Seminar schedule

ATM Global Stage

MONDAY 17TH MAY

10.30 - 11.30

SECTOR COLLABORATION

Recovery and ongoing resilience demand that sectors work more closely together than ever before. Domestically and internationally, the government and the private sector are called on to work collaboratively not only for the public good but also to ensure travel rebounds, in turn boosting economies. Our speakers will share how sectors need to work together for the collective good.

The session will start with an interview with the Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for the Arab Republic of Egypt.

It will delve into how collaboration developed between all the ministries during the pandemic, what the recipe is for other countries to follow to ensure destinations and their visitors have the best possible experience. What are the difficulties that seem to have governments responding in disparate ways? Will the private sector lead us to recovery? Moderator: Sarah Hedley Hymers, Editorial Director, JMG, Middle East Speakers: Richard Quest, Anchor and Correspondent, Editor-at-Large, CNN, Madame Ghada Shalaby, Vice Minister for Tourism at The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities - Arab Republic of Egypt, Clive Bourke, President, DAON, EMEA and APAC, Dr. Edem Adzogenu, Co-Founder, AfroChampions, Kashif Khaled, Regional Director, Airport Passenger Cargo Security & Facilitation, Africa & Middle East, Stephanie Boyle, Head of Industry and Partner Communications, Skyscanner, Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf, Scott Hume, Senior Vice President, Operations, Global Rescue

12.30 - 13.30

AVIATION – THE KEY TO RESTORING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, RESTORING CONFIDENCE, GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, BUILDING BUSINESS

Aviation has been shell-shocked by the impact of COVID-19 but with the pent-up demand for restriction-free travel, how can the aviation industry can help the travel industry bring about recovery?

Experts will discuss a range of issues including: how airlines are deciding on which routes to restart and with the Middle East region being hit particularly badly, how can governments help? Many are already reviewing disjointed regulation, but what more can they do?

What is the future like for long haul destinations with analysts reportedly predicting a slower return for widebody long-haul aircraft? Could private aviation and other on-demand charter companies carve out a niche for a more inclusive offer for the travelling public?

Inevitably profitability will determine the strategy many airlines adopt, but how will that affect low cost carriers and full service carriers and in terms of sustainability.

How can airlines afford to embrace a more environmental corporate culture and still remain profitable and competitive? Will environmentally-conscious passengers be more forgiving initially? Moderator: Phil Blizzard, Presenter - Producer, TV & Radio Speakers: George Michalopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer, Wizz Air, Hussein Dabbas, General Manager – Special Projects for Middle East & Africa, Embraer

14.30 - 15.20

THE ATM SAUDI ARABIA TOURISM SUMMIT: TRANSFORMATION THROUGH TOURISM

As Saudi Arabia forges ahead with Vision 2030, with tourism earmarked as a key economic driver – on track to deliver the second-highest revenue after oil – this session discusses the strategy’s positive repercussions for the kingdom, its people, investors and millions of global travellers. Moderator: Hadley Gamble, CNBC Speakers: Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority, Majed Alnefai, Acting CEO of Seera, Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO, Saudia, Dr Afnan Alshuaiby, CEO of FNN International, Chair of the Arab international Women’s Forum

16.20 - 17.10

THE ATM SAUDI ARABIA TOURISM SUMMIT: THE GIGA PROJECT EFFECT

Meet the business leaders playing a pivotal role in delivering Vision 2030 by spearheading ambitious projects that will set Saudi Arabia apart as a destination like no other.

