WTTC President Julia Simpson and Sustainability Guru Bruce Poon Tip Among Speakers Announced for UK's Inaugural TravMedia Summit

Summit focused on 'Sustainability and the Future of Travel' kicks off IMM 2024 at QEII Centre (19-20 February 2024)

TravMedia UK has today announced WTTC President Julia Simpson, Sustainability guru Bruce Poon Tip, and Caribbean Tourism Organisation CEO Dona Regis-Prosper among a dazzling speaker line-up for its first-ever Summit in the UK.

The Summit, a fixture of IMMs around the world, takes place on the morning of Monday 19 February, the first day of IMM 2024 at the QEII Centre in London (www.travmedia.com/immuk). The stand-alone conference will be followed by the first-day IMM Lunch, then a full afternoon of exhibitor appointments for the media and influencers.

Day two features appointments throughout the day, the second IMM Lunch and a post-event drinks reception to close the show.

Julia Simpson, WTTC president opens The Summit with an address on the industry's future roadmap.

Prior to joining the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Simpson was on the boards of British Airways and Iberia and previously held public roles including Senior Adviser to the UK Prime Minister.

Entrepreneur, leader, and philanthropist, Bruce Poon Tip closes the morning as Keynote Speaker. He will be interviewed by Juliet Kinsman, high-profile travel writer, broadcaster and Condé Nast Traveller Sustainability Editor.

The day's first panel session 'Travel in 10 Years | AI, Behaviours, Trends' combines top industry analyst David Goodger, Director of Tourism Economics, Oxford Economics; AI specialist, Andy Owen Jones, Co-Founder and Managing Director of SMARTSEER GmbH, and comms supremo Caroline Moultrie, Managing Director of MMGY Worldwide.

'The Future of Long Haul' is the second debate, looking at how sustainability