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Top tech experts and travel brands share insights at Travel Forward

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Delegates at Travel Forward – the travel technology event co-located with WTM London – will hear from the likes of Google, Facebook and Expedia about hi-tech ways that travel will innovate from 2020 onwards.

Expert speakers from global tech giants will join executives from multinational travel firms such as easyJet, Accor and KLM at a two-day conference, which is part of the three-day Travel Forward (Monday 4 – Wednesday 6 November).


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The keynote speaker on the first morning (4 November) is Becky Power from Google UK, who will discuss how advances in digital technology can help travel businesses to stay competitive and improve customer loyalty. Her session will look at the latest innovations in the travel industry, with case studies outlining how technology has been successfully applied within the industry – and how these breakthroughs been driven by the changing needs of consumers. She started her career as a consultant at Accenture before joining Google 13 years ago, and is also a mentor for Ceresa, a mentoring initiative to help more women take on leadership roles.

She will be followed by Harj Dhaliwal from Virgin Hyperloop One, a pioneering mass transit system that aims to transport people and goods at nearly 700 miles per hour. Plans for the world’s first hyperloop project have been approved in India, aiming to link Pune and Mumbai in less than 35 minutes – compared to the current three-and-a-half-hour road journey. Dhaliwal will outline how the $10 billion scheme can create a blueprint for a hyperloop network across India – and update delegates about plans for similar Virgin Hyperloop One projects across the globe, from the US to the Middle East.

The afternoon sessions will showcase hi-tech ways to improve the experience for leisure and business travellers. Anette Schouls from KLM will talk about how she and her team harness the latest digital technology to help the airline’s passengers. Their recent flagship project was the new KLM Crown Lounge at Schiphol Airport, which welcomes 5,000 visitors from around the world every day.

She will be followed by three speakers for the session entitled ‘The zero-friction customer journey’ – Alex Dalman from advertising and marketing firm VCCP; Morwenna Francis from EasyJet; and Siobhan McWeeny from Facebook. Dalman helped to create easyJet’s Look&Book app which enables users to book a flight from just a photograph, and she will join Francis to discuss how it has helped the no-frills airline. McWeeny will reveal trends and insights from Facebook showing delegates how they can reduce friction for customers.

Two keynote sessions on the conference’s second day will examine the influence of ‘Generation Alpha’ and explore trends in the hospitality sector. The keynote speech about Generation Alpha by Andrew van der Feltz, from Expedia Group Media Solutions, will feature research findings about the emerging cohort of travellers born after 2010. They have grown up with technology, digital content and instant gratification and can influence family holiday decisions and the future of travel. He will be followed by Accor’s Frederic Fontaine who will use case studies from the hotel giant to demonstrate how organisations can change in a sustainable way, and put the customer at the centre of their planning.

Across the two days of Travel Forward delegates will have learnt about the transformative impact technology across the travel landscape, and how to harness digital capabilities to deliver on the joint goals of better customer experiences, and sustainable business value. In the Final Panel: Rethinking digital transformation session, speakers and panellists from across the two days will review insights and discuss: how can delegates take these learnings forward, embracing strategies to deliver innovation across their organisations?

Now in its second year, Travel Forward at ExCeL London features a conference, exhibition and Startup Showcase programme – which concludes at 16:30 in the TF Keynote Theatre on the Tuesday – designed to help senior decision-makers to plan for the future.

As well as top executives in the Keynote Theatre, the conference will feature other sessions in the TF Conference Theatre 2, looking at issues such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, blockchain, business growth and marketing.

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Richard Gayle, Event Manager for Travel Forward said: “Last year’s inaugural event was a great success and we’re building on that to offer delegates even more in 2019 – more ideas about how the industry will look in the 2020s and more solutions to overcome the biggest challenges facing the travel industry. “Travel Forward is the event that embraces fresh concepts and innovative projects to inspire delegates. The motivational speakers in our keynote theatre will share their stories of entrepreneurship and cutting-edge technology, which will galvanize our visitors.”

Monday 4 November: Conference Sessions in the TF Keynote Theatre

11:10-11:40

Keynote: From booking systems to business value: How to deliver on digital technology advances to stay competitive, improve loyalty and retention, and deliver experiences.