From developments that preserve and promote the kingdom’s heritage, culture and natural assets to theme parks, futuristic cities in the desert and luxury resorts with a strong focus on sustainability, panellists will reveal how the country is setting new global industry benchmarks. Moderator: Hadley Gamble, CNBC Speakers: Jerry Inzerillo, CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority, John Pagano, CEO, Red Sea Development Company and AMAALA, Andrew McEvoy, Head of Tourism, NEOM, Melanie de Souza, Executive Director, Tourism and Destination Marketing, The Royal Commission for AlUla

10.30 - 11.30

THE ATM HOTEL INDUSTRY SUMMIT: THE CHANGING ROLE OF HOTELS

Experienced hoteliers discuss how they have reinvented their hospitality offering to adapt to pandemic-driven trends, from introducing co-working and ‘workfrom-hotel’ concepts and launching new hybrid hospitality experiences that merge the physical and virtual to delivering environments conducive to the new lifestyles and expectations of travellers. Moderator: Richard Dean, Presenter, Business Breakfast at Dubai Eye, Director of Roar Interior Design Speakers: Marloes Knippenberg, CEO, Kerten Hospitality, Mark Kirby, Head of Hospitality, Emaar Hospitality Group, Fettah Tamince, Founder and Chairman, Rixos Hotels, Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, MEA President, Hilton Hotels

Sponsored by: Media partner:

ITIC-ATM MIDDLE EAST TOURISM INVESTMENT SUMMIT: INVEST – REBUILD – RESTART

10:30 – 10:40

WELCOME SPEECHES

Speakers: Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC & Former Secretary-General UNWTO, Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, ATM, Reed Exhibitions

10.40 - 11.15

MORNING CONVERSATIONS

Discussing the evolving economic landscape of the Middle East and the emerging challenges and opportunities in the travel and tourism sector. Speakers: Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC & Former Secretary-General UNWTO, Scott Livermore, Chief Economist of Oxford Economics, Middle East, Nicolas Mayer, Global Tourism Leader, PWC

TUESDAY 18TH MAY

12.30 - 13.30

THE ATM HOTEL INDUSTRY SUMMIT: PUTTING HOSPITALITY BACK INTO HOSPITALITY

With new health and safety requirements sanitising the hotel environment, this session throws the spotlight on strategies for creating memorable customer experiences and preserving the all-important human touch. The session will also highlight how the roles of hotel staff are evolving, what technological innovations are here to stay and how loyalty programmes are being reimagined to offer guests what they really want. Moderator: Richard Dean, Presenter, Business Breakfast at Dubai Eye, Director of Roar Interior Design Speakers: Stefan Leser, CEO at Langham Hospitality Group, Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO, Rotana, Simon Casson, President, Hotel Operations - Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons, Sandeep Walia, Area Vice President, UAE, Marriott International, Middle East & Africa

Sponsored by: Media partner:

14.30 - 15.30

EAST MEETS WEST: LESSONS LEARNED LEADING TO RECOVERY AND ON-GOING RESILIENCE

East meets west in this discussion as we look at recovery strategies while we plan for ongoing resilience delving into what lessons learned in the APAC countries have or have not been applied in the west and why or with what outcomes. Culture plays a part in recovery initiatives, from crisis response and implementation to product development and execution. So are these lessons transferrable from east to west and vice versa? Can we be confident that the world of travel is and will be in a better place ensuring risk mitigation going forward? Moderator: Paula Lacey, Commercial Director, Connecting Travel, ME Speakers: Daniela Wagner, Director Europe, Middle East and Africa, PATA, Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, Nigel David, Director Asia and Middle East, WTTC, Khashif Khalid, Director, IATA MENA, Carlos Cendra, Chief Marketing Officer, Mabrian

WEDNESDAY 19TH MAY

11.20 - 11.40

ONE-TO-ONE INTERVIEWS

11.45 - 12.30

TO WHAT EXTENT WILL SUSTAINABILITY REORIENT THE MIDDLE EAST TOURISM INDUSTRY?

Moderator: Gerald Lawless, ITIC Director and WTTC Ambassador Speakers: H.E Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Hon. Nayef Al-Fayez, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan

14.15 - 14.30

TRAVEL INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

Manus Cranny, Anchor at Bloomberg, in conversation with Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, discussing when the travel industry is expected to recover and bounce back to pre-COVID-19 levels?

