The Travel Convention Programme 2018 by The Travel Convention

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

Convention Programme Seville // 8 -10 October 2018 Hosts

#ABTAseville 1

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

I ntu i t i ve c a b i n crew w h o k n ow w h e n yo u n e e d a n ot h e r. YO U R CLU B WO R LD

Visit ba.com/yourclubworld for further details.

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

Welcome to The Travel Convention On behalf of ABTA, it is my pleasure to welcome you to The Travel Convention 2018.

Hosts

I am delighted that the wonderful city of Seville will host this year’s Travel Convention. Our business sessions at the five star Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento hotel, well-known in the city for its modern architecture and design that evoke the Guggenheim Museum in New York, will address the most important issues impacting travel businesses. With Truth, Trust and the Future of the Expert as our theme, this year’s business sessions will provide ABTA Members and the wider industry with a broad spectrum of insights designed to help you focus on the opportunities for your business both now and in the future.

Lead Partner

Andalusia – Turismo Andaluz; Spanish Tourist Office/Turespaña; Seville Provincial Tourism Board and Seville Tourism Board will be the host partners for this year’s event and I’d like to thank them all for their tremendous enthusiasm and support. Rich in history and renowned for its flamenco, tapas bars and orange trees, Seville is the capital and largest city of Andalusia. With its combination of old-world glamour and sophistication, incredible heritage and contemporary art, music, food and fashion, the city and its surroundings offer all that today’s tourists are seeking, and the Convention provides a great opportunity to remind the UK travel industry of all that Seville has to offer.

Headline Partners

I know that you will be very warmly welcomed by the local Sevillanos and all the Andalusian people, and encourage you to explore this special city during the free time that we’ve included in the programme. Many thanks for your continued support. I wish you an enjoyable and rewarding time in Seville. Mark Tanzer Chief Executive ABTA

Trade Media Partner

www.abta.com @ABTAmembers 3

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Programme of Events Monday 8 October

[page 11]

Tuesday 9 October

[pages 14-24]

Club Zaudin Golf

08:00-09:15

Travel Weekly Breakfast Briefing***

España 5

Ride for your LifeLine*

City of Seville

08:15-09:00

ABTA Press Briefing**

España 1

11:00-13:00

Flamenco Experience*

Museo del Baile Flamenco

09:30-15:25

Business Sessions

13:30-16:00

Lead Partner Lunch***

09:30-09:40

Introduction

14:00-16:00

Complimentary Walking Tour

City of Seville

09:40-09:55

Opening Remarks

16:00-18:00

Football Match*

Sport Facilities Isla Cartuja

09:55-10:30

Who We Trust and How We Choose

18:45-19:45

ABTA Members Welcome Reception****

Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento

10:30-11:05

The Psychology of Shopping

11:05-11:10

ABTA LifeLine

19:45

Transfer to the Casino de la Exposición (15 minutes)

11:10-11:50

Coffee Break

Convention Centre Foyer

20:15-22:30

Opening Ceremony and Welcome Party

Casino de la Exposición

Meet with ABTA

Convention Centre Foyer

22:30-02:00

Convention Bar

El Bar Terrace El Casino

From 23:00

Return transfers available from 23:00 until 02:00

08:00-15:00

Golf Tournament*

10:30-13:00

Sevilla, Convention Centre Chris Ship Mark Tanzer Rory Sutherland Sofia Natal Derek Jones

11:50-12:25

Walk the Talk

12:25-13:00

Guest Speaker

13:00-14:00

Delegate Lunch

Atrium 3

Meet with ABTA

Convention Centre Foyer

14:00-14:05

Welcome Back

14:05-14:10

British Ambassador to Spain

14:10-14:45

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse

14:45-15:15

The Future of the Expert

Philip Wolf Bryony Gordon

Chris Ship Simon Manley CMG Dr Paul Redmond Lucy Huxley Claire Irvin Derek Jones Becky Power Alistair Rowland

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

15:15-15:20

Workshop Options

Chris Ship

15:25-16:05

Workshops

Workshop 1

If you thought The Internet changed the world…get ready for Voice!

Workshop 2

Travel M&A in Uncertain Times

España 5

Workshop 3

Wellbeing in the Workplace

España 1

Workshop 4

Reputation Management Inside Out

16:00-20:00

Free Time and Private Events

18:30-20:00

Meet the Media*

20:00

Transfer to Cortijo Torre de la Reina (15 minutes)

20:30-23:00

Party in the Province

23:00

Return transfer

From 23:30

Convention Bar

Sevilla

Andalusia 6-7

Wednesday 10 October 08:00-09:15

Amadeus Breakfast Briefing*

09:30-14:00

Business Sessions

09:30-09:40

Welcome to Day Two

Chris Ship

09:40-10:10

A Better Way to Change: Employee-driven Transformation

Jon Hazel

10:10-10:50

Face to Face with Johan Lundgren

Johan Lundgren

10:50-11:30

The Growth Challenge

Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento

11:30-12:05

Building Trust in an Uncertain World

12:05-12:35

Coffee Break

Convention Centre Foyer

Meet with ABTA

Convention Centre Foyer

Sevilla, Convention Centre

Gloria Guevara Manzo Stuart Leven Antonio Muñoz Mark Tanzer Enrique Ybarra

Real Alcázar de Seville

Cortijo Torre de la Reina

Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento 12:35-13:10

View from the Top

13:10-13:40

Guest Speaker

13:40-13:50

Chairman’s Closing Remarks

13:50-14:00

Destination 2019 Launch

14:00-15:30

Garden Party Lunch

ABTA reserves the right to change the programme as outlined in this brochure.

