New BA boss to speak at ABTA event
British Airways new chief executive Keith Williams will be among the key speakers at ABTA’s second annual Travel Matters conference.
The Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond, The Secretary of State for Transport, will also speak at the event in front of an audience of travel industry opinion leaders.
Invited delegates will include ABTA member agents, principals and industry partners as well as key stakeholders and government representatives and bodies.
The half-day policy event will be held on Tuesday 5 April at the Millbank Media Centre, Westminster.
Economics Editor of ITV News, Daisy McAndrew, will moderate discussions and debates on key issues and trends affecting the travel industry.
The panel will also include Johan Lundgren, MD TUI UK & Ireland; Andrew Waller, executive VP UK & Ireland for Carlson Wagonlit, Louise Ellman, chair of the Transport Select Committee, Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, and Luke Pollard, ABTA head of public affairs.
Tanzer said: “ABTA has been carrying the industry’s case to government on a number of important policy issues but there is still much to be discussed.
"We need to ensure that there is a long term strategy for aviation and airport capacity and that financial protection is reformed effectively. And of course we need to understand how travel and tourism will be impacted by the March Budget. I very much look forward to hearing the views and discussing these issues with this year’s speakers.”
Invited delegates will have the option to register a colleague on a first come, first served basis for a charge of £45. Further information at www.abta.com/travelmatters
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events