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High profile line-up for World Travel Market
Wednesday, 25 Sep, 2009
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Travelmole Guest Comment by WTM chairman Fiona Jeffery
The line up for the 30th World Travel Market is poised to be one of the most-high profile in the event’s history.
WTM 2009 will be opened on Monday, November 9 by London Mayor Boris Johnson.
The Mayor, who is playing a key tourism role with his involvement in the 2012 Olympics and a campaign to give London a £60 million tourism boost by the end of the year, will welcome almost 50,000 participants to ExCeL – London.
To have such a high profile person as Mayor of London Boris Johnson opening WTM 2009, clearly demonstrates how important the travel and tourism industry, and WTM, is to London’s and United Kingdom’s economy.
Alongside the Mayor of London, the great of and the good of the travel and tourism industry are also playing a key role in WTM 2009.
The boss of Europe’s largest tour operation TUI Travel’s Peter Long will be quizzed by BBC journalist Stephen Sackur on the company’s commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism in World Responsible Tourism Day on Wednesday, November 11.
Long and a whole host of senior industry leaders will share their views, on a DVD, on the current economy and the impact on the travel industry for 2010 and beyond in the WTM Vision – Global Economic Forum on Thursday, November 12.
Other senior industry leaders include:
- British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line vice president and managing director Robin Shaw
- VisitBritain chief executive Sadie Dawe
- Mexican Tourism Board director Manuel Diaz-Cebrian
- Intercontinental Hotels Group chief executive Andrew Cosslett
- Taj managing director & CEO Raymond Bickson
The panel that will then debate their opinions further includes;
Taleb Rifai, Secretary General a.i., United Nations World Tourism Organization
Carol Marlow, Managing Director, P&O Cruises
John Strickland, Director, JLS Consulting
Nic Marks, Founder, new economics foundation (nef)
Peter Hobday, Economist Journalist
Peter Kerkar, Executive Director, Cox & Kings
John Strickland, Director, JLS Consulting
Nic Marks, Founder, new economics foundation (nef)
Peter Hobday, Economist Journalist
Peter Kerkar, Executive Director, Cox & Kings
World Responsible Tourism Day will be opened by Sackur, UNWTO secretary general Talab Rifai and guest of honour Andrew Mitchell, who is advisor to the Prince of Wales Rainforest Trust.
Furthermore, the largest-ever UNWTO Minister Summit will take place on Tuesday, November 10. It will see more than 100 ministers discuss the best course of action the industry can take to survive and prosper throughout the current financial uncertainty while pushing a green agenda.
Thomas Cook Group chief executive Manny Fontenla-Nova will also take part in the summit.
As you can see we’ve organised a packed high-profile programme for World Travel Market’s 30th event, which is poised to be the best event yet.
I look forward to welcoming you all to ExCeL in November for the landmark WTM 2009.
Phil Davies
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