Becky Power, Travel Sector Director, Google UK

11:40-12:00

Virgin Hyperloop One: Pushing the boundaries of transportation

Harj Dhaliwal, Managing Director Middle East & India, Virgin Hyperloop One

14:15-14:45 

Transforming the digital airport experience for business customers

Anette Schouls, Manager Digital Airport Services, KLM 

15:15-15:45

The zero-friction customer journey

Alex Dalman, Senior Account Director, VCCP; Morwenna Francis; Marketing Manager, EasyJet; and Siobhan McWeeny, Client Partner Travel UK, Facebook

Tuesday 5 November: Conference Sessions in the TF Keynote Theatre

11:00-11:30

Keynote: Generation Alpha: How the World’s Youngest Generation is Already Influencing Travel

11:30-12:00  

Keynote: Customer-centricity and personalisation in the hospitality industry

Frederic Fontaine, Innovation Lab Senior Vice President, Accor

16:30-17:00

Startup Showcase finale

17:00-17:30

Final panel: Rethinking digital transformation

Moderated by Jon Collins.

To reserve your place at the Travel Forward conference click here.

 About World Travel Market

World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises eight leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. The events are:

WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating about £3.4 billion in travel industry contracts.

Next event: Monday 4 – Wednesday 6 November 2019 – London #IdeasArriveHere

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face-to-face through data and digital tools at more than 500 events a year, in more than 43 countries, attracting more than seven million participants. Reed’s events are held in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether they are global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have more than 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.

eTN is a media partner for WTM London.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Julia Newbound – WTM Portfolio Press & PR Lead

E: julia.newbound@reedexpo.co.uk

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7056 / M: +44 (0)7775 036 858

Nicole Smart – WTM Portfolio PR & Events Consultant

E: nicole.smart@reedexpo.co.uk

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7032/ M: +44 (0)79 1955 5510

IMEX America… “the cornerstone of the work we do”

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Exhibitors and buyers alike on day 3 of IMEX America report business success, whether it involves closing deals or getting new ideas to provide inspiration and creativity to help them in their jobs.

Business power

Exhibitors – new and returning – felt IMEX America 2019 has been a success. According to Paul Sullivan, director of group sales at the Westin Boston Waterfront: “I close business at this show, including one yesterday for around $30,000.”

Heike Mahmoud, chief operating officer at CCH – Congress Center Hamburg, says: “I spoke to a planner from Silicon Valley about hosting events for around 5,000 people at our venue. The show has been a really valuable opportunity to showcase and gain feedback on the CCH before it reopens next year. I have some great insight to bring back to my team and some really strong leads.”

“We consider IMEX America as the cornerstone of the work we do,” said Robin Miller, director of sales at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. “It’s where we secure face-to-face time with large numbers of potential clients and existing clients. It’s critical that we’re here.”

The show is highly valued by buyers, too. “We’re expanding our international market so this show is essential for us. The appointment system means I can guarantee time with the right person from my suppliers,” said US-based Mary Somerville from HPN Global.

Diversity driven learning

IMEX America continues to deliver on a commitment to education with a range of compelling sessions on its final day, some of which explore diversity as part of Imagination, IMEX’s Talking Point for this year. Sessions include Creating environments of acceptance: gender expression in the workplace and beyond, presented by LGBT MPA, with Ron Renee Roley, senior event manager for global events at Nike, who will use personal stories and experiences to provide a safe discussion environment.

SITE and Prevue have joined forces to dive deeper into the gender-specific challenges female meeting planning professionals and suppliers have faced in their careers with Challenges women face in the meetings industry. Rhonda Brewer, vice president, sales for North America at BCD Meetings & Events and Amanda Armstrong, assistant vice president of the meetings and travel department at Enterprise Holdings, Inc., will dive into survey results about gender-specific challenges of female meeting planning professionals and suppliers. Attendees will engage in a lively discussion about issues women face in the meetings industry and will hear from experts in the field as they share their own stories and examples.

