Business Sessions
Moderated by Tim Hames, Chief Leader Writer, The Times
TUESDAY 10 JUNE
09:00
CONFERENCE OPENING
Trevor Harding, ITT President
09:15
ROUTE DEVELOPMENT – THE FINAL FRONTIER
John Grant, Managing Director, Airport Strategy and Marketing Ltd
An overview of markets shows that tour operators are not sufficiently proactive in route development. In fact, it’s the low cost airlines who are leading the way in opening up the new tourist routes – tour operators are merely following their lead. John Grant will look at how to get more active involvement from tour operators and form successful working partnerships.
Click here for John's presentation.
09:35
NEW FACES
Penny Wilson, Editor in Chief, Travel Weekly (Chair)
Nick Hughes, Chief Executive, Kuoni
Keith Stanley, Chief Executive, Stella Travel Services
Peter Owen, Chief Executive, XL
Peter Brown Chief Executive, Monarch Airlines
The speakers on this year’s panel are all relatively new to their respective companies. What do they think of the UK travel industry and what changes will they be making? It will be interesting to get their views of the industry from an ‘outsider’s’ perspective, and how they would like to see things going forward.
10:25
THE CUSTOMER AIRPORT EXPERIENCE
Andrew Cornish, Managing Director, Manchester Airport
There has been a lot of public criticism of airports and airport security, especially since the attempted terrorist attacks of August 2006 and the ill fated opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Research has shown that a significant number of people are now choosing not to fly specifically to avoid the stress of boarding a plane. Andrew Cornish will voice the airport’s side of the story, detailing the historical problems and revealing the work and investment being put in to easing the customer airport experience.
Click here for Andrew's presentation.
10:55
COFFEE
Sponsored by: Hermes Airport
11:20
CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER
Peter Stewart, Partner, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
Rhys Griffiths, Solicitor, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
This session will explain the background to the introduction of the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act. There will be a focus on the modern legal and commercial approach to "safety culture" within organisations; and upon the extent of the reach of the Act – for example, what happens when a death occurs overseas? Peter and Rhys will also deal briefly with the risk and the exposure to individuals as opposed to companies, and with the radical new proposals for sentencing.
12:00
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF TRAVEL BY SEA
William Gibbons, Director, UK Passenger Shipping Association / Director, European Cruise Council
Carol Marlow, President & Managing Director, Cunard Line
David Dingle, Chief Executive, Carnival Cruise Lines
Simon Johnson, Sales & Marketing Director, P&O Ferries
The Passenger Shipping Association celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, and with the spectacular growth of passenger travel by sea, this session will look at the cruise and ferry sectors - their increasing significance in the travel industry and the market dynamics and industry economics that underly the ongoing trends.
Click here for the session presentation.
12:50
OFF THE RECORD
The Rt.Hon. John Prescott MP
Sponsored by: Manchester Airport Group
John Prescott has been a major figure in the Labour Party for over three decades. When the Labour Government was elected in 1997, he became Deputy Prime Minister - a post which he held for over ten years. He has also been Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, as well as First Secretary of State. He will retire at the next General Election after nearly 40 years in the House of Commons. Prompted by his memoirs published at the end of May, he’ll have plenty to talk about in his ‘Off The Record’ session.
13:50
CLOSING REMARKS
WEDNESDAY 11 JUNE
09:30
FACE TO FACE WITH IAN McCAIG
Ian McCaig, Chief Executive, lastminute.com
Simon Ferguson, Publishing Director, TW Group
The multi-award winning lastminute.com is one of the most popular travel and leisure sites in the UK. Ian McCaig joined the company in 2003, handpicked to be Founder Brent Hoberman’s successor. Ian has helped to dramatically grow the business and overseen the purchase and implementation of 14 leading European businesses. Since being appointed Group CEO in May 2006, Ian has steered lastminute.com to its most successful period, with the online business fast approaching an incredibly impressive 2.5 million visitors a week. Simon Ferguson will be talking to Ian about his career in the travel industry.
10:30
VIEW FROM THE PLATFORM
Nick Mercer, Commercial Director, Eurostar Group/Eurostar UK
The Eurostar/St Pancras initiative has marked a new phase in train travel. With concerns about the environment, not to mention the stress of modern airports, passengers are increasingly looking to the trains to provide a viable alternative. Train travel is a fast growing part of the travel industry and Nick Mercer will examine how international travel hs changed since the opening of St Pancras.
Click here for Nick's presentation.
10:50
GLOBAL RADIO: WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
John Legg, Sales Director, Global Radio
In this fun session, Global Radio will demonstrate how radio can effectively create an emotional connection between your brand and your consumers by engaging listeners through the power of sound. John Legg will illustrate how radio can be used effectively to build your brand and generate return on investment driving real business results. Music to your ears!
11:35
COFFEE
Sponsored by: Sixt Rent-A-Car
12:05
TRAVEL ALMANAC
Ben Schott, Author
Sponsored by: First Rate Exchange Services
Ben Schott is the author of the international bestseller Schott's Original Miscellanies, and its sequels on Food & Drink, and Sporting, Gaming & Idling. He currently writes for the London Times and New York Times, and edits the bestselling yearbook Schott's Almanac. In his presentation, Ben will introduce the "miscellany mindset" and present a kaleidoscope of curiosities on the subject of travel and tourism - from what Churchill thought of Calcutta and Quentin Crisp thought of "abroad", to how different races greet each other and the geographical origins of the Wombles.
12:35
THE WAR FOR TALENT
Sir Ken Robinson
This is a session you can’t afford to miss! Sir Ken Robinson has the ability to hold an audience enthralled whilst conveying powerful and inspirational messages with extraordinary warmth, passion and wit. Your company must find new ways to succeed in a world that is changing faster than ever before. Your long-term success will depend more and more on continuous creativity and consistent innovation. Ken will show how to engage the creative talents of your organisation which will have major benefits in improving motivation, loyalty and retention.
13:50
CHAIRMAN’S CLOSING REMARKS
Steven Freudmann, Chairman, ITT
14:00
CONFERENCE ENDS