead of the Curve: The Consumers of Tomorrow
This session will look at different spectrums of the new global consumer and how T&T companies can ensure they are preparing for the consumer of tomorrow.
Part 1: How Young China and its Millennials want to see and feel the world
Zak Dychtwald, Founder & CEO, Young China Group
Part 2: The New Boomer Experiential Consumer
Ken Dychtwald, Founder & CEO, Age Wave
Moderator: Matthew Upchurch, CEO, Virtuoso
1710 PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: Are Cities Future Ready?
Destination Stewardship is a strategic priority for WTTC. Huge tourism growth in cities over recent years has shone the spotlight on the need for good planning and management. WTTC has partnered with Jones Lang Lasalle on new research on cities and their preparedness for future growth. This session will look at the report’s findings and how cities around the world are planning and engaging communities in future growth.
Keynote: Dan Fenton, EVP, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group
Panellists:
H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, President, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH)*
H.E. Elena Kountoura, Minister for Tourism, Greece
Steffan Panoho, Head of Tourism. Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development
Enrique Ybarra, CEO, City Sightseeing
Moderator: Mark Wynne Smith, Global CEO, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group
1745 CLOSE
DAY 2: Thursday 4 April
0900 OPENING
0905 PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: Today’s Traveller: Authenticity, Values and Instagram
This session will explore what iconic landmarks and destinations can and are doing to ensure they connect with the consumers of the future. Today’s traveller has standards for authenticity, wants to do more than just consume, and then wants to Instagram about it. How do destinations adjust to satisfy the market? The discussion will highlight examples of engagement from retail to destination attractions and also cover how sustainability initiatives help tell a compelling story and elevate authenticity in the traveller’s experience.
Keynote: Anthony Malkin, Chairman & CEO, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc
Panellists: Desiree Bollier, Chair, Value Retail
Jean-François Clervoy, ESA Astronaut & CEO Novespace
Jeremy Jauncey, CEO, Beautiful Destinations
Anthony Malkin, Chairman & CEO, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc
Kike Sarasola, President & Founder, Room Mate Hotels & Bemate.com
Moderator: Jacqueline Gifford, Editor in Chief, Travel + Leisure
1000 Africa on the Rise
H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya
1015 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Ceremony
WTTC’s annual Tourism for Tomorrow Awards ceremony will showcase and celebrate the very best in sustainable tourism from around the world.
Fiona Jeffery, Founder & Chairman, Just a Drop and Chair, Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
Jeffrey C. Rutledge, CEO, AIG Travel
1100 BREAK Draft as at: 27 March 2019 (Please note all sessions, times, and speakers may change *=tbc)
1130 Strategic Insight Sessions PART 1
In recent years, the global Travel & Tourism industry has been redefined by changemakers who are constantly evolving and shaping our travel experience. In a special series of Strategic insight sessions, we explore just what these changemakers are doing to shape the industry and what our direction of travel might be in the future.
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1) Embracing product diversity and inclusion – making business sense |
2) Cyber-threat: you are compromised |
3) What does it take to build successful future destinations? |
4) The business case for sustainability |
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Alberto Durán, Executive Vice President, ONCE Billy Kolber, Founder, HospitableMe Deepak Ohri, CEO, lebua Hotels & Resorts Stacy Ritter, CEO, Fort Lauderdale Moderator: Prof Graham Miller, Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Surrey |
Suzan Kereere, Global Head, Merchant Sales & Acquiring, Visa Daniel Richards, CEO, Global Rescue Jeffrey C. Rutledge, CEO, AIG Travel Earl Anthony Wayne, Public Policy Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Moderator: Paul Mee, Partner, Oliver Wyman |
Fred Dixon, President & CEO NYC & Company Aradhana Khowala, Managing Director, Tourism, NEOM Desiree Maxino, Group Head – Government Policy and ASEAN, Air Asia Aoife McArdle, Global Head of Business Affairs and Social Impact – Experiences, Airbnb Eric Resnick, CEO, KSL Capital Partners Moderator: Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News |
Katie Fallon, EVP Global Head of Corporate Affairs, Hilton Ana Gascón, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Coca Cola (Spain) Philippe Gombert, President International, Chairman of The Board, Relais & Châteaux Simon Heppner, Director, The SRA (Sustainable Restaurant Association) Geoff Townsend, Industry Fellow, Ecolab Moderators: Wendy Purcell and John D. Spengler, Harvard |
1315 LUNCH
1415 WTTC FOCUS: Climate & Environment Action in Progress
Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, President of Mexico, 2006-2012
1430 WTTC FOCUS: Social Responsibility
This session will feature the latest updates on the WTTC Buenos Aires Declaration & action against the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) followed by the launch of a new human trafficking initiative.
1450 PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: The Future of Jobs in the Age of Automation
As more and more jobs are at increasing risk of being automated or rendered obsolete by other technological changes in the next twenty years, this session will look at the opportunities and challenges around employment within the sector and wider society.
Keynote: Andrés Oppenheimer, Author & Presenter, CNN
Panellists: Greg O’Hara, Founder &, Managing Partner, Certares
Andrés Oppenheimer, Author & Presenter, The Miami Herald / CNN
Hiromi Tagawa, Chairman of the Board, JTB Corp
Claudia Tapardel, Member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, European Parliament
Joan Vilà, Executive Chairman, Hotelbeds
Moderator: Kathleen Matthews, Journalist & Presenter
1545 Vision of the Future
A special stream of keynotes will outline their vision of the future from high-speed transport to pushing the boundaries of disruption and innovation
Keynote: Dirk Alhborn, CEO, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies
Keynote: Chandran Nair, Founder & CEO, The Global Institute for Tomorrow (GIFT)
Keynote: Matthew Devlin, Head of International Affairs, Uber
1630 Closing Ceremony
1645 End
eTurboNews is a media partner with the Summit and will be represented by Elisabeth Lang, who is based in Munich, Germany.