Powerful language tools for women in business with Kate Patay, CPCE, a motivational speaker, consultant and faculty lecturer at the International School of Hospitality, who offers a frank discussion about building a personal brand and boosting leadership skills. How do you measure visitor experience? led by Maksim Godovykh from the Center for Event Studies, will help attendees learn how to measure and influence customer experience at each stage of the event process.

Other sessions on Thursday cover business skills and legacy. Lasting legacies: designing better community service projects hosted by The Events Industry Council (EIC). Mariela Mcilwraith, president of Meeting Change and David Fiss, director of business development, partnerships & event strategy at Sustainable Brands, will provide a framework for developing a lasting, positive impact through meaningful projects and explore transformative approaches that benefit communities, event planners and their teams.

IMEX America concludes today, September 12, in Las Vegas.

#IMEX19

eTN is a media partner for IMEX America.

IMEX America… “the cornerstone of the work we do”
Education offerings sparks creativity and imagination

IMEX AMERICA 2019

IMEX America 2019 is currently taking place September 10 – 12 at the Sands Expo® Convention Center preceded by Smart Monday, powered by MPI on September 9.

Exhibitor news can be found here.

For further press information, please visit us at the on-site press center (Upper Lobby, Level 2, Sands Expo® Convention Center) or contact:

Emma Blake (UK): emma.blake@imexexhibitions.com  

Norman Birnbach (US): norman.birnbach@imexexhibitions.com    

IMEX AMERICA 2020

IMEX America takes place in September again next year: September 15 – 17, 2020.

#IMEXcited. Why? Because IMEX America is celebrating its 10th birthday in 2020. More details to follow soon.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Blake (UK): emma.blake@imexexhibitions.com ; Norman Birnbach (US): norman.birnbach@imexexhibitions.com     

Environmentally-focused experiences and education at IMEX America 2019

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In between meetings, networking and attending education sessions, attendees at IMEX America have opportunities to take care of themselves and to give back by improving the world.

Wednesday started bright and early with the annual #IMEXrun, a 5K race that drew more than 400 runners through a course in and around the Las Vegas strip (including inside the Planet Hollywood casino). The run is sponsored by Italian National Tourist Board – ENIT, CORT, Hilton and Maritz Global Events. Developed by VOQIN.

Back by popular demand, the Be Well Lounge offers Lee Papa’s Mindfulness Lounge™ to teach attendees about how to bring (or keep) mindfulness in their lives. According to PK Keiran, Butler Events, “Mindfulness is something we all need to do and embrace. I dragged people over to experience the joy of it. They had tears in their eyes because we’re all so busy we forget to take time for ourselves.” Deora Myers from the Trauma Center Association of America, also enjoyed the session. “It was such an enjoyable 20 minutes and I felt so relaxed that I came back again.”

Sustainability and smiles

At Sarah Routman’s Laughter Lab in the Inspiration Hub, sponsored by Maritz Global Events, attendees participated in interactive activities designed to use laughter to deal with stress, burnout and being overwhelmed. Emily Beck, a meeting planner with Genentech, said “The session provided plenty of positive energy. It’s a great networking activity and a useful break if you’ve been sitting down too long.”

“We’re on a mission to reduce waste significantly,” said Nalan, who led a “sustainability safari” – new for this year – through the show floor, covering the climate-friendly highlights. On the safari, one of many green education sessions at the show, attendees discovered the sustainability measures in place during the show from recycling initiatives and compostable products, to charitable initiatives and water-wise foods. Best practice case studies, sustainability superheroes and IMEX’s new sustainability pledge (with around 150 exhibitors signed up!) were showcased at the show floor’s IMEX-EIC Sustainability Village.

The sustainability safari was also a welcome way to clock up the miles as part of the Caesars Forum Walking Challenge by Heka Health. As of press time, all participants walked a total of three million steps.

IMEX America continues until September 12 in Las Vegas.

#IMEX19

eTN is a media partner for IMEX America.

IMEX America 2019: Mindfulness and sustainability are runaway successes this year
Running start to the day at IMEX 
IMEX America 2019: Mindfulness and sustainability are runaway successes this year
IMEX Group COO leads a “sustainability safari” 
IMEX America 2019: Mindfulness and sustainability are runaway successes this year

Being well at IMEX

IMEX AMERICA 2019

IMEX America 2019 is currently taking place September 10 – 12 at the Sands Expo® Convention Center preceded by Smart Monday, powered by MPI on September 9.