14.35 - 15.20

PROSPECTS FOR INVESTMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST HOTEL INDUSTRY

Moderator: Nicolas Mayer, Global Tourism Leader, PWC Speakers: Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts India, Middle East & Africa, Salvatore Lavallo, Head of FDI Attraction, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Yariv Fisher, entrepreneur and expert in the GCC and Southeast Asia, Co-Founder and Chairman of Flyeast and Global Remit companies, Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President – Operations and Development, Swiss-Belhotel International – Europe Middle East, Africa and India

15.25 - 16.30

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC and former Secretary-General of UNWTO, in conversation with Nikolina Angelkova, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Tourism, about investment opportunities in Bulgaria. Introduction by: Paul Hoskins, Director, ITIC and Invest Tourism Ltd

16.30 - 16.45

CLOSING DISCUSSION

Speakers: Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC & Former Secretary-General, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Gerald Lawless, ITIC Director & WTTC Ambassador

Travel Forward Theatre

Sponsored by

11.45 - 12.45

EXPO 2020 DUBAI: THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND TECHNOLOGY AT MEGA EVENTS

Discover how Expo 2020 Dubai is creating world-class shows at the tip of a finger. Through a method that sits at the cutting edge of technology and entertainment, Expo 2020 Dubai is utilising an integrated system that allows us to elevate shows in the blink of an eye.

With a domed trellis of 130 metres in diameter and a height of 67.5 metres, Al Wasl Plaza will be one of the largest 360-degree immersive projection surfaces in existence. When combined with Expo 2020 Dubai’s immersive sound and light system, they will create a playground for the senses – pulling audiences into multiple directions, creating worlds that are deep, unpredictable and entertaining. Moderator: Tom Urquhart, Radio Presenter, Dubai Eye Speakers: Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, Amna Albulhoul, Executive Creative Director, Events & Entertainment, Expo 2020 Dubai

13.30 - 14.30

AMADEUS: REBUILDING OUR INDUSTRY FOR SAFER TRAVELS MONDAY 17TH MAY

– WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

Many people want to travel – the real question is how soon will they feel confident enough to explore new horizons? Restoring traveller trust and confidence quickly and consistently will be essential to kickstarting the industry’s recovery.

Understanding new traveller expectations and adapting to their changing demands and perceptions around cleanliness, sanitation and social distancing will be key to rebooting the travel industry. So, what can we do to regain traveler trust and increase demand?

In this session, participants will learn: what will make people in the region more likely to travel again; what are travellers’ views on hot topics, such as using a digital health passport; the importance of collaboration between all players to rebuild the travel industry and what technologies could really help offer a smoother and safer travel experience Speaker: Jamel Chandoul, Senior Vice President Retail, Amadeus Middle East

15.15- 15.45

UCLOUDLINK: MOBILE WIFI AS A SERVICE IN THE NEW NORMAL

Travellers are expecting more when they travel again. From health passport to touchless check-in, a mobile-first experience requires reliable mobile WiFi to keep travellers connected for the best flexibility and reassurance. Traditional broadband is limited in coverage, bandwidth and overall experience, plus it comes with a pricey installation and data cost. Imagine mobile WiFi as a service – providing high quality, free of SIM card and roaming charge WiFi broadband to travellers, not only to supplement current broadband but create new benefits to both facilities and travellers. Join this session to explore a new possible solution in a new normal Speaker: Mohamed Ismail Aboual, GlocalMe

16.30 - 17.30

BCG & GOOGLE: PATH FORWARD FOR DMOS (ACTIONS FOR DESTINATION MARKETERS TO NAVIGATE IN A COVID-19 WORLD)

Over the past 20 years, the global travel and tourism business has grown at a five percent annual pace and in 2019, it totalled US$4.7 trillion, according to research from BCG in collaboration with Google.

Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) have been at the heart of this growth. When the pandemic began, however, the impact on the travel industry was immediate.

A decline in international and commercial passengers around the globe could lead to a loss of up to 58 percent of jobs (190 million) in the travel and tourism industry, and cut the industry’s contribution to global GDP by up to US$5.5 trillion (62 percent), according to the report.

For destination marketers in charge of developing tourism strategies based on annual planning and predicted travel behaviour, this period has been particularly difficult. That’s why we looked into how consumers’ attitudes toward travel have changed in response to the pandemic. And how DMOs can prepare for the eventual resumption of travel — or more unexpected changes on the horizon.

Topics for discussion include: how consumer’s attitudes and preferences towards travel have changed in response to the pandemic; what changes and best practices have DMOs adopted in reaction to the pandemic and how DMOs can and are preparing for the eventual resumption of travel Moderator: Hans Clement, Managing Director & Partner – Dubai, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Speaker: Iva Kutle Skrlec, Global Destination Marketing Partner, Google

12.15 - 13.00

AMADEUS: REBUILDING TRAVEL

In this session by the global travel technology company, Amadeus, attendees will discover how data and advertising can help destinations bring visitors back, shining a light on new technological advancements that can be incorporated to enable fast recovery for gobal travel and tourism. Moderator: Delphine Herrmann, Head of WEMEA Field Marketing, Amadeus Corporate Marketing, Amadeus Speaker: Tom Starr, Vice President of Global Sales, Amadeus 13.45 - 14.45

INTELAK HUB: CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION IN ACTION

With innovation being key to the success of both start-ups and corporations, collaboration between the two worlds can, in many cases, be mutually beneficial. This session will explore how Intelak’s alumni and principle partners are building collaborations to scale the travel industry as well as showcase Intelak’s start-ups POC’s and what they need to implement at scale. Moderator: Roberto Croci, Managing Director, Microsoft for Startups in the Middle East and Africa Region Speakers: Salah Makkouk, The Emirates Group, Faisal Khan, Dubai Tourism, Nitin Reddy, Accenture

TUESDAY 18TH MAY

15.30 - 16.30

ARABIAN BUSINESS: 2021: WILL IT BE A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAVEL START-UPS?

The Emirates Development Bank Strategy has just announced its US$8.2 billion strategy to support start-ups and entrepreneurs in the UAE, which will contribute to financing more than 13,500 SMEs, creating 25,000 jobs, including a US$272.3 million investment fund for start-ups. This session will explore if it is a good time or a bad time to launch a start-up, along with which industry verticals have seen successful new businesses and why as well as where the opportunities are for startups in the V-shape travel recovery. Moderator: Scott Armstrong, Editor in Chief, Arabian Business Speakers: Kevin Czok, Managing Partner, Hotel Dat Cloud, Anna Skigin, Founder and CEO, Frank Porter, Mamoun Hmedan, Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India, Wego

10.30 - 11.30

ITP: GETTING PERSONAL - HOW TECH, DATA AND EXPERIENCES ARE KEY TO SUCCESS

Data is increasingly important for travel and hotel firms – from being able to provide customised deals and offers to travellers to curating unique experiences based on personal preferences once the guest has arrived.

Research by Google and Phocusright revealed that around 60 percent of travellers wanted brands to tailor the information they receive based on past preferences, while 76 percent said they’d prefer loyalty programs that used previous behaviour as a driver of offers available. What’s more, 36 percent said they’d pay more if they received more personalised experiences.

Taking that a step further, Accor’s CEO Sebastian Bazin said that all hotels around the world will need to be different in order to customise experiences for guests, with properties needing to assimilate aspects of the city they’re based in to create more authentic memories for people.

In this panel, we will look at the ways hotels build guest profiles and how they use that data when it comes to reaching out to travellers and providing them with memorable stays. Moderator: Paul Clifford, Group Editor, Hospitality Group, ITP Media Group Speakers: Siegfried Nierhaus, Vice President, Deutsche Hospitality Middle East, Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, President – Middle East, Africa & Turkey, Hilton, Karl Escritt, Chief Experience Officer, Like Digital, Amir Golbarg, Vice President Operations – Middle East, North Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Minor Hotels

WEDNESDAY 19TH MAY

12.30 - 13.15

RATEGAIN: UNRAVELING THE POWER OF SOCIAL-MEDIA TO GENERATE “ENGAGEMENT-DRIVEN-ROI” FOR HOTELS AND DESTINATION TOURISM

Join BCV for an in-depth discussion about the changes in consumer behavior, emerging travel trends and the power of social media as a catalyst for conversation, loyalty and return on investment in 2021. Speaker: Yuliya Navorynska, Country Head, UAE- BCV – A RateGain Company

ATM Virtual 2021

GST 10.30 - 11.30 | GMT 07.30 - 08.30

ENABLING A NEW GENERATION OF MIDDLE EAST TOURISM PROFESSIONALS

Tourism is a burgeoning sector in the Middle East and an area rich in opportunity for young men and women seeking to build careers in growth industries.

This session takes a look at: How do we engage young entrepreneurs and professionals to bring them into the tourism sector? What needs to be done to train and develop this new generation of talent to set them up for success?

It also looks at how can governments work with the private sector to support new entrepreneurs and existing tourism companies in a way that directly meets their needs (for example, micro-financing)? Moderator: Zeinab Badawi, Presenter, BBC World News Speakers: HE Princess Haifa Al-Saud, Vice President at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, HE Maitha Saif Majid Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, Oman

GST 12.00 - 13.00 | GMT 09.00 - 10.00

AIRLINE INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE INTERVIEW: TACKLING THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY’S CHALLENGES: DIRECTOR GENERAL IATA WILLIE WALSH

Willie Walsh takes up his position as Director General of IATA as the crisis facing the airline industry enters its second year.

Walsh is no stranger to tackling and succeeding in resolving challenging issues and complex problems. having successfully led Aer Lingus, British Airways and IAG in a career spanning more than 40 years.

Now he has to provide leadership for the industry at a time when its size and structure are under threat as never before.

Airlines face a fragmented and disjointed approach to the crisis by governments across the globe. Quarantines, border closers, testing regimes are amongst the issues on which IATA needs to drive engagement and consistency of approach in order to permit airlines to begin the process of recovery.

In this ATM Virtual exclusive interview, airline expert John Strickland will explore the priority issues on Willie Walsh’s agenda and seek his views on the way forward for the industry. Moderator: John Strickland, JLS Consulting Speaker: Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA GST 13.30 - 14.30 | GMT 10.30 - 11.30

THE ATM SAUDI ARABIA TOURISM SUMMIT - SAUDI’S HOTEL ROADMAP AS A TESTBED FOR INNOVATION

Saudi Arabia’s hotel landscape continues to evolve at pace, underpinned by the long-term vision of the government plus public and private investment in infrastructure, new destinations and mixed-use projects.

With the long-term tourism outlook more bullish than ever, hotel industry heavyweights discuss the vast potential for new and innovative hospitality concepts that keep pace with this demand and fast-changing guest demographics, now and in the future. Moderator: Gemma Greenwood, Director, Content Inc. Speakers: Mark Willis, CEO, TIMEA (Turkey, India, Middle East and Africa), Accor, Oliver Harnisch, Head of Hospitality, Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia, Hassan Ahdab, President of Hotels Operations, Dur Hospitality, Christopher Lund, Director, Head of Hotels, MENA Region, Colliers International

GST 15.00 - 15.20 | GMT 12.00 - 12.20

THE BEST PART OF TRAVEL: ARABIA’S ARIVAL

Our industry – tours, activities, attractions, events, experiences—is not just the third-largest part of travel, it’s why people travel in the first place. Douglas Quinby shares exclusive Arival research on the outlook for tours, activities and attractions as well as key trends shaping the sector’s revival. Speaker: Douglas Quinby, Co-Founder & CEO, Arival

GST 15.40 - 16.05 | GMT 12.40 - 13.05

ASK ME ANYTHING: ZEINA DAGHER, CEO, EMAAR ENTERTAINMENT

This one-time intern rose to become the CEO of the leisure attractions division of one of the UAE’s leading property development firms. Responsible for the strategy of some of the emirates’ top attractions, including the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, KidZania and Burj Khalifa, Dagher will share how attractions have adapted to the downturn and where attraction development, distribution and guest experience is headed in 2021 and beyond. Moderator: Douglas Quinby, Co-Founder & CEO, Arival Speaker: Zeina Dagher, CEO, Emaar Entertainment

GST 16.25 - 16.55 | GMT 13.25 - 13.55

OTAS, TECH & THE OUTLOOK FOR TOURS & ATTRACTIONS

Digital distribution and online platforms are ushering in dramatic change, from how travellers plan and book to how operators and distributors connect. The pandemic has only accelerated the need for operators to get ahead on tech.

This session, taking place during ATM Virtual, will explore the changes afoot amid the rise of online travel agencies (OTAs) and what this means for tour and attraction operators across the region. Moderator: Douglas Quinby, Co-Founder & CEO, Arival Speakers: Julia Randow, Regional Director, GetYourGuide, Ian Renton, Director of Sales, Atlantis, Essam Salah, Co-Founder & CEO, Oceanair Travels

GST 17.15 - 17.35 | GMT 14.15 - 14.35

THE TRULY CONNECTED TRIP

This candid interview with the Head of Technology at Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) looks at how the capital of the United Arab Emirates is looking to reimagine the guest experience by creating a truly connected and personalised experience, from travel planning to arrival and exploring the destination.

During the session, Jamieson will discuss the road ahead for DCT Abu Dhabi and the industry as they seek to connect tour and attraction suppliers to enhance the guest experience and create new opportunities for tour and attraction providers in the UAE capital amid the pandemic. Speaker: Peter Jamieson, CTO, Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi

MONDAY 24TH MAY

GST 10.30 - 11.30 | GMT 07.30 - 08.30

THE ATM HOTEL INDUSTRY SUMMIT: HOSPITALITY TRENDS ACCELERATED – WELLNESS AND SUSTAINABILITY TAKE CENTRE STAGE

Hoteliers explain how they’ve adapted to the super-acceleration of global wellness and sustainability movements, evolving their hotels and services to respond to overwhelming traveller demand for health and wellbeing solutions and sustainable practices that support the environment and local communities. Moderator: Gemma Greenwood, Director, Content Inc Speakers: Emlyn Brown, Global Vice President, Accor WellBeing Luxury & Premium Brands, Paul Gardiner, CEO of Mantis Collection, Jeremy McCarthy, Group Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Jonathan Raggett, Managing Director at Red Carnation Hotels & Founding Member of Beyond Green

Sponsored by:

GST 12.00 - 12.40 | GMT 09.00 - 09.40

AIRLINE LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE INTERVIEW: SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – A DISCUSSION WITH ADEL ALI, CEO OF AIR ARABIA GROUP

A seasoned airline industry executive, Adel Ali has nurtured Air Arabia to become a highly profitable low-cost airline group with activity spanning the Gulf and North Africa.

The group, like all airlines, has been severely tested by the current COVID-19 pandemic but still managed to deliver two profitable quarters in the last year. Despite the ongoing crisis, the airline has added aircraft to its fleet and opened up a new subsidiary in Abu Dhabi.

To find out how Adel Ali is managing the crisis whilst still keeping an eye on opportunities, John Strickland, a former compatriot from an earlier career at British Airways, will be putting the questions to him. Moderator: John Strickland, JLS Consulting Speaker: Adel Ali, CEO Air Arabia Group.

GST 12.50 - 13.20 | GMT 09.50 - 10.20

AIRLINE LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE INTERVIEW: FLY DUBAI MOVING AHEAD – CEO GHAITH AL GHAITH IN CONVERSATION WITH JOHN STRICKLAND

Ghaith Al Ghaith has led Flydubai since it was founded and has seen the airline grow to be a powerful force on the aviation landscape, adding many new destinations from its Dubai base.

He has guided the airline through periods of difficulty, including the global grounding (recently lifted) of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

TUESDAY 25TH MAY

We will explore what he has learned from these challenges and how he envisions Flydubai’s development and evolution in the years ahead. Topics for discussion will include an exploration of likely network growth, product developments and the deepening and evolving partnership with Emirates. Moderator: John Strickland, JLS Consulting Speaker: Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, Flydubai

GST 13.30 - 14.30 | GMT 10.30 - 11.30

COVID SAFE RECOVERY: INSIGHTS & TOOLS FOR 2021 AND BEYOND

The visitor experience in-destination is central to the COVID-safe recovery of the travel industry. Current indications are that there is much pent-up demand for a return to a full suite of travel services but perceptions of COVID-19 safety on the trip is high on the list of visitor concerns that need to be addressed.

This session looks at the latest data on consumer sentiment. It will also cover the practical solutions forwardthinking travel businesses are providing in-destination to address them.

This session is run by ETOA, the European Tourism Association. Moderator: Rachel Read, Director of Insight, ETOA Speakers: David Edwards, Tourism Insight Specialist, ETOA and Scattered Clouds, Santiago García-Dils de la Vega, International Promotion & MICE, Turismo de Sevilla, Elodie Berta, Head of Business Development, Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau

GST 15.00 - 16.00 | GMT 12.00 - 13.00

HOW THE LACK OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL HAS AFFECTED THE REGIONAL F&B SCENE

Top hoteliers talk about how the lack of international travel has impacted their F&B over the past year. And with vaccines helping to win the fight against COVID-19, what will be the impact as we return to a sense of normality? Among the topics of discussion will be whether an increase in staycations has made up for the smaller amount of international travellers, are customers spending more money on experiential dining locally because they can’t go abroad, and will a summer exodus from Dubai lead to difficult times for hotels or will inbound travel return enough to make up for it? Moderator: Simon Ritchie, Editor of Caterer Middle East and Hotelier Middle East Speakers: Emma Banks, VP of F&B Strategy for EMEA, Hilton, Lynne Bellinger, Director of F&B Design & Development EAME - Marriott International, Samantha Wood, Founder of Foodiva, Suhaila Ghubash, Director of Festivals and Events, DFRE

GST 16.30 - 17.30 | GMT 13.30 - 14.30

RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY IN A PERFECT STORM

COVID-19, climate change, biodiversity loss and increasing inequality, the new normal will be a challenging trading environment for business and leisure travel. We have brought together leading thinkers and practitioners to share their ideas about how hotels can manage risk and trade profitably over the next decade.

Properties being built now will be operating in a very different environment in the 2030s. The decisions we make now will determine the assets we have to work with in the future. There are many tied and tested solutions, and there are some new ideas yet to be fully proven. Now is the time to take responsibility and weather the storm. Moderator: Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor Speakers: Eric Ricaurte, Founder & CEO, Greenview, Inge Huijbrechts, Global Senior Vice President – Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications at Radisson Hotel Group, Madhu Rajesh, CEO at Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Dimitris Manikis, President for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Rana Al Oran, Director of People and Culture, Four Seasons Hotel Doha GST 18.00 -19.00 | GMT 15.00 - 16.00

THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL DRIVE A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR TRAVEL

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainability and concerns about the impact travel has on the environment were set to become one of the defining issues for the sector for future generations.

While the pandemic has inevitably diverted attention, it is also likely to accelerate how sustainability will become a growing focus as consumers, governments, regulators and pressure groups alike shine a light on industry practices.

In this session, experts will talk about how technology and sustainability will converge to ensure a vibrant and responsible future for travel. Moderator: Lee Hayhurst, Executive Editor, Travolution Speakers: Hugo Kimber, Founder Director, Carbon Responsible, Nico Nicholas, CEO & Co-Founder, Trees4Travel, Bayram Annakov, Founder & CEO of App In The Air

GST 10.00 - 11.00 | GMT 07.00 - 08.00

CULTURAL TOURISM FOR GROWTH

Find out how countries across the region are developing cultural attractions, from museums to ancient heritage sites, to differentiate their destination offering and provide visitors with enriching educational experiences. Panellists discuss how positioning the region as a global centre for cultural tourism will pave the way for sustainable industry growth and leave a legacy for future generations. Moderator: Gemma Greenwood, Director, Content Inc Speakers: Ali Al Shaiba, Executive Director – Tourism and Marketing, DCT Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, COO, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sharjah, UAE, Jerry Inzerillo, CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA)

GST 11.30 - 12.30 | GMT 08.30 - 09.30

RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM

The tourism industry – travel, hospitality and attractions – has developed a bewildering range of tech solutions. For this panel, we have chosen speakers who can look behind the brochures and the sales pitches to share what they have learnt about what works, what doesn’t and why? Moderator: Harold Goodwin, WTM Advisor Speakers: Andrea Nicholas, CEO, Green Tourism, Chris Warren, Founder & CEO, My Green Butler, Dina Storey, Head of Sustainability, Expo 2020 Dubai, Claire Whitely, Senior Sustainability Manager, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Keith Bradley, Managing Partner, Globally Great

WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY

GBTA CONFERENCE @ ATM 2021 - READY.SAFE.TRAVEL

GST 14.00 - 14.45 | GMT 11.00 - 11.45

WE ARE READY!

This “big picture” segment will feature how ready the region is for its return to travel, looking at GBTA’s BTI Business Travel Outlook for the Middle East, industry forecasts and diving into how governments have responded to the pandemic and their readiness for the return to travel in terms of border controls and travel restrictions. Moderator: Chris Pouney, Managing Partner, Severnside Consulting Ltd Speakers: Iyad Rasbey, Executive Director, Destination Tourism Development, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Catherine Logan, Regional Vice President - EMEA, GBTA, Derek Sadubin, Managing Director, CAPA - Centre for Aviation

GST 15.00 - 15.45 | GMT 12.00 - 12.45

WE ARE SAFE!

Travel risk management is a core function of any travel programme and this segment will look at how best to keep travellers safe as we come out of the pandemic, what solutions are available to help with this and what special considerations need to be observed in this region. Moderator: Debra Reid, Strategic Corporate Travel Manager, Houston, Texas Speakers: Hans Kanold, Global Ambassador, Stay Safe Hospitality, Savio Vas, Vice President Government and Corporate Travel, Dnata Travel Management, Emirates

GST 16.00 - 16.45 | GMT 13.00 - 13.45

WE CAN TRAVEL!

An international panel of global and regional buyers will share how they have incorporated this region into their global programme – focusing on challenges and opportunities and sharing of best practices to accommodate cultural nuances, practical realities and the pandemic. Moderator: Chris Pouney, Managing Partner, Severnside Consulting Ltd Speakers: Mohammed Halawi, Global Travel Director (Global Services), Firmenich, Anthony Baldwin, EMEIA Emerging Markets Travel, Meetings & Events Leader, EY, Nevine Khedr, Front Office Lead, Travel & Expense Management (T&E), ABB

GST 17.00 - 17.45 | GMT 14.00 - 14.45

WE CAN MEET!

Like transient travel, MICE has been hard hit by the pandemic, but how and when will it come back?

This session will dive into the outlook for the meetings industry as well as how and when these will take place and whether hybrid is here to stay. Moderator: Glenn Johnston, Aviareps Speakers: Emre Kirazci, Director of Sales & Marketing, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa, Graham Pope, Vice President of Sales, Cvent, Ayman Talaat, CEO, Extramile Group ME, Ali Fouladi, Tourism Advisor, Bahrain Tourism Board