Thought-provoking keynotes, interviews and panels, presented virtually

Travel DAZE is going virtual. In 2020, they are committed to bringing you their usual high-quality content, but with a twist. Speakers and timings are constantly evolving - keep checking to stay in the loop.

2-6 November - 11 sessions over 5 days

PROGRAM OF SPEAKERS

Bouncing back in our own backyard: The domestic-led rebuild of Australian tourism 
Monday 2 November - 10AM AEDST

This year, Australian tourism has faced its most challenging period ever – first with the devastating summer bushfires and then with the shutdown of travel globally due to COVID-19. But, as green shoots emerge with travel restrictions easing, a domestic-led recovery will mark the steps towards rebuilding a sustainable and profitable future for Australian tourism. Hear from Tourism Australia’s managing director, Phillipa Harrison about initiatives and strategies to ensure Australia is well positioned for when travel moves beyond current crises.

Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director, Tourism Australia

Striking the right balance between environmental and economic sustainability 
Monday 2 November - 12PM AEDST

Sustainability has been on Italy’s radar for years, but having enjoyed strong tourism growth prior to COVID-19, the country was challenged by overtourism in its arts cities. However, the pandemic has provided an opportunity for the popular European destination to reset its focus on sustainability and approach it in the right way. Maria Elena Rossi, Marketing and Promotion Director at the Italian National Tourist Board, explains how the organisation plans to strike the right balance between environmental and economic sustainability in the ‘new normal’.
Maria Elena Rossi, Marketing and Promotion Director, Italian National Tourist Board

The future of agents, agencies and AFTA
Monday 2 November - 2PM AEDST

It has been a trying year for travel agents, and no one has been hit harder by COVID-19 than the Australian travel sector. New AFTA chief executive Darren Rudd joined the organisation at its most challenging time, and brought with him passion, vision and a fresh perspective which as united member businesses in the fight for sector-specific support in a way that has never been done before. Join this session to hear an industry-specific update on the evolving work AFTA has been doing to save the sector.
Darren Rudd, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Federation of Travel Agents in conversation

Executing a multi-stage recovery plan
Tuesday 3 November - 10AM AEDST

With international borders closed to Fiji, the country’s tourism board is firmly focused on navigating its way through the COVID-19 pandemic as it implements its four-stage Market Re-entry Plan to get the local tourism industry back on its feet. And, as the tourism industry contributes close to 40 per cent of Fiji’s GDP, a lot is riding on it. Tourism Fiji CEO Matthew Stoeckel will provide an update on the progress of the organisation’s recovery plan, as well as some valuable tips for other destination marketers.
Matt Stoeckel, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Fiji in conversation

How to reorganise, pivot and grow in a pandemic
Wednesday 4 November - 10AM AEDST

Accor is one of the many hospitality companies that has felt the heavy impact of COVID-19. Find out how the hotel giant has modified its development and growth strategy to come out of the pandemic a stronger and more resilient company, and what this means for Accor’s future plans in the APAC region.
Sébastien Bazin, Chief Executive Officer, Accor in conversation

Hand in hand: How Intrepid Travel is helping Peru maintain its sustainable tourism focus
Wednesday 4 November - 12PM AEDST

This session will delve into Peru’s recovery plan from COVID-19 and why sustainable tourism is a key pillar of this. It will also explore how Intrepid is playing a crucial part in Peru’s recovery and evolution as a sustainable tourist destination.
Mario Vargas, Trade Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand, Promperu and Sarah Clark, Managing Director, APAC, Intrepid Group in conversation

‘Bubble’ talk: How Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand are preparing for two-way travel
Wednesday 4 November - 2PM AEDST

With certain parts of Australia welcoming Kiwi travellers again, it will only be a matter of time before Aussies are heading back across the ditch. This session will explore how Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand are readying themselves for the eventual tourism rebound, and what travel agents can be doing now to make the most of the upcoming trans-Tasman opportunities.
René de Monchy, Director of Commercial, Tourism New Zealand and Kathryn Robertson, Regional General Manager, Australia, Air New Zealand in conversation

Setting the course: How the cruise industry is laying new foundations for the future
Thursday 5 November - 10AM AEDST

Cruise lines have enlisted medical experts from around the world as they respond to COVID-19, developing extensive new measures to uphold the health of passengers, crew and the communities they visit. As the first cruises begin to resume in regions like Europe and Asia, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Global Chairman Adam Goldstein discusses the global effort to create new industry-wide health measures and what cruise lines are doing to support a carefully-phased resumption in our own part of the world.

Adam Goldstein, Global Chair, Cruise Lines International Association in conversation

Applying the ‘rear-view mirror rule’ in 2020
Thursday 5 November - 12PM AEDST

The hotel industry has been flipped on its head after a turbulent 2020 and, like so many organisations, hotel operators have had to re-think their businesses at every level. This has presented enormous challenges but, equally, some positive opportunities to focus more on the things that really matter, including people, sustainability and the communities in which the hotels operate. Karina O’Gorman, IHG’s Head of Corporate Responsibility for EMEAA, Global Community Impact and ESG Reporting & Engagement, shares some insights around what the short- and long-term legacy of 2020 will be, and how IHG has applied the ‘rear-view mirror rule’ to ensure that it can look back and be confident in how it managed through the industry’s most challenging year on record.
Karina O’Gorman, Head of Corporate Responsibility, InterContinental Hotels Group

Tourism, the natural world and a sustainable post-COVID future for both
Friday 6 November - 10AM AEDST

While the travel industry hopes to get back on its feet as quickly as possible, it must ensure the path to recovery is without detriment to the environment. This session will explore how tourism and the natural world can coexist respectfully and sustainably in a post-COVID world, and what the industry can do to protect wildlife and their habitats moving forward.
Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, UN Messenger of Peace, Ethologist and Conservationist and Bruce Poon Tip, Founder, G Adventures in conversation

Flight Centre’s five-year recovery roadmap
Friday 6 November - 12PM AEDST

Flight Centre Travel Group has been forced to make many tough business decisions as a result of COVID-19, including redundancies, retail store closures, the sale of the company’s Melbourne office, and the closing of multiple brands. Graham “Skroo” Turner will talk in depth about Flight Centre’s path to recovery, as well as tackle some of the big picture questions that many in the industry are seeking answers to.
Graham Turner, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Flight Centre Travel Group

TRAVEL DAZE 2020

Event enquiries:
Nicolle Lawson, Senior Producer
nicolle@travelweekly.com.au
Website: https://traveldaze.com.au/
Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au