From 15:30

Free Time and Private Events

NB: ABTA welcomes private events during the Convention. However, they must only take place at the times indicated for private events.

20:00-22:00

Convention Supper Club*

From 21:30

Farewell Bar

* ** *** ****

[pages 26-32]

advance booking required media only by invitation only ABTA Members only

Maajid Nawaz

John Bevan Richard Calvert Robin Shaw Giles Duley Noel Josephides Chris Ship Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento Garden

Mercado Lonja del Barranco Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Welcome to Andalusia The Travel Convention is a valuable meeting point for networking and exchanging experiences. It also offers us an ideal opportunity to highlight the diversity of Andalusia to the British market, which is strategically important. The celebration of this event consolidates our position as a leading inbound destination for the British market, which remains one of the most significant for Andalusia. The UK’s figures for Andalusia are truly excellent, with 2.88 million visitors in 2017, an increase of over 2%, and 1.55 million guests and 7.13 million overnight stays in our hotels and resorts. These figures are proof that the confidence of British consumers continues to increase and that they are still choosing Andalusia: a safe destination with a high level of customer loyalty. In a word, a place which they feel to be their “second home”. This Convention will also enable us to strengthen our ties with one of our main partners in the UK: ABTA. The Association has maintained a close relationship with Andalusia for over 20 years, with the region featuring in its “2017 Travel Trends Report”. The report stated that Andalusia is “a classical favourite which had been revitalised and updated, and which also had some of the most fascinating cities in Europe as well as magnificent connections by air with the UK, all of which makes it very attractive for their customers.” I wish success to all those attending the Convention and invite you to discover the wealth of attractions in our region. We are extremely proud of our incredible variety of products and extraordinary places of interest; our infrastructure that connects us with practically all markets; our top-quality range of accommodation and services; and our excellent professionals, who will help to make your visit here a satisfying and unforgettable experience. Francisco Javier Fernández Minister of Tourism and Sport Regional Government of Andalusia

www.andalucia.org/en

@viveandalucia

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

Welcome to Spain It is a great honour for us that ABTA has chosen Andalusia for its most important international annual event: The Travel Convention. We are particularly pleased to welcome you all to Seville, one of the most romantic, cultural and beautiful cities in the world. With almost 19 million UK tourists visiting our country last year, Spain was ranked the most popular destination for British people in 2017. The UK market is highly valuable to Spain, representing over 23% of the international arrivals to our country. With one in four British holidays abroad spent in Spain, the year-on-year growth in the number of British tourists provides evidence that we continue to be one of the most competitive and innovative destinations in the world, offering the best value for money. Moreover, the increase in connectivity between 28 British airports and 24 Spanish airports has resulted in both countries having the best bilateral connectivity in the world, opening up exciting new opportunities for both the UK visitor and the Spanish tourism industry. There is no doubt that these successes could not have been achieved without the effort and initiatives of private firms, which are creating excellent tourist destinations, providing highly professional services and supporting the message of public service to create a strong tourism industry with a promising and sustainable future. Working very closely with the AndalucĂa Regional Government, local authorities of the Province and City of Seville and the private tourism industry key players, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism hopes that The Travel Convention 2018 will provide an opportunity for all delegates to develop and strengthen working relationships with our Spanish travel suppliers. We are looking forward to welcoming you all to Spain and we wish you a pleasant and successful Travel Convention in Seville. MarĂa Reyes Maroto Illera Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Spain

www.spain.info

@Spain

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Welcome to Seville Seville welcomes delegates attending ABTA’s 2018 Travel Convention. During your stay, we invite you to get to know the city that has been chosen as the best urban destination in the world in 2018 by Lonely Planet, along with other international recognitions including: best MICE destination in Spain; Ibero-American Cultural Capital of the ‘Tapa’; and the destination with the second most spectacular and valued monument in the world, the ‘Plaza de España’. Seville has an extensive history that has left an impressive artistic legacy, including three monuments declared by UNESCO as World Heritage sites: the Real Alcázar (Royal Palace), the Cathedral and the Archivo de Indias (General Archive of the Indies). It has also seen the birth of, or has had a relationship with many famous characters in history from the Roman emperor Trajan to the painters, Murillo and Velázquez; writers such as Cervantes and sailors including Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan. Likewise, Seville has inspired the renowned operas Carmen, Don Giovanni and The Barber of Seville. With a wide and varied cultural offer, throughout the year Seville is also the hotspot for flamenco, an artistic expression declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Its cuisine is world-famous, with the ‘tapa’ a sign of identity and our way of enjoying life. Above all, it is an open, welcoming, stable and safe city. Make the most of the ABTA business programme and during your free time, stroll through the city’s historic streets, squares, parks and gardens; let yourself be seduced by its light and colour, by its smells and tastes and by its stories and legends. We recommend you interact with the city’s people, share their culture, their traditions, their cuisine and their way of being; let yourself be imbued by the whole city and sense how its inhabitants experience it. Whilst in our city, you are another ‘Sevillano’. Seville is proud of its past, lives in the present and looks to the future; and it is very proud to welcome ABTA delegates. I wish you an enjoyable stay and hope you enjoy a very successful Travel Convention in Seville. Juan Espadas Cejas Mayor of Seville

