ABTA’s annual conference, which was originally due to be held in Marrakech on October 5 to 7, will now take place as a virtual one-day event, on October 14 due to the Covid-19 pandemic
ABTA has promised ‘thought provoking content around the future of travel and tourism’, with keynote speakers, business sessions, a range of specialist workshops and networking opportunities delivered to delegates via the internet.
Confirmed keynote speakers include:
- Yael Selfin, Chief Economist, KPMG
- Dr Paul Redmond, Author, The Graduate Jobs Formula and Director of Student Experience and Enhancement, Liverpool University
- John Bevan, CEO, dnata Travel Europe
Delegates will be able to access business sessions and specialist workshops, either live or on demand for up to a month after the event.
They will also be able to request one to one meetings with other attendees and receive live technical assistance throughout the day.
Topics covered include the government’s approach to restoring confidence in travel and how Brexit will impact the industry.
There will also be a focus on sustainability, diversity and inclusion, digital transformation and new ways of working with interviews panel discussions with industry leaders.
Delegates can register via The Travel Convention website. Early bird fees until 1 September are £79 while non-member fees are £199.
ABTA Chief Executive Mark Tanzer said: “We took the difficult decision a few months ago to postpone this year’s Travel Convention in Marrakech to 2021, but we look forward to welcoming our delegates there in person next year.
“In the meantime, with the start of the recovery presenting so many challenges to businesses, it has never been more important for us to come together to discuss the future of travel and how we can rebuild confidence in customers.
“From our virtual studio, we’ll be delivering high-level business sessions, practical workshops and time for networking. It will be unlike any other Convention before it – and we look forward to seeing our delegates there.”
