The Advantage Travel Partnership has announced the theme for its 2024 Conference as: Buen Futuro – Pace. Passion. Purpose
Explaining the theme, Julia Lo-Bue Said, CEO of The Advantage Travel Partnership said: “Buen Futuro means Good Future in Spanish, and we feel the term perfectly encapsulates our vision of a positive future for the travel industry and beyond, whilst also emphasising the importance of looking forward with optimism and embracing the transformative nature of travel. Pace underscores the need for agility and adaptability, passion highlights the essential role that enthusiasm and commitment plays in driving success and innovation, and purpose speaks to the deeper motivation behind the work done across the travel sector.”
This year’s Advantage Conference is taking place from 15th – 18th May 2024 at the 5-star Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort and Spa in Mexico and sees the coming together of two of The Advantage Travel Partnership’s flagship events – the Independent Travel Management Company (ITMC) Summit – run in partnership with Advantage’s US partner, Hickory Global Partners – and the annual Advantage Conference.
As well as main stage keynote speakers for the event already announced as Simon Ferguson, Senior Vice President at Modaxo, and Jamie McDonald, adventurer, author and motivational speaker, Advantage has announced today two further high-profile speakers for the Cancun event, including Natalie Campbell and Lisa Minot.
Natalie Campbell is an award-winning social entrepreneur and broadcaster. She is the Co-CEO of ethical water brand Belu Water, the former Director of Insight and Innovation at The Royal Foundation, and she founded a global social innovation agency A Very Good Company (AVGC). She is a proud disruptor of ‘business as usual’ and challenges clients to put purpose, sustainability, and inclusion at the heart of their work. She is also currently running as an independent candidate for the position of Mayor of London.
Lisa Minot has been an award-winning travel journalist for more than 25 years. As Head of Travel at The Sun, Lisa in charge of all print and digital content. Lisa has worked for The Sun for 32 years and is a regular travel expert on national TV and radio stations. Recognised for her Significant Contribution to the industry in the Travel Media Awards in 2019, her print travel section has been named Newspaper Section of the Year both in 2020 and 2023.
David Meade has also been confirmed at the conference moderator. Meade has a reputation as one of Europe’s most sought-after organisational facilitators and has been moderating Advantage conferences since 2018.
Lo Bue-Said, continued: “We are hugely excited to have Natalie and Lisa join us in Cancan. Both have impressive careers and will deliver insightful and motivational sessions at the conference, with Lisa giving her views on the UK consumer travel landscape and Natalie, who has a personal mission to create a world where people can do good and live better will share with delegates what she believes are a business’s responsibilities in the 21st Century.”
Lo Bue-Said added that Advantage is poised to make further announcements in the coming weeks including a number of additional main stage keynote speakers, workshop themes and details of the philanthropic act’s delegates will be involved with.
She continued: “Our vision for this year’s conference is not only to deliver excellent content but also showcase the social and economic benefits of the travel industry, and work is also well underway for us to engage with and support local communities through a range of immersive experiences that will see delegates ‘give back’ to the local community. At this conference we will strive to ensure that we leave a positive impact on the local environment and communities in Cancun, which will not only foster a sense of community and social responsibility, but also add a purposeful dimension to the event.
“When we gather in Cancun Advantage members will come together as a global community, exchange ideas, and chart a course towards a brighter future for the travel industry and the communities it serves. I have every confidence that providing options for delegates to engage in volunteering and philanthropic activities will enhance their overall conference experience and leave a lasting impression.”
