Sustainability Hub

11:45 - 12:45

IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABILITY

In

–

YOUR TRAVEL PROGRAM

WHERE TO START

Join the Global Business Travel Association, for practical insight on how to get started on making your corporate travel programme more sustainable.

Speaker: Catherine Logan, Regional Vice President – EMEA & APAC, Global Business Travel Association

13:00 - 13:40

ACHIEVING NET POSITIVE HOSPITALITY, A CONVERSATION WITH THE CEO OF SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE

As the SHA says: “The future of the tourism industry depends on protecting the locations, livelihoods and communities in which hotels are based.” This conversation will cover why this major transformation has occurred, the SHA’s plans for the next five years and how people in the audience can benefit from its programmes of work and publications.

Moderator: Harold Goodwin, ATM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor

Speaker: Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

13:45 - 14:45

RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY

For

A BETTER WORLD

Both the Sustainable Development Goals and changing consumer demand require that the industry transition more rapidly to be more sustainable. How do hotels engage their guests and their staff in reducing their environmental impact?

Moderator: Harold Goodwin, ATM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor

Speakers: Julie Cheetham, Managing Director, Weeva; Inge Huijbrechts, Global SVP of Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications, Radisson Hotels; Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance; Christopher Warren, Founder and CEO, My Green Butler; Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary, Tourism Seychelles

14:50 – 15:20

THE GREAT DEBATE - DO WOMEN REALLY BELONG ON TOP IN TRAVEL & TOURISM?

Join Aradhana Khowala for a thoughtprovoking and out-of-the-box talk on women’s empowerment and leadership. Expect a talk where nothing will be off-limit, an honest conversation that will lay down the cards on the table about the broken promise of women’s empowerment.

Speaker: Aradhana Khowala, CEO & Founder, Aptamind Partners

15:30 - 15:50

SUSTAINABILITY LEADERS - DESTINATIONS

Sustainable destination development requires that stakeholders strive to meet and balance the needs of the environment, local economy and culture and tourists. Understand how TUI’s action plans move forward.

Moderator: Sarah Ayache, Government Advisory, Director, Consulum

Speaker: Thomas Ellerbeck, Chairman, TUI - Greece - TUI Rhodes Lab

15:55 - 16:15

EVOLVING ROLE OF THE DMO

This session will look at the evolving role and function of the destination organisation and draws on Destinations International’s global membership of destination organisations to examine successful case studies of DMOs that are delivering measurable economic, social and environmental benefits for their communities.

Moderator: Sarah Ayache, Government Advisory, Director, Consulum

Speaker: Gabriel Seder, Vice President –Global Development, Destinations International

16:30 - 17:00

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE AIR - LIVE PODCAST

Join SimpliFying as they interview a sustainable leader, live, for their podcast.

Moderator: Shashank Nigam, Founder & CEO, SimpliFlying

Speakers: Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO, Saudia; Con Korfiatis, CEO, flyadeal

11:00 – 11:45

THE SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE

This session, organised by Sharjah Tourism, will explore the topic of sustainability and how to live sustainably. Pillars of sustainability and our accountability towards our ecological footprint will be covered as well as the importance of living a sustainable lifestyle and its main motivators and how this can be achieved by individuals, businesses and countries will be highlighted.

Speakers: To be confirmed

11:45 - 13:00

Tuesday 2nd May

13:15 – 14:00

NEW TRENDS OF TOURISM: THE “NOMAD” OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, BASED ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES

The Tourism Development Support Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic introduces the new trend of the travel and tourism industry based on sustainable development, untapped nature and the unique nomad’s way of life connected to the legendary great Silk Road in the Kyrgyz Republic.

14:50 - 16:00

GREEN TECHNOLOGY FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

This panel of experts will share their views on reducing carbon emissions and water consumption and dealing with waste as well as the role technology can play within this.

Moderator: Harold Goodwin, ATM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor

PLUG AND PLAY:

SUSTAINABLE TECH – START-UPS PITCH BATTLE

Discover what innovative technologies are being worked on within the travel industry, as seven innovative travel start-ups battle it out on stage to a panel of expert judges and audience members. We will be joined by start-ups: CarbonClick, Eliago, Winnow, Hotelverse, Thrust Carbon & OACIS.

Moderator: Mike Sung, DirectorPartner Success, Plug & Play

Judges: Natalie Seatter, Chief Product Officer, OAG; Jalil Mekouar, Founder & CEO, Inhovate Solutions; Kristi Choi, Ventures Team Lead, Plug & Play; Winnie Chiu, President, Dorsett Hospitality International; Essam AlZahrani, Tourism Startup Studio Programme Manager, Ministry of Tourism – Saudi

Speaker: Kairat Itibaev, Vice President, Tourism Development Support Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic

14:15 - 14:45

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF KEF HOLDINGS & FAIZAL AND SHABANA FOUNDATION

This conversation will range across the wellness resorts concept, the launch of technology for responsible tourism and the range of sustainability technology deployed at Tulah, technology which has raised the water table.

Moderator: Harold Goodwin, ATM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor

Speaker: Faizal Kottikollon, Founder & Chairman, KEF Holdings

Speakers: Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager, Bahi Ajman Hotel and Coral Beach Resort, Sharjah; Sari Abi Haidar, MEA Area Director for Engineering & Technical Services, Radisson Hotel Group; Keith Bradley, Managing Partner, Globally; Srdjan Susic MRSB CEnv, Chief Sustainability Officer, Soudah Development; Bernadette Willemin, Director General – Marketing, Tourism Seychelles

16:00 - 16:30

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE AIR - LIVE PODCAST

Join SimpliFying as they interview a sustainable leader, live, for their podcast.

Moderator: Shashank Nigam, Founder & CEO, SimpliFlying

Speaker: Shaenaz Voss, CCO, Fiji Airways and CEO, Fiji Link

10:45 - 11:30

STRATEGIC SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING – WHERE DOES THE SUPPLY-CHAIN START?

Sustainable supply chains, where do they start? Our speakers will spar on their various perspectives which must take into consideration in the development of sustainable supply chains.

Moderator: Gabriel Seder, Vice President, Global Development, Destinations International Speakers: Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; HE Ghada Shalaby, Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Arab Republic of Egypt; Dr. Miniya Chatterji, CEO, Sustain Labs Paris

11:45 – 12:30

SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Sustainability is playing a bigger role within activities, tours and attractions. Join Solar Innovation Centre Dubai as they explain how the Innovation Centre is becoming Dubai’s New Icon for sustainability.

Speaker: Marwan Juma Mohammed Bin Doei, Business Development & Excellence, Solar Innovation Centre

12:40 - 13:40

CARBON OFFSETTING, THE BIG DEBATE

When planning to offset carbon footprints should the offset take place locally where the carbon is released, or does it matter? Is there a right answer? Where is local offsetting possible, and should it be done?

Join our industry experts to find out.

Moderator: Andrew Brown, Regional Director, Europe, Middle East & Oceania, WTTC

Speakers: Mark Corbett, Director, Thrust Carbon; Nicolas Soucaille, General Manager, Blacklane Middle East; Sanith de Silva Wijeyeratne, Director and CEO, Climate & Conservation Consortium

13:45 - 14:30

THE SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY. HOW DO WE GET THERE?

The presentation will provide visibility on the evolution of expectations regarding sustainable travel and will propose three strategic pillars to make the industry more sustainable Speaker: Lucas Bobes, Group Environmental Officer and Head of ESG Reporting, Amadeus

14:40 - 15:15

MARITIME TOURISMPRACTICAL SOLUTIONS AND AMAZING DEVELOPMENTS

The Gulf supports a wide range of marine life, and is a magnet for visitors and locals, but, are the coastlines and the offshore habitats protected sufficiently to enable the maritime tourism boom successfully and sustainably?

Moderator: Bruno Wiley, Senior Advisor, Prospexi

Speakers: Will Bateman, CEO and Founder, CCell Renewables; Hon. Vensensius

Jemadu, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Indonesia; Madame Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Department, Seychelles

15:30 – 17:00

THE SUSTAINABILITY THINK TANK

Join Goumbook as they raise awareness on sustainable solutions, proper waste management, the benefits of recycling and more. This Think Tank is an opportunity for everyone to share ideas on how travel can improve and develop its sustainable offerings. The session aims to spark ideas and encourage audience interaction, whilst sharing best practices within the industry and beyond.

11:30 - 12:00

Thursday 4th May

12:15 - 13:00

RURAL

TOURISM: TAKING TOURISTS OFF-THE-BEATEN TRACK

Rural tourism encourages the spread of tourists, reliance on public transport and is another opportunity to support heritage and culture locally. It is also a vital part of sustainable tourism. Learn the benefits of rural tourism and how you can tap into this growing market.

Moderator: Rashi Sen, Editor, TTN

Speakers: Matthias Albrecht, Director GCC, Switzerland Tourism; Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales & Marketing of German National Tourist Office for Gulf Countries; Ansar Babu, Director of Global Distribution & International Operations, Royal Commission of AlUla; Emily Jenkins Head of Product Development DW Travel

Commercially Supporting Sustainability

Education about sustainability also must include addressing the most difficult of all in this effort to save our planet – shifting the mindset of travellers and suppliers. Here are two companies using their platforms to change behaviours through commercial activities.

Moderator: David Bishop, Government Affairs, Consulum

Speakers: Hon. Vensensius Jemadu, Deputy Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Indonesia; Rhea Saran, Global Head of Brand and Content, Travelzoo

13:10 - 13:45

PLANTING THE SUSTAINABILITY SEED: CHANGING CULTURE WITH EDUCATION

How can you embed the sustainability mindset into the culture of your business? This session will demonstrate how to successfully manage, change and encourage sustainable mindsets in your staff to ensure that all practices from start to end are sustainable, rather than seeing sustainable policies as a check box exercise.

Speakers: Hind El Aoufi, Digital LeaderMiddle East, Practice Director Digital Lab, EMEA; Basmah Al Mayman, Regional Director for the Middle East, UNWTO

14:00 - 14:45

WORKSHOP - DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM ACTION PLAN

Showcasing those who are successfully taking a sustainable approach, from destinations to tour operators, hotels to aviation. Learn about the struggles they have faced and how to avoid them moving forwards.

Moderator: Tarek Shawki, Managing Partner, Katalysts & Co

Speakers: Jared Harckham, Head of Aviation, ICF; Ripin Kalra, Sustainable Destination Development, Urban Resilience - Project BASED

A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR STORY IS NOW BEING TOLD