Best of Britain and Ireland debates outlined
Thursday, 20 Feb, 2009
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The seminar programme for next month’s domestic tourism show Best of Britain & Ireland Travel Trade Forum has been unveiled.
Tourism minister Barbara Follett and her political counterparts from the Conservatives and Liberal Deomcrats will share the stage in a Question Time event on the morning of the first day, March 26.
The shows, which takes place at London’s ExCel, will also feature workshops over the two days of trade activity before opening to the public for a further two days.
The line-up is:
March 26
Opening ceremony: Prestigious surprise guest of honour to open the travel trade event of the year.
Tourism Question Time: Your chance to quiz our political leaders in tourism. Barbara Follett MP, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism answers questions from the floor on key tourism issues. Also on the panel: Don Foster MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: Tobias Ellwood MP, Shadow minister for Culture, Media and Sport and Julian Burrell, Chairman, Wales Tourism Alliance. Chaired by Bernard Donoghue, Head of Government & Public Affairs, VisitBritain.
Do we get the press we deserve?: Does domestic tourism get its fair share of editorial coverage? A panel of leading travel journalists offer forthright opinions on the state of our domestic tourism. Panel includes Telegraph Travel Editor Graham Boynton and travel journalist and broadcaster Alison Rice.
Knowledge is power: VisitEngland and Visit London unveil the latest research about the impact of the credit crunch. How are potential visitors from the US and Europe being affected by the downturn? And what does the weaker pound mean for their plans? As well as revealing the research findings, the panel offer advice on how best to use this information to survive and thrive.
Tourism’s Footprint: the big green debate: A heated debate on the crucial issues of sustainable tourism. Roger Heape, chair of the Travel Foundation chairs panellists Justin Francis, chief executive and co-founder, Responsible Travel: Anthony Climpson OBE, employment and tourism manager, New Forest District Council: Emma Whittlesea, South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SWCCIP) and Bernard Donoghue, head of government and public affairs, VisitBritain.
Achieving the legacy of 2012: Has the economic downturn scuppered our chances of going for gold and benefitting from 2012? Sandie Dawe, deputy CEO VisitBritain and architect of VisitBritain’s 2012 strategy chairs a panel offering advice and insights on how to benefit from the event that promises the biggest ever global TV audience. The panellists are Len Olender, managing director of Sportsworld; Luisa Fernandez, global sponsorship manager British Airways and Sally Chatterjee, interim CEO Visit London.
The Four Nations: Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England unveil their highlights and plans for the future.
March 27
Tourism Question Time: Christopher Rodrigues, chairman, VisitBritain; Paul O’Toole, CEO, Tourism Ireland; Eddie Byers, director of business engagement, VisitScotland; Jonathan Jones, director of tourism and marketing, Welsh Assembly Government and Alan Clark, CEO, Northern Ireland Tourist Board will answer questions from the floor. Chaired by Ken Robinson, chair of the Tourism Society think tank.
Are we being served?: A panel of leading lights in hospitality debate the state of our service industry. Panel speakers include Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association and Rob Rees, award-winning chef and tourism board member.
And the winner is: Is entering for a tourism award worth the effort? Can you afford not to enter? Award winners, losers and judges share their insider knowledge on the highs and lows of the tourism competition circuit. A curtain raiser for the evening’s UK Coach Awards ceremony.
Tourism’s Footprint: the big green debate: A second heated debate on the crucial issues of sustainable tourism. A fitting close to two days of Best of Britain & Ireland seminars on Embedding Sustainability in Tourism. Roger Heape, chair of the Travel Foundation chairs panellists Justin Francis, Responsible Travel; Anthony Climpson, New Forest District Council, Emma Whittlesea, South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SWCCIP) and Jason Freezer, VisitBritain’s sustainable tourism manager.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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