And they keep coming – more speakers and panellists – why you should attend the Australasian Economic Travel and Tourism Resilience Forum on December 6.

As one of the organisers of the Forum, which you cannot afford to miss on December 6, when we approached prospective speakers to participate in the Forum the tourism academics were quick to indicate their participation and  support, with the speaker lineup includes an wealth of the world’s leading academic talent from the University of NSW, International College of Management, Southern Cross University and University of Technology Sydney, including: –

Professor Larry Dwyer, Qantas Professor of Tourism and Travel Economics at the University of New South Wales, Australia;

Professor Ray Spurr – Chief Researcher, Tourism Economics, University of New South Wales;

Ravi Ravinder – Senior Lecturer, Tourism Management, University of Technology; and

Professor John Jenkins, Head of School, School of Tourism & Hospitality Management at Southern Cross University, also major sponsor of the event.

However, in recent days the tourism industry has also now firmly come on board with the Forum now also including an incredible line up of industry leaders and experts, with confirmed travel industry speakers including:

Justin Morgan, General Manager American Express Business Travel;

Sharon Hannaford , Chair of ANTOR Association of National Tourist Office Representatives;

Peter Baily, General Manager Council of Australian Tour Operators;

Tony Webber, Chief Economist of Qantas;

Justine Cooper, Acting Marketing Director of Tourism NSW;

Mandy Scotney Executive Director of the Travel Industry Careers Association who is also Executive General Manager House of Travel;

Adrian Caruso CEO of TA Fastrack and one of Australia’s most dynamic professional tourist coaches; and

Dr David Beirman, Director, Struan and Associates, a leading global travel and tourism crisis recovery consultant and lecturer.

Mike Da Silva, CEO of MDSA Promotion Marketing, Sydney, CEO of NMA/MDSA Entertainment Marketing Australia & Asia and President of the Marketing Agencies Association Worldwide, based in New York  has just joined us to speak about “Getting a bigger bang for your promotional buck…especially when there aren’t many bucks around!

Also, Chris Flynn CEO PATA Australia /Pacific has just joined it to speak about PATA’s Project Phoenix, recognised as World’s Best Practice in Tourism Recovery.

In addition, panel members and break out session chairs include:

Barry Mayo, CEO House of Travel and Travel Managers;

Paul Glyn, Managing Director Aviation and Tourism Intelligence

Barry Matheson, former Producer of The Great Outdoors and travel journalist;

Chris Harris, Head of Programmes Hospitality and Simon Pawson Head of Tourism Management International College of Management, Sydney;

Mark Sheehan, Media Chair Visit USA; and

Peter Smith, CEO, ZUJI

We are still looking for panel members and break out session chairs for MICE and Events, so all suggestions gratefully received!

The opening address of the forum will be given by Mr Justin Morgan, General Manager of American Express Business Travel who will provide, as only AMEX can, a global and Australian coverage of tourism’s economic horizon.

Many of the presentations will bring stories of success which should inspire attendees that there are lots of silver linings to the current economic clouds.

Justine Cooper from Tourism NSW has a great story to tell of Tourism NSW’s highly successful marketing campaign which has significantly boosted tourism within the state.

Mandy Scotney is very upbeat about employment prospects in the tourism industry.

Sharon Hannaford will provide a global perspective on how destination marketing organisations successfully kick start tourism in the face of adversity, in particular Sharon’s own brilliant work in promoting Papua New Guinea and her previous experience with PATA making her well qualified to inspire her industry colleagues.

An integral part of the forum will be the illustration of success stories in which tourism has overcome the odds, including PATA’s outstanding Project Phoenix which revitalized tourism in the Asia Pacific region after 2003 SARS scare.

The Forum will not just be a day to listen to speeches, with all attendees having ample opportunity to develop strategies which will work for your own businesses whether you are a travel agent, hotelier, tour operator, cruise specialist or whatever in this great and diverse industry.

Attendees will receive Ecopies of all major presentations and enjoy morning and afternoon teas, a working buffet lunch and some well earned drinks at the end of the conference, in the fabulous setting of the International College of management Sydney overlooking Manly.

We are even arranging transfers form the city and back.

The organisers of the Tourism Resilience Forum hope that tourism professionals will spend December 6th with some pre Christmas inspiration to ensure the prosperity of your business into the year ahead.

As new speakers and panellists come aboard we will keep you posted.

A Forum Report by Dr David Beirman