Exhibitor news can be found here.

For further press information, please visit us at the on-site press center (Upper Lobby, Level 2, Sands Expo® Convention Center) or contact:

Emma Blake (UK): emma.blake@imexexhibitions.com   

Norman Birnbach (US): norman.birnbach@imexexhibitions.com     

IMEX AMERICA 2020

IMEX America takes place in September again next year: September 15 – 17, 2020.

#IMEXcited. Why? Because IMEX America is celebrating its 10th birthday in 2020. More details to follow soon.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Blake (UK): emma.blake@imexexhibitions.com ; Norman Birnbach (US): norman.birnbach@imexexhibitions.com     

Discovering the power of “What if…?” at IMEX America’s new Discovery Zone

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“What if….?” was the question asked across the show floor on the first day of IMEX America, as part of the focus on imagination, IMEX’s Talking Point this year.

The new Discovery Zone at IMEX America, taking place September 10 – 12, is packed with experiences to fire up the imagination and inspire attendees to explore new approaches to event engagement. Attendees had the opportunity to source ideas on sustainability and creativity with offerings that include a “mystery tattoo” booth, multi-sensory displays, digital graffiti walls, interactive photo booths and a new, distinctive style of flower arranging called Freakebana.

Jacqueline Reeves at Esko is a first-time hosted buyer from Miamisburg, USA, and was visiting the THINKERS Society booth that helps attendees to think creatively. “I just got here and was immediately drawn to the Discovery Zone. I’m always looking to be more creative and want to discover new ideas and steal ideas for us to use. This is a great start.”

Collette Williams, a hosted buyer from VitalSmarts, saw EyeJack’s augmented reality (AR) photo booth. “I love this – this is awesome. This is unique and goes way beyond ordinary photos.”

Creativity is a muscle – the more it’s used the stronger it gets. That’s according to Christopher Bent from Piccles, a self-confessed “doodler” who is sharing his collaborative drawing platform in his learning session Uncork your crowd’s creativity. The Inspiration Hub, sponsored by Maritz Global Events, is home to the show floor education and offers attendees a huge range of education, much of it focused on exploring the various facets of human imagination. IMEX and MPI join forces to share ideas on how to use imagination to embrace diversity and inclusion, by asking, “what if we intentionally included all kinds of people?”

As research partners on the IMEX Talking Point of “Imagination” this year, EventMB.com launched its report, created in association with PSAV, containing best practice case studies of some of the most imaginative events across the industry. The report profiles 15 events in particular and shares over 50 “actionable insights” for events planners. Within hours over 1,000 people had downloaded the free report, a new record for an IMEX industry research paper. As report sponsors, PSAV is also inviting attendees to make imaginative discoveries on its booth during the show.

IMEX America continues until September 12 in Las Vegas.

eTN is a media partner for IMEX America.

Discovering the power of “What if…?” at IMEX America’s new Discovery Zone
Looking into a crystal ball to predict the future 
Discovering the power of “What if…?” at IMEX America’s new Discovery Zone
An IMEX America attendee spreads her wings

#IMEX19

IMEX AMERICA 2019

IMEX America 2019 is currently taking place September 10 – 12 at the Sands Expo® Convention Center preceded by Smart Monday, powered by MPI on September 9.

Exhibitor news can be found here.

IMEX AMERICA 2020

IMEX America takes place in September again next year: September 15 – 17, 2020.

#IMEXcited. Why? Because IMEX America is celebrating its 10th birthday in 2020. More details to follow soon.

For further press information, please visit us at the on-site press center (Upper Lobby, Level 2, Sands Expo® Convention Center) or contact:

Emma Blake (UK): emma.blake@imexexhibitions.com     Norman Birnbach (US): norman.birnbach@imexexhibitions.com

IMEX America MPI Keynote: The optimism quotient – changing our mindset, fueling success

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“Writing a gratitude note doesn’t have to be complicated, literally three lines, It reminds your brain of all the critical people that have really invested in your happiness over the course of your lifetime. And it also reminds your brain of all the social support you have, which helps make the adoption and sustainability of this habit as easy on you as possible. So first thing in the morning, when you open your email, instead of looking at the emails in your inbox first, start by composing a gratitude note.”

These are the words of Michelle Gielan who has spent the past decade researching the link between happiness and success.  Two-minute habits can retrain your brain to help you get the benefits of positive thinking, she says.

This bestselling author is delivering a keynote at IMEX America – “The optimism quotient: changing our mindset, fueling success” – and says that people who feel optimistic are more resilient and more productive at work and in their personal lives.

“There’s a very compelling body of research that shows that small changes to our mindset can have an incredible ripple effect on every aspect of our lives. We feel better. We make more money. We’re healthier, we’re more connected to the people around us, and our well-being improves as well. At her MPI keynote speech, Gielan will cite some of those research findings, share stories, and lead the audience in interactive exercises so that they can learn to inoculate their brains against common stresses, negative people, and toxicity at work.

Gielan has a special affinity for meeting planners. “Meeting planners are dedicated to creating events that bring out the best in everyone else,” and that’s what she sees as her mission, too. “The reason I love this research is that it’s able to quantify something that we haven’t been able to measure until the last decade or so. If we work on improving our levels of optimism, if we focus on creating deeper social connections with the people in our lives – we can now track the impact of optimism on our own lives as well as the ripple effect on the people around us.”

Gielan’s practical, research-based positive communication strategies, or tools, are designed to increase happiness and success and are honed from her consulting work with Fortune 100 companies, schools and other organizations. People often think transformation requires big changes but Gielan’s strategies and tools “are small two-minute habits that will allow attendees to train their brain power for optimism and resilience.”

Find the Positive in Your Day

In our daily lives, many of us get overwhelmed by negativity – a flat tire on the way to work, technology that fails during a crucial meeting, items that get shipped on time but arrive late, etc. So then we complain and define our day by the negative incident.

According to Gielan, it’s important to find the positive. Instead of focusing on what made our day tense, we should look for facts about our work and experience that empower us. Something went wrong but we know how to deal with missing packages or meeting deadlines – we’ve met this type of adversity before. “When we get our brain to start focusing on the resources, skills, successes, positive behaviors and meaningful relationships (both at work and away from the office), we start to navigate a way out of the problem, to fuel us and help us move forward in a productive way.”

Gratitude Notes Can “Broadcast Happiness”

One of Gielan’s suggestions: write a two-minute email praising or thanking somebody – someone new and different each day. The gratitude notes are worthwhile not just because they help the person writing them to remember to be happy. They are important because the notes enable us to “broadcast happiness,” making rational optimism contagious by strengthening relationships through acknowledging the recipients. The notes make the people receiving them happy. That’s important because “social support is the greatest predictor of happiness,” she says.

After making the two-minute notes a part of their routine, “people don’t say, “Oh, no, I have to do that.’ Instead, they say, “I get to do that,” Gielan adds. The stories we tell ourselves are important, she believes, and the notes help remind us of positive incidents that happened to us. This is important away from the office, too. Instead of starting conversations with your spouse, partner, kids or friends with the complaints and problems you experienced during the day, Gielan suggests starting “by telling them something cool that you learned or some good thing that happened. It works on someone else as well. Try asking them “what’s the best thing that happened to you today?” As their brain starts scanning for that, it changes the way they look at their life. The more we all practice scanning for the positive, the better our brain gets at seeing the parts of our lives that make us happy.”

Michelle Gielan delivers her keynote, “The optimism quotient: changing our mindset, fueling success” at IMEX America on Wednesday, September 11, 8:30 – 9:30 am. More details here.

IMEX America takes place September 10 – 12, 2019 at the Sands® Expo and Convention Center at The Venetian®| The Palazzo® in Las Vegas, preceded by Smart Monday, powered by MPI, on September 9.

eTN is a media partner for IMEX America.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Blake (UK): emma.blake@imexexhibitions.com ; Norman Birnbach (US): norman.birnbach@imexexhibitions.com