www.visitasevilla.es

@sevillaciudad

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

Welcome to the Province of Seville As President of Seville’s Provincial Government, I am delighted and honoured that ABTA has chosen Seville to host its annual Convention. This will provide you with a tremendous opportunity to see and taste the diverse and beautiful flavours of the city and region. Seville’s historic monuments, culture, nature and cuisine are the pillars of the tourism offering in towns throughout the province. Here visitors will encounter the “other” Seville, one that opens its arms to the world as a unique territory providing unforgettable experiences. Nature lovers can enjoy Seville’s two natural parks, considered the only ones of their kind in Southern Europe: the Sierra Norte and the Doñana area. The historic monuments of Sevillian towns are among the richest in the Andalusian region, with roughly 300 monuments recognized for their cultural significance. In terms of cuisine, the local gastronomic industry has played an important role in recent years, offering visitors both traditional dining and innovative cuisine. The star local products of our province, such as rice, olive oil, cured meats, cheese, game, mushrooms, sweets, and, of course, great wines, comprise the base on which this sector continues to stand tall. There is another Seville to be found in this province, one that makes it a unique destination for meetings and incentives. This uniqueness is embodied in the authenticity you’ll find in our farmhouses, ranches, villas and palatial homes, places rich with charm that offer a wide range of activities based on our culture and history. Seville and its 104 towns and villages look forward to giving you a warm welcome. Fernando Rodríguez Villalobos President Seville Provincial Government

www.turismosevilla.org

@Sevilla_Turismo

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Monday 8 October Optional Excursions 08:00-15:00

14:00-16:00

Join fellow delegates for a complimentary walking tour of central Seville. Kindly offered by Turismo Andaluz and Seville Tourism Board, the tour will showcase many of the city’s main attractions.

Golf Tournament Club Zaudin Golf

Sponsored by

Advanced booking required

This year’s Golf Tournament, sponsored by SciVisum, will be held at the 18-hole, par 71 Club Zaudin Golf Sevilla designed by the great Gary Player. With refreshments on arrival and a buffet lunch, the Tournament will offer participants of all levels the chance to network with their industry colleagues while enjoying an exhilarating golfing challenge on one of Spain’s finest golf courses.

To book, email moreinfo@thetravelconvention.com. Advanced booking required

16:00-18:00

Sponsored by

Ride for your LifeLine The Convention’s annual charity fundraiser will take in some of Seville’s key historic sites and monuments. With all proceeds going to ABTA’s charitable trust, the ride will see participants enjoy a short refreshment break in the city, courtesy of Sunvil, before returning to the hotel for lunch hosted by Avis Budget Group. To book, email moreinfo@thetravelconvention.com.

Sponsored by

Advanced booking required

18:45-19:45

Flamenco Experience

To book, email moreinfo@thetravelconvention.com.

ABTA Members Welcome Reception Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento Garden

Visit Seville’s Flamenco museum for a guided tour and flamenco dance lesson with a local expert.

Advanced booking required

This year’s Travel Convention football match sees White Hart Associates and First Data take on each other for the first time. The 11-a-side match will take place at Sport Facilities Isla Cartuja, a complex located on an island in the Guadalquivir River. Players of all levels of ability will be taking part, so come along to cheer on your favourite team and support ABTA LifeLine. Transfers will depart from the Convention hotels at 15:20.

Advanced booking required

11:00-13:00

Football Match Sport Facilities Isla Cartuja

Transfers will depart from the Convention hotels at 07:45.

10:30-13:00

Complimentary Walking Tour

Sponsored by

ABTA Members are invited to attend a special Welcome Reception to mark the beginning of this year’s Travel Convention. The Welcome Reception will be attended by ABTA’s Board and Senior Leadership Team, along with representatives from British Airways, kind sponsors of the reception.

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

20:15-22:30

Opening Ceremony and Welcome Party Casino de la Exposición

Venue provided by

The official welcome to Seville from the Convention’s host partners will include a special operatic performance in the Teatro Lope de Vega, a Baroque Revival theatre within the Casino de la Exposición, one of the city’s cultural centres of reference. After the Ceremony, we’ll move into La Cupula del Casino for the Welcome Party, hosted by the Turespaña/Spanish Tourist Office, where a selection of drinks and buffet stations featuring a variety of traditional Andalusian dishes will provide a feast for the senses.

Hosted by

Transfers will depart from the Convention hotels at 19:45.

From 22:30

Convention Bar El Bar Terrace El Casino

Sponsored by

Sponsored by ANA – All Nippon Airways, Monday’s Convention Bar is connected to the Welcome Party venue and will provide the perfect setting for some late night networking. The bar will feature a live DJ providing musical entertainment into the early hours.

@thetravelconv #ABTAseville

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Tuesday 9 October Challenges present a wealth of opportunity, nowhere more so than in our industry. At a time when the very nature of trust is being questioned, there are many reasons for optimism. With Truth, Trust and the Future of the Expert as its theme, this year’s Travel Convention will look at the cornerstones of the future relationship between the travel industry and the traveller. The priority for any business is to focus on building trust, helping to address people’s fears and concerns honestly. Those that are able to connect, engage and drive belief in their products will be richly rewarded, whilst those who rest on their laurels will falter. It has been a year since The Travel Convention considered how the industry can cope with complexity in a world that desires simplicity. In that time, the number of disparate views has multiplied and many debates seem to generate more heat than light. If the events of 2018 have taught us anything, it is that knowing whom to listen to and whom to trust is becoming a fundamental skill we all need. Faith in governments, news organisations and social media is challenged as never before, with fake news and big data profiling creating doubt and suspicion. Businesses face a constant challenge to protect their brands’ integrity. Voices and opinions have grown louder and more insistent. Sources of information have grown as our confidence in their reliability has declined. When so many personal and consumer experiences are intermediated, where direct human contact is no longer desired or possible and with people only too aware of the power of data to manipulate their views and behaviours, the question they are asking is: “What and whom can I believe?”

As business models and travel providers proliferate, travel horizons expand and travel destinations face upheaval, we will explore how we can make sure the customer is confident enough to travel, confident enough to buy and trusting enough to believe that they will enjoy an experience in line with their expectations today and into tomorrow. This year’s Travel Convention is built around four key pillars: what’s going on and what lies ahead? the issues and emerging trends affecting the industry best business practice and innovations coming down the line quality networking with fellow delegates

Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento Convention Centre The business sessions will take place within the Convention Centre at the Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento hotel.

Isla de la Cartuja 41092 Seville, Andalusia Spain 12

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

THIS IS HOW T O H O L I D AY With 249 destinations, from the breathtaking beaches of the Caribbean to the mind blowing glaciers of Alaska, our 25 action-packed ships cover all corners of the world. Whether you ride zip lines or sip fine wines, scuba dive or paraglide, a Royal Caribbean holiday is where extraordinary happens.

Tuesday 9 October 08:00-09:15

Doing things better, simpler and smarter

Organised by

Invitation only

Our Travel, Tourism and Leisure team speak your language. This means you will get a solution that works in the real world, not just the boardroom.

Contact Yvonne Chappell Head of Travel, Tourism and Leisure T+44 (0)1908 359 541 E yvonne.chappell@uk.gt.com

España 5 Will new opportunities outweigh the challenges as we go into next year and Britain exits the EU? How might the balance between high street and digital distribution, thirdparty and direct sales, and major groups and independents look in 12 months? This Business Breakfast will consider in brief everything from borders to Blockchain, airline distribution to destination over-tourism and card payments to the impact of the Package Travel Regulations.

As one of the world’s leading financial and business advisors, our experience ranges from advising investors, operators, brands and lenders globally, with a key focus on maximising wealth and helping stakeholders realise their strategic ambitions. Pragmatic and achievable solutions, careful stakeholder management and business improvement creates sustainable value and future growth for your business. Drawing on significant experience and a breadth of specialist knowledge, we provide you with commercial and pragmatic advice in both the UK and around the world.

Travel Weekly Breakfast Briefing

Speakers Andrew Flintham, Managing Director, Tui UK & Ireland Rhys Griffiths, Partner and Head of Travel Group, Fieldfisher Paula Lacey, Group Commercial and Membership Director, Advantage Travel Partnership Giles Hawke, CEO, Cosmos.

08:15-09:00 Media only

09:30-15:25 Doors open at 09:15

09:30-09:40

ABTA Press Briefing España 1

Business Sessions Sevilla, Convention Centre

Introduction Chris Ship, Moderator

grantthornton.co.uk

© 2018 Grant Thornton UK LLP. Grant Thornton UK LLP is a member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.co.uk for further details.

Broadcast journalist Chris Ship, Royal Editor at ITV News, will moderate the main stage business sessions. A regular face on ITV News, Chris is a senior member of ITV’s reporting team, joining the royal bureau after many successful years as the channel’s Deputy Political Editor at Westminster. Chris will open the business sessions with an overview of this year’s Convention theme and programme, while acknowledging the event’s key partners.

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SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Tuesday 9 October 09:40-09:55

Opening Remarks Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA ABTA’s Chief Executive sets the scene for this year’s Convention, looking at the big drivers of confidence and trust in the industry – confidence for customers to continue to travel, confidence for destinations to continue to invest, confidence for entrepreneurs and investors to continue to build new companies – and how we can maintain that confidence in a period of unparalleled political and economic uncertainty.

09:55-10:30

Who We Trust and How We Choose Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman, O&M Group UK

Sponsored by

With characteristic wit and erudition, Rory will share his views on the changing media landscape, exploring the public’s perception of news providers and advertisers in 2018 versus other communication channels including social media, peer-to-peer sites, bloggers, vloggers and more – and suggests that these new channels, by elevating experiences over ownership, bode well for the future of the travel industry. He will also ask some more fundamental questions: recent discoveries from the field of psychology challenge some basic economic assumptions about how people think, decide and act – and, as Rory will explain, thesecarry important implications for the way we promote journeys and destinations.

To: 70070 ABTA18 £10

INSIGHT EXPERIENCES

10:30 -11:05

The Psychology of Shopping Sofia Natal, Global Customer Experience Transformation Expert, IBM iX Markets are no longer defined by national borders. Technology and communications have created a world of new opportunities, but also challenges. What drives us to buy or not to buy?

DELICIOUSLY AUTHENTIC DINING

TRAVEL AND STAY IN STYLE

SMALLER

SEAMLESS,

GROUP STRESS-FREE THE TRAVEL CONVENTION CAMARADERIE TRAVEL

THE MAGIC OF AN

INSIGHT EXPERIENCE

What can travel learn from other sector retailers? How should we think about our market of the future – and what can we do to stay ahead? IBM thought leader, Sofia Natal, will explore what today’s consumers look like and how retailers can adapt and innovate to engage with them effectively in a competitive market.

11:05-11:10

ABTA LifeLine Derek Jones, Chair, ABTA LifeLine This year’s Convention fundraising campaign for ABTA LifeLine.

11:10-11:50 Hosted by

Coffee Break Convention Centre Foyer Enjoy light refreshments, courtesy of Seville Tourism Board, and take the opportunity to network with fellow delegates, the Convention’s sponsors and our Convention hosts.

Meet with ABTA Convention Centre Foyer ABTA colleagues will be available during the Convention to meet with delegates. You can either drop by or pre-book an appointment by emailing membersinfo@abta.co.uk.

Connect your clients with local characters who really bring a destination to life. With more thoughtfully selected, premium experiences included, we proudly provide the value your clients deserve.

Alberobello, Italy: Nonna welcomes you to her home for a family-style dinner of Southern Italian specialties.

2019 EUROPE BROCHURE LAUNCHES 11 OCTOBER FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

@thetravelconv #ABTAseville

BOOK EARLY TO GET THE BEST DEAL

For more information, please call 0800 206 1468 or visit our website

INSIGHTVACATIONS.COM 17 #INSIGHTMOMENTS

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Tuesday 9 October 11:50-12:25

Walk the Talk Philip Wolf, Serial Board Director and Founder of PhoCusWright

13:00-14:00 Hosted by

12:25-13:00

Meet with ABTA Convention Centre Foyer A further opportunity to catch up with the ABTA team.

14:00-14:05 14:05-14:10

Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain since October 2013, H.E. Mr Simon Manley CMG will offer words of welcome to delegates attending the Convention. Simon is responsible for protecting and influencing British interests in Spain, directing the work of the British Embassy in Spain and the seven British Consulates across the country, which includes political work, trade and investment, press, cultural relations, visa and consular services.

Author of Mad Girl – a memoir about her struggles with OCD, depression, bulimia, alopecia and drug dependency – Bryony takes a street-smart, thirty something view of the irritations, absurdities and occasional epiphanies of modern life.

14:10-14:45

Simply go to votettc.com on your mobile device. Answer the questions when asked and we’ll see the results live on the screen as they happen.

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse Dr Paul Redmond, Author, Graduate Jobs Formula and The Attack of the Zombie Jobs

Ask The Audience

Sponsored by

British Ambassador to Spain H.E. Mr Simon Manley CMG

Bryony Gordon, Feature Writer & Columnist, The Telegraph

Throughout the business sessions, the Convention moderator and speakers will have the option to ask the audience to vote using their mobile devices where appropriate.

Welcome Back Chris Ship

Guest Speaker

With one in four people suffering from mental illness, Bryony will talk about her mental health challenges, how it is perfectly normal to feel weird and the positive role that travel can play in your mental health and wellbeing.

Atrium 3 Enjoy a buffet lunch courtesy of Seville Tourism Board.

Known for the catchphrase ‘strategically correct, yes; politically correct, no’, Philip will share his views on the next stage of digital transformation in travel and the role that tools and technologies like chatbots, artiﬁcial intelligence, machine learning, wearables, biometrics, blockchain and bitcoin will play in the delivery of great customer experiences. The session will also look at ever-evolving voice recognition technologies and explore how the rise of the Frightful Five – Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Alphabet, the parent company of Google – will affect the travel industry today and tomorrow.

Delegate Lunch

Sponsored by

Dr Redmond will provide a unique look at the world in which travel organisations will be operating in future. He will highlight the three forces of change that every travel business and travel professional needs to understand and master; identify areas of the travel sector that are in the process of becoming ‘zombiefied’, and reveal how to transform your business using the forces of innovation, creativity and enterprise. Dr Redmond’s presentation will provide delegates with a zombie-resistant toolkit for ensuring that they and their businesses are best positioned to gain maximum benefit from the new world of work.

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

14:45-15:15

Moderator: Lucy Huxley, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Weekly Group

Claire Irvin Head of Travel Editorial, Telegraph Travel

15:15-15:20

The Future of the Expert Lucy Huxley will discuss the rise of the amateur and the future role of the expert with a panel of sector leaders. From providing customers with the products, experiences, services and reassurance they demand to effectively communicating with them in a multi-channel world where the very nature of truth and trust is in question, the session will seek to establish what the cornerstones of the future relationship between the industry and the traveller might be.

Derek Jones CEO, Der Touristik UK

Becky Power Sector Director, Travel, Google

Alistair Rowland Group General Manager – Specialist Retail, Midcounties Co-operative

Workshop Options Chris Ship, Moderator An introduction to the four specialist workshops that will complete today’s business sessions.

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Tuesday 9 October Workshop 1

Sevilla

If you thought The Internet changed the world… get ready for Voice!

Workshop 2 Travel M&A in Uncertain Times

Sponsored by

If your travel brand is mute, how will it exist in a screenless future? In this Workshop, Global’s Creative Director, Jo McCrostie, will share the secrets and creative tools needed to stand out in a ‘sound-on’ world, including a few surprises along the way and a LIVE demonstration with one of the UK’s biggest travel brands. Consumers are spending more time interacting with brands via audio – be it giving or receiving messages through devices such as Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Home or listening to a podcast on a mobile.

This Workshop will focus on M&A market activity, trends, market conditions and the key drivers behind the M&A market. It will explore the next steps in market consolidation, including Brexit and what this means; the impact of world conditions on travel M&A; why travel is attractive and what investors look for; tips and advice on how to approach a business merger or acquisition; what it feels like to go through an acquisition, and more. Moderator: Ian Taylor, Executive Editor, Travel Weekly Speakers:

So, what does this mean for travel brands? One thing is for sure, if your brand doesn’t have a ‘voice’ or a ‘sonic identity’ you are definitely missing out!

Richard Singer, CEO, icelolly.com

Jo McCrostie, Creative Director, Global, The Media & Entertainment Group

Sponsored by

By 2020, it is predicted 50% of all web browsing will be screenless. Not to mention voice activated cars and coffee machines. Even tech giant Apple is moving to a less instantly visual world; predicting a digital landscape that relies on voice assistants, headphones and wearables to take some pressure off our eyes.

Speaker:

España 5

Martin Alcock, Director, Travel Trade Consultancy Usman Malik, Partner, Grant Thornton Hemal Shah, Partner, Grant Thornton Panel: Craig Burton, Managing Director, Ski Solutions

WORKSHOPS 15:25-16:05

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

Tuesday 9 October Workshop 3

España 1

Wellbeing in the Workplace

Workshop 4

Andalusia 6-7

Reputation Management Inside Out Sponsored by

This Workshop will offer an informative, thought-provoking and interactive look at workplace wellbeing and motivation.

Ensure your people and processes don’t become your biggest reputational risk

Dr Redmond will explore the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ model, providing practical examples of how the five ways can be adopted and implemented within travel organisations. Included in his overview will be an interactive exercise for delegates to measure their own levels of wellbeing, a handy tool for delegates to take away to measure their own employees’ wellbeing.

In this Workshop, Dusty Amroliwala, Chief Operating Officer of VFS Global – one of the world’s largest know-your-customer companies – will address this question from the perspective of putting the right business strategies in place for managing people and processing risks to prevent reputational harm. In particular, he will focus on three strategic risks; migration, regulation and ‘technofraud’. Together these present something of a perfect storm. Is your organisation protected?

Following his presentation, Dr Redmond will moderate a panel discussion with industry representatives exploring: the wellbeing initiatives adopted within their organisations and more… Moderator and Presenter: Dr Paul Redmond, Director of Student Experience and Enhancement, Liverpool University

The Workshop will show how structured insights can be gained (in almost any size and type of organisation) to address the key skills and competencies that companies need to develop and retain if they are to stay one step ahead of the next major crisis.

Barbara Kolosinska, Managing Director, C&M Travel Recruitment

A panel discussion and audience Q&A will cover wider PR and reputation issues.

Jo Rzymowska, Vice President & Managing Director, UK & Ireland and Asia, Celebrity Cruises

Moderator:

Ali Teeman, Director, Client Solutions (EMEA), Lonely Planet

Alistair Pritchard, Lead Partner for Travel, Deloitte

Panel:

Speakers: Dusty Amroliwala, Chief Operating Officer, VFS Global Panel: Rachel O’Reilly, Head of Communications, Kuoni Jules Ugo, Managing Director, LOTUS

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Tuesday 9 October 16:00-20:00

Free Time and Private Events

18:30-20:00

Meet the Media Real Alcázar de Seville

THE REAL

AMERICA

Sponsored by

ICONS, LOCALS & BEYOND

Want your clients to enjoy a REAL Southern experience like a live performance from a member of Johnny Cash’s Family? They can with moments like this on all of our trips.

Join the UK’s travel media at this special reception sponsored by Trafalgar and Insight Vacations. The Reception – for ticket holders only – will take place at Seville’s Royal Alcazar, one of the world’s oldest Palaces that is still in use, which was registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Transfers will be provided to the Party in the Province at the end of the Reception. Transfers will depart from the Convention hotels at 18:00.

Advanced booking required

20:30-23:00

Party in the Province Cortijo Torre de la Reina

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Hosted by

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Tuesday night will see delegates enjoy a night of delicious food, drink and entertainment at the Cortijo Torre de la Reina (Tower of the Queen). The Party in the Province, hosted by Seville Province, will begin with a feria-themed cocktail reception in the venue’s gardens, with delegates moving into the Cortijo for an evening meal featuring traditional Spanish fayre, a flamenco show and lively ‘Sevillanas’ folk music playing throughout the evening. The evening will also feature an auction and raffle in aid of ABTA LifeLine. Transfers will depart from the Convention hotels at 20:00.

From 23:30

Convention Bar Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento

Sponsored by

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

ABTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 2018/19 ABTA runs a number of large-scale conferences for senior representatives from across the travel industry. Exceptional content: The latest market developments, industry trends and marketing and selling techniques Policy updates: Informed insights on the latest legislation Valuable networking opportunities: Meet suppliers, agents and travel industry partners

KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

2018

2019

Data protection and Management in Travel Post-GDPR

Travel Finance Conference

16 October, London

26-27 February, London

The Package Travel Regulations: Preparing for 2019

Cruise Conference

30 October, London

The UK Holiday Market

International Health and Safety Conference

13 November, Birmingham

20 March, London

The Over 50s Holiday Market

Luxury Travel Conference

29 November, London

21 March, London

ABTA Travel Trends

Crisis Management Conference

November, London

24 April, London

13 March, London

Adventure Travel Conference 8 May, London

Travel Law Seminar 22-23 May, London

Travel Matters 26 June, London

Visit: abta.com/events to find out more and register Email: events@abta.co.uk

ABTAevents

ABTA Conferences and Events

ABTA Members and Partners benefit from discounted rates. Non-Members are welcome to attend.

ABTA Conferences and Events Group discounts are available. 33

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

ABTA – The Travel Association ABTA has been a trusted travel brand for over 65 years. Our purpose is to support and promote a thriving and sustainable travel and tourism industry and to help our Members’ customers travel with confidence. The ABTA brand stands for support, protection and expertise. This means consumers have confidence in ABTA and a strong trust in ABTA Members. These qualities are core to us as they ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members. We help our Members and their customers navigate through today’s changing travel landscape by raising standards in the industry; offering schemes of financial protection; providing an independent complaints resolution service should something go wrong; giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

Meet with ABTA ABTA provides a variety of services from free legal advice, financial protection solutions and crisis management guidance to providing marketing materials to increase your profile and sales. Whether you want to pop by and say hello over a coffee, or learn more about how we can provide business support to your company, take advantage of meeting some of the ABTA team in person at The Convention. ABTA colleagues will be available during the Convention to meet delegates at the following times. You can either drop by or pre-book an appointment by sending us an email at membersinfo@abta.co.uk. Tuesday 9 October 11:10-11:50 13:00-14:00

Convention Centre Foyer Convention Centre Foyer

Wednesday 10 October 12:05-12:35 Convention Centre Foyer

Brand and Business Development

Financial Protection and Financial Services

Alice Catterall Head of Conferences and Events

Steve Abrahamson Senior Manager – Financial Protection, Risk & Membership Administration

Eve Coburn Event Manager Lucy Dean Event Manager

Jignasha Kawa Senior Financial Business Analyst

Julie Jones Senior Member Services Manager

Finance and Resources

Darren Hewitt Communications Executive

Ame Puni HR Manager

Emily Jones Media and PR Manager

Emily Dyster PA to Director of Finance and Resources and Director of Financial Protection and Financial Services

Emma Brennan Head of Media and PR Matthew Turton Sponsorship Account Director

Destinations and Sustainability Donna Boucher Destinations Executive – Health, Safety, Crisis & Operations Clare Jenkinson Senior Destinations & Sustainability Manager

Legal Services Malati Parekh Solicitor Susan Deer Senior Solicitor

Public Affairs Luke Petherbridge Senior Public Affairs Manager

ABTA LifeLine Trudie Drake Director

GOLD MEDAL AND TRAVEL 2

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

Meet the Team

Proud to support independent agents

Senior Leadership Team

Access to fares from over 135 of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading airlines and over 100,000 hotels and resorts

Tailor-made travel services to a range of long haul destinations Mark Tanzer Chief Executive

Victoria Bacon Director of Brand and Business Development

Product training to share our knowledge and expertise Simon Bunce Director of Legal Affairs

John de Vial Director of Financial Protection and Financial Services

Market leading prices

Carolyn Watson Director of Finance and Resources

Nikki White Director of Destinations and Sustainability

Call 0800 014 7777 or visit www.goldmedal.co.uk

Reward schemes so you can earn more

Call 0800 022 4182 or visit www.travel2.com

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

Lead Partner

TELEGRAPH TRAVEL: MAKE THE WORLD YOUR OWN Telegraph Travel is where our award-winning journalists take you on an exhilarating journey through inspiring lands to discover holidays and experiences that are perfectly suited to you. It is the home of the UK’s highest-quality, inspirational travel journalism and carefully crafted storytelling: news, features, advice, interviews, first person stories, analysis, comment, data and interactive tools from the best writers in the business. The trust our readers have in Telegraph Travel is based on the faces in our pages and the expertise they embody – our readers love nothing more than a recommendation from experts they recognise and trust. We aim to help our readers make the most of life, spend their money wisely, broaden their horizons, laugh, marvel and thoroughly enjoy their well-earned time off. We judge Telegraph Travel’s success at how well it builds subscriptions and at how successful it is at engaging our readers – via our digital content and our two weekly print sections on Saturdays and Sundays. We look forward to meeting you during The Travel Convention.

Facebook: Telegraphtravel Twitter: @Telegraphtravel

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Headline Partners

Avis operates from approximately 5,500 locations in more than 165 countries worldwide and is a trusted and award-winning brand with a long history of innovation in the car rental industry. One of the world’s top brands for customer loyalty, Avis has a commitment to true convenience and exceptional service and works successfully with over one hundred Tour Operators and Global Partnerships including Airlines, hotels, credit card and member schemes. Our partners recognise the importance of selecting a reputable car hire provider to form a crucial part of their benefits package for their customers. To ensure our customers enjoy a truly global service, we explore every opportunity to create and satisfy local demand everywhere we operate, choosing the rental locations most convenient for our customers. This approach has resulted in our exceptional international presence.

www.avis.co.uk Budget combines the strength of one of the world’s largest car rental brands together with detailed local knowledge, flexibility and great value for money. Budget Car Rental is one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 3,350 locations in more than 120 countries. Budget is an industry leader in providing vehicle rental services to value-conscious travellers. As our name suggests we’ve always been synonymous with great value for money. We are constantly renewing our fleet, so you will be driving some of the very latest vehicles all at low prices. Budget is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc.

www.budget.co.uk

Wherever and whenever people consume music and entertainment, we at Global, The Media & Entertainment Group are here at scale. We are home to some of the UK’s best loved radio brands – Heart, Capital, Classic FM, Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA, Gold and LBC. Across our broadcast, mobile, social and live platforms we reach 32 million people each week. Global launched DAX four years ago which is now the world’s largest programmatic digital audio platform, giving brands access to an audience of 160 million each week. Buying digital has never been simpler. DAX is a full-service platform giving travel advertisers everything they need to run effective campaigns in one, simple buy. Having entered the festivals’ business only two years ago, we are now the second largest festival operator in the UK selling more than a million tickets each year. Our varied festival portfolio attracts all demographics; from families to the millennials, from Victorious in Portsmouth to Snowbombing in Austria. At Global, we are passionate about connecting your travel brands with our audiences through the power of music and entertainment. In recognition of this, last year Campaign awarded Global Medium of the Year.

www.global.com @global

www.thisisdax.com @thisisdax

This isn’t an ordinary cruise. This is the best holiday anyone can take. This is six islands in seven days. Manta rays and Splashaway Bays. Hidden bays and West End plays. Deep dives. Sky dives. Nose dives. This is zip lines. Tan lines. Fine wines. Oh and a slide with a twist – it’s 10 storeys high. This isn’t ordinary, this is how it’s done. This is how to holiday. With a fleet of 26 innovative and spectacular ships that visit 249 destinations over 77 countries and 6 continents, we truly have a holiday to suit everyone. Over the course of The Travel Convention we’re looking forward to sharing all of our plans for the coming year with our agent partners and media. 2019 will see the addition of Spectrum of the Seas, the first in the brand new Quantum Ultra class of ships, which will boast our first private enclave for suite guests. Independence of the Seas, will be returning to the UK following this year’s multi-million pound makeover, joined by Explorer of the Seas for a summer of sailings straight from Southampton to Northern stunners and Mediterranean hotspots like gorgeous Geiranger, fascinating Florence and beautiful Barcelona. Come and see us at The Travel Convention to find out more.

www.royalcaribbean.co.uk

GROUP The UK’s market-leading travel media company, boasting a presence in print, online and with a portfolio of events res po n s i b l e t rave l e di t i o n

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Useful Information Convention App Visit the Convention website to download the Convention app, sponsored by Traveltek. The app will work on an iPhone and other smartphone devices, and will provide you with an at-a-glance guide to this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Travel Convention. It also offers you the opportunity to make contact with fellow delegates before, during and after the event*.

Sponsored by

* Note: only consenting delegates will be able to see the delegate list and contact other delegates. If you wish to amend your app consent settings, please email moreinfo@thetravelconvention.com.

Badges

Sponsored by

Please wear your badge and lanyard, sponsored by Cork Bays & Fisher, at all times during the Convention to confirm that you are a registered delegate. The organisers have the right to refuse admission, without exception, to anyone not wearing a badge. If you lose your badge, a replacement may be obtained from the Information Desk located in the Convention Centre foyer.

NAME COMPANY NAME COMPANY COMPANY COMPANY

Insurance Solutions for the UK Travel Trade Surety Bonds

Catastrophe Insurance

Public And Products Liability Insurance

Travel Industry Crisis Management Insurance

Cyber Insurance

Business Travel Insurance

Office Combined Insurance

Management Liability Insurance

Our team at the convention are experts in a variety of products ideally suited to your business. Call Cliff Flack on +44 7824 415 971 or Nic Wheele on +44 7867 785 950

Hosted Agents

Sponsored by

enquiries@corkbaysfisher.co.uk

ABTA would like to thank Trafalgar & Insight Vacations and Travel 2 & Gold Medal, for inviting their key agent partners to experience this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Travel Convention.

Dress Codes Business Sessions

Opening Ceremony and Welcome Party

Party in the Province

Business Attire

Smart/Casual

Party Wear

@thetravelconv #ABTAseville

www.corkbaysfisher.co.uk

020 7655 8080

SEVILLE // 8 -10 OCTOBER 2018

Appreciations ABTA and its Board of Directors would like to thank the following companies and individuals for their contribution towards the success of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Travel Convention.

Convention Advisory Panel

Hosts

Victoria Bacon, Director of Brand and Business Development, ABTA Ben Bouldin, Associate VP and Managing Director, Royal Caribbean Alice Catterall, Head of Conferences and Events, ABTA Giles Hawke, CEO, Cosmos Tours and Cruises Dean Harvey, Marketing Director, Kuoni Ruth Hilton, UK Sales and Business Director, Trafalgar Claire Irvin, Head of Travel Editorial, Telegraph Media Group Richard Singer, CEO, icelolly.com

Lead Partner

Andy Washington, SVP, Culture Trip Helen Tustin, General Manager, Regal Travel Ian Taylor, Executive Editor, Travel Weekly Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA

Headline Partners

Organisers and Producers

Accommodation Provider

Convention Hotels

Trade Media Partner

THE TRAVEL CONVENTION

Charismatic, flamboyant, historic, vibrant Seville

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