Focus Leaders Conference 2023 Programme

think forward focus now

thinkforward focusnow

welcome...

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 2023 Focus Leaders Conference. Our great friends at Etihad are sharing their Legends Suite with us at the Etihad Stadium where we really embrace not just the first class hospitality of Etihad, but also the competitive edge of one of football's finest teams (note, I said one of them ��).

I would firstly like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors Etihad Airways, Travelport and Procon Solutions - this event would not be possible without their support. We also encourage you to scan the Trees4Travel QR code so we can offset everyone's travel, this can be done on the day or you can find it at this back of this programme.

'Think Forward, Focus Now' has been designed to challenge you to think ahead as well as focusing on the daily complexities that this post-pandemic period delivers to us all. Building back from the pandemic is great but not without its challenges. As a like minded community, days like today bring clarity in the sense of togetherness and there will be commonality in our wins and losses. The experiences of success and of frustrations will ring familiar with us all which is why that sense of 'in this together' shouldn’t fade but strengthen as we bounce back together, stronger.

Abby Penston CEO Focus Travel Partnership

What does the next 12 months ahead look like for us all, both in and out of our work environment? Are we feeling more stable? Are we feeling more optimistic? Where are the opportunities?

I invite you to join us all today to 'Think Forward and Focus Now'.

need to know

where & getting there

The conference is taking place at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester on 22 March 2023

Full Address: Ashton New Road, Manchester M11 3FF

Suite: Legends Suite, South Stand

Parking

Complimentary parking is available on site and delegates should drive into the Etihad Campus via GATE 7, just off Ashton New Road (A662) and in C or D (grey car park)

Satnav code: M11 3DL

Tram

From Manchester Piccadilly station, board the tram to Ashton-Under-Lyne or Etihad Campus

The journey takes around 8 minutes and the reception is a short walk from the tram stop

For more details on this, please visit the Metrolink website: www.metrolink.co.uk

Please note that you must buy a ticket before boarding the tram - tickets are available on most tram platforms and machines take card payments

need to know

when 22 March 2023, 10:00 - 18:00

dress code We want you to feel comfortable but focussed throughout the day, so please wear something to allow this No sportswear is allowed security

Upon arrival, visitors will be asked to undergo a quick bag search before they enter the stadium and walk through a security scanner house rules The venue have a strict no smoking policy within the stadium

Please ask a member of the Manchester City Stadium team to locate the nearest smoking area on the day Access to the pitch and other areas of the stadium is strictly forbidden unless you are accompanied by a member of the stadium staff or a tour guide

10:00-10:30

Collect your badge and a tea/coffee ready to start your day

Please check your badge to find your table number

Registration 93:20 10:30-10:40

10:40-11:00

Welcome Legends Suite Legends Suite

Climbing to New Heights

Once the fastest growing airline company on earth, Etihad Aviation Group experienced challenging times in recent years ranging from market conditions to the impact of the global pandemic. Now, three years into a five year recovery plan the airline is back with a strong recovery in passenger operations along with a significant improvement in financial performance.

What lessons have been learnt? What challenges does the airline see ahead? How will it differentiate itself in a very competitive market? And what does the future hold for the airline?

Martin Drew, Senior VP Sales & Cargo, Etihad Airways, joins us for a wide ranging and frank interview about the airline’s exciting plans for the future across business travel and the global aviation sector.

Welcome from your Focus CEO - Abby Penston and conference moderator - Steve Dunne

11:00-12:00

Come Buy With Me – Who Owns Travel Retailing? Legends Suite

As a concept, New Distribution Capability, isn’t so new. It’s been around for over a decade. But where are we now when it comes to travel retailing and distribution? Why has it taken so long? Will it ever expand beyond the airline sector? How will blockchain, Web 3 and artificial intelligence impact it? How will this all benefit the TMC? Our panel of experts, from every part of the distribution chain will debate this and more.

12:00-14:00

Enjoy networking with key suppliers over a tasty lunch

TMCs will be heading off for their tours at separate times - please see your badge to find out which group you are in Legends Suite 14:00-14:15

Hear the latest from our headline sponsor Travelport with Louise Holbrook & Kelly Thompson

14:15-15:15

Don't give up at half time - Gavin Makel Legends Suite

Having emerged into the mainstream in recent years, women’s football is a game on an upward trajectory. The success of the Lionesses in the European Championships of 2022; the growing recognition and following within sports fans and the wider public and the exposure of the sport through clubs like Manchester City (and others) has changed perceptions and fortunes for the better. How did this come? What does the future hold and how can the sport build on its success? What are the lessons that have been learnt? And what can be applied to the wider business World?

Focus Awards Legends Suite

15:15-15:30

New for 2023, we introduce the Focus awards recognising the leaders in our Partnership

15:30-17:00

Various Closed Session/Stadium Tour

TMCs to stay in the room for your closed session

Suppliers to head to 93:20 to start your stadium tour or catch up on emails using the stadium free Wi-Fi

speakers

Abby Penston, CEO, Focus Travel Partnership

Abby started her career n the hospital ty sector with Pubmaster in 1995, and moved into technical services in 2005 for a FSTE 100 company where she ran merger operat onal projects and looked after over 274 FTEs from field-based engineers to Contact Centre personnel, where she stayed for 8 years. Abby is a qualified Lean and Prince 2 manager and it was these sk lls that led her back into the trave industry working for a TMC as Director of Business Travel in 2013 Since then Abby set up her own strategic consu tancy company, before becoming Focus CEO in November 2019 when they became their lim ted company. Abby’s role ncludes dr ving the brand, growth and strength of the organisation. In 2021 Abby was awarded the Resi ience Award by the ITM for her continued contr bution to the industry throughout the Covid-19 pandem c.

Martin Drew, Senior VP Sales & Cargo, Etihad Airways

Martin was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President – Sales & Cargo Etihad Aviation Group in November 2020. As a member of the Etihad Av at on Group Execut ve Management team, Martin oversees Passenger sales, Etihad Cargo and Etihad Secure Logistics, in addition to several bus ness development opportun ties at the Abu Dhabi hub

Steve Dunne, Moderator

Steve Dunne s a PR and marketing specialist with over 40 years of experience within corporate and agency. Steve started as a 16 year o d apprent ce in the corporate press office of Brit sh Telecom (then the UK’s second largest company) He rose to the rank of Head of Corporate Communications by the age of 24. Subsequently he went on to head PR and communicat ons at HSBC and then led South African Airways' globa communications in the mid 1990s. Steve has also run four PR and market ng consultancies and was a founder of the UK’s biggest travel and leisure marketing and PR consultancy - Brighter Group. Steve s also founder and CEO of Digital Drums Ltd, a leading strategy and training company. As a trainer, Steve is much in demand and has trained organisations as varied as the Prime Minister's Office, the Royal Navy, tourist boards, blue chip plc's, charit es, PR consultanc es, airlines, hotel groups and retail chains. He is a fellow of the PRCA and a Travel Weekly columnist.

W th more than 20 years of experience in the av at on industry, Martin has served various leadership roles across the cargo and aviation industry, includ ng Etihad, DAS Air Cargo, ANA Aviation Serv ces and Lufthansa Cargo. Before serving as Managing Director, Martin headed Et had Airways’ global sales organisation across 17 countr es in Europe and the Americas, including Passenger Sales, Marketing and All ances w th a revenue budget of USD1 65bn During this time, he significantly improved the quality of business by reducing dependence on low yielding through higher premium revenues, increased corporate traffic and a better channel mix Mart n also served as Vice President Cargo at Jet Airways where he defined, developed and led a winning strategy for the compan es’ long-term cargo business growth, in line with the airline's overall bus ness ob ectives.

From 2005 – 2014, he held various senior posit ons at Etihad Cargo. During this time, he headed all commercial freighter activ ties and was responsible for freighter network plann ng, managing the airlines strategic fleet development whi st formu at ng and executing business strateg es.

speakers

Jack Ramsey, CEO, TripStax

Jack is the vibrant and forward-thinking leader of TripStax. He s also a Company D rector and sits on the TripStax Board of D rectors. He has an impressive track record n the B2B travel technology sector Jack’s career inc udes eight years at Travelport, starting in sales support and working his way up through diverse commercial roles to run a global commercial team.

In 2020, he joined ATPI as a technology and investment consultant where the opportunity evolved to spearhead the creation of Tr pStax. Known for h s collaborat ve, hard-working and bold approach, Jack’s ambition is to grow Tr pStax nto an ndustry leading brand and tech platform that p oneers the evo ution of B2B travel

Omri Amsalem, Co- Founder, Atriis

Working and founding travel companies in different spaces for the last 12 years.

Since 2018 dr ving with Atr is an exciting transformation journey in the corporate travel space, growing the company amaz ngly by +400% throughout Covid-19 unprecedented times.

Introducing Corporates, TMCs and Suppl ers with a d s ntermediated and agnost c model to engage and manage the r relationship, everaging the Atr is’ collaborative Corporate Travel platform

Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travelport

Jason was appointed to his current role in September 2018 and is responsible for leading Travelport’s Travel Partners organ zation global y. Jason’s remit covers commercia accountabil ty for all providers of air, car, and hotel content In addition, he eads the commerc al sales efforts for our d gital and airlines solut ons, business ntelligence and d gital media business units

Jason has spent more than 30 years in the travel and technology sector, and over 15 years at Travelport. He has a wea th of industry know edge and commercial experience, having prev ously lead the global agency sales organization, the global customer serv ce and operations organization, and played a key role n the acquisitions and merger of businesses that formed Travelport Pr or to Travelport, he held senior roles at Sabre and Thomas Cook

Jason is passionate about customers and employees He has delivered business growth and customer service mprovements over his tenure, built on strong and strategic business relationship and has initiated leading talent development programs to drive employee engagement and growth.

Yanik Hoyles, Director Distribution, IATA

Yanik is an airline industry professional w th over 30 years’ experience, most of which was gained at British Airways where he began as Sen or Manager Revenue Management. This was followed by positions as Area Commercial Manager based in Stockholm, Frankfurt and Par s During his last two years at British Airways, he also held a senior leadership role in the area of catering and supply chain management.

Yanik joined IATA n May 2011 where he was accountable for leading and coordinating the development of new industry solutions and services. In this role, he aunched the IATA Think Tank and the World Passenger (now A rline Industry Reta ling) Symposium Since July 2013 he has been leading the New Distribution Capab lity Program and in January 2019 he was appointed as Director, Industry Distribution Programs, encompassing NDC and ONE Order. Since May 2020 he has led the newly created Distribution department, charged with guiding IATA members in their journey to realize the benefits of Airline Retailing.

Over the past 10 years in IATA, Yan k and his team have led the industry through s gnificant transformation and built credib lity and trust among a very broad group of ndustry stakeholders from airlines to technology providers, travel agents, corporate buyers and more.

speakers

Louise Holbrook, Senior Account Manager, Travelport

Louise has been with Travelport for over 4 years and has experience in Global Distribution Systems spanning over 16 years. She lives on Hove seafront and enjoys travelling to new destinations, attending music concerts, tennis, scuba-diving and wine tasting. Previously to starting her career in travel Louise used to be a professional singer and is trained in opera singing. She boasts a positive outlook in life by living by 'see the good side of everything you have'

Thompson, Customer Success Manager, Travelport

Kelly started her travel career in 1986, starting in reservations and working her way up through more technical roles. She has been with Travelport for over 3 years and actively helps TMCs utilise the entire Travelport Technology suite.

Kelly lives in a small village who enjoys crafting with various materials and textures. She is married with two children and their cat.

Gavin Makel, Managing Director, Manchester City Woman's Football Club

Gavin has over 10 years of experience of working within a professional football club environment. He has been in his current roles since 2020, where his responsibilities include managing the day-to-day business of the operation. This includes, and is not limited to, player recruitment, marketing strategy, finance management and match day operations. This role has lead him to take up a position within the Leadership Team at the club as well as acting as previously as a club representative for the FA Women's Management Committee and the ECA Women's Task Force which he currently sits on.

Kelly

sustainability

How we have made this conference as sustainable as possible.

Majority of Focus Travel staff have travelled by train, or in low emission cars

Hotel accommodation was at a brand new hotel which boasts sustainable working practises

We have used a recycled and unbranded stage set, meaning this can be used by other clients before and after us

We don't use conference specific pop-up banners - using generic pop-ups means we can use these again and again

Recognise your name badge? This is because we use the same ones over and over again so don't forget to hand it in once the day is over Reading this digitally - that's right, we don't print our programmes to save on paper, ink and electricity

You didn't even realise that you didn't get a welcome bag did you? We cut these out again to save on plastic and wastage

We have partnered with Trees4Travel who, by scanning this QR code will kindly offset your travel.