Several speakers that will form part of the seminar programme at the British Tourism and Travel Show 2021 have been named.
The group travel trade show will be staged on 22 and 23 September at the NEC Birmingham. Its seminar lineup will see sector leaders present to visitors the latest tourism trends, support resources, recovery strategies, innovations and compliance measures “to optimise tour planners’ restarts, itineraries and operational prowess,” organiser Diversified Communications says.
Speakers and subjects that will form part of the seminar programme include:
- Vicky Parr, Business Support Manager at VisitEngland, who will provide insights on the recovery of the tourism industry and discuss support resources available to drive business growth and productivity
- Kurt Janson, Director at Tourism Alliance, will share insights about recent changes in customer behaviour and discuss what customers are now looking for in a holiday, and how to respond moving forwards
- Anthony Rawlins, Digital Visitor CEO, will share his thoughts on the opportunities for UK tourism and strategies that will help the tourism ecosystem to thrive. Visitors will learn how to secure off-peak bookings, strategies for long-term growth and how to maintain domestic audiences once international travel returns
- Mark Purchase, Confederation of Passenger Transport Operations Manager, will discuss post-Brexit coach operations into Europe following the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU. Visitors will learn how to stay compliant, how to make the most of opportunities and how to understand potential pitfalls
- Wendy Hartley-Scarff, AGTO CEO, will present on innovation in group travel. She will look at how the industry has adapted to the COVID-19 crisis and how destinations have, or have not, changed their behaviour. Visitors will learn about innovations and how to work with them, how not to conduct business and about continuing developments
- Alice Aubrey, Georgia Aubrey and Fed Pereira, founders of Lovetovisit and who have over 30 years’ combined experience in the tourism and culture industry, will share insights about reaching new audiences, engaging with core audiences and how to be more proactive regarding diversity and inclusivity
- Krystene Bousfield, Senior Associate Solicitor at Travlaw LLP, will deliver a whistle-stop tour of the key provisions of the travel sector’s most important piece of legislation: The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
Says Event Manager Lloyd Jones: “This year’s event comes at an opportune time for the tourism industry, as it emerges from an immensely challenging 18 months and looks ahead to growth and recovery.
“In addition to providing valuable networking opportunities and inspiration for tours and excursions from 250 exhibiting organisations, we have put together this year’s keynote programme with a focus on delivering actionable insights for visitors.”
Further sessions will be announced soon, the organiser adds. Full information on the British Tourism and Travel Show, including how to obtain free tickets, can be found here.
Separately, Diversified has announced that BTTS will not be held in 2022. Instead, it will return to its traditional March place on the calendar from 2023.
