Global Stage

THURSDAY 4TH MAY

10:15 - 11:30

INVESTING IN TOURISM’S FUTURE LEADERS

The panel discussion will focus on the benefits of engaging young people in the tourism industry, exploring the issues important to this younger generation, and how industry professionals can connect with their potential future employees. Following this session, we will have a short break-out where we invite students to network with industry leaders.

Moderators: Varisha Faisal; Mansoor AlHosani

Speakers: Tim Cordon, CEO - Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group; Mark Kirby, Head of Emaar Hospitality Group; Mira Zakharia, our Senior Director of HR, RAKTDA

11:45 - 12:15

GLOBAL HORIZONS: DEFINING TRAVELLER BEHAVIOURS

This session will use Skyscanner’s unique search data to cover the latest travel search and booking behaviour, including seasonality and booking horizons, and help you piece together who the traveller of 2024 will be.

Moderator: Nick Hall, Digital Tourism Think Tank

Speakers: Mike Ferguson, Director, Destinations & Hotels, Skyscanner; Sasha Al Jurdi, Head of Content and Programming at TikTok MENA

12:20 - 13:20

BEYOND 2031: WHO ARE THE MIDDLE EAST’S FUTURE TOURISTS?

It is important that the industry keeps up with trends and looks further than just year-on-year, instead has an eye on 10 or 15 years into the future. This session will look at trend reports, analysis and booking patterns of travellers to help paint a picture of the Middle East’s travellers of the future.

Moderator: Rohit Talwar, CEO, Fast Futures

Speakers: Eva Stewart, Global Sector Head of Travel and Tourism, YouGov; Richard Stolz, Principal, Roland Berger; Sarah Duignan, Director of Client Relationships, STR; Dave Goodger, MD- EMEA, Oxford Economics

13:30 - 14:15

INNOVATING TRAVEL - EXPERIENCES, TOURS & ATTRACTIONS

What role will Tours, Attractions and Experiences play in tourism moving forwards, and are they worth the investment?

Moderator: Joe Naaman, Partner,

Twenty31 Consulting

Speakers: Stephanie Reichenbach, Founder, Nara; Liam Findlay, Chief Executive Officer, Miral Destinations; Joss Croft, CEO, UKinbound; Farshid, CEO of Turpal

14:30 - 15:15

SPACE TOURISM, DO WE HAVE LIFT OFF?

Join our speakers as they discuss whether space tourism will actually be achieved and become a new part of travel or whether it is a race that can never be won.

Moderator: Jenny Southan, Editor, Founder and CEO, Globetrender

Speakers: Daniel Macinne, Director, PriestmanGoode; Michael R. Henderson, Co-Founder, Moon World Resorts Inc.

THURSDAY 4TH MAY

11:00 - 11:30

ENCOURAGING INTERNAL

CHANGE: THE DIGITAL MINDSET

This session is dedicated to digital transformation and the mindset and cultural shift required to support, embrace and remain agile to fully maximise digital and technology opportunities on the horizon. At a period of such seismic disruption when it comes to digital, driven by major developments in artificial intelligence, a session focused on the skillset, culture and knowledge required to tackle this could not be more timely.

Moderator: Nicholas Hall, Founder,

Digital Tourism Think Tank

Speakers: Aun Asia, Director of Digital Field Marketing (UAE)Marriott International; John Lee, CEO, H20 Hospitality; Daniel Rosado Bayón, Director, Spanish Tourism Office for Middle East

11:45 - 12:30

DEMYSTIFYING NDC: INSIGHTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

How ready are you for NDC? Discover the latest trends and opportunities in NDC adoption. What does NDC mean for travel companies? Learn how NDC can be a force for good, albeit with