ABTA’s annual Travel Matters conference will be brought to delegates virtually on Tuesday 22 June, with a line-up of speakers announced covering the worlds of politics, policy and travel.
Now in its 11th year, this will be the first Travel Matters conference since the Coronavirus pandemic began. Under the theme, ‘Politics and Policies: An Agenda for Recovery’, the conference will explore the policies that are shaping the travel landscape, what we can learn from the upheaval of the past year, and what’s needed from Government to rebuild travel in the medium term.
Confirmed speakers to date include:
- Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA
- Robert Courts MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime & Security, Department for Transport
- Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
- Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor, The Spectator and Presenter, Week in Westminster
- Andrew Flintham, Managing Director, TUI Northern Region
- Moderator: LBC’s Tom Swarbrick
The event is attended by CEOs and senior directors from the travel and tourism industry, political figures, government stakeholders and national and travel trade media representatives. For this year’s event, ABTA Members are invited to register free of charge.
The event will be streamed via a customised digital platform and moderated by LBC’s Tom Swarbrick from a studio in central London.
Mark Tanzer Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said: “This year’s Travel Matters conference comes at one of the most crucial times in the history of the travel industry, as we take the first steps on the road to recovery from the deepest crisis that our industry has ever faced. We’re offering free places for our Members for this year’s event so we hope they will be able to join us as we discuss how to rebuild travel effectively, restore consumer confidence in travel and build a strong foundation for future challenges.”
Andrew Flintham, Managing Director of TUI Northern Region, who will be giving the keynote speech at this year’s event, said: “After an incredibly difficult period for our industry, and with the first very small steps to recovery underway, the Travel Matters conference is the perfect time to look at how we collectively work through the challenges of another uncertain summer season – and how we will all come back stronger and rebuild consumer confidence in travel.”
This year’s headline sponsor is Travel Trade Consultancy and media partner is Global, the Media & Entertainment Group. Visit Hungary is also a sponsor of the event.
Pre-registration is essential as places are limited. For more information and to register, visit: abta.com/travelmatters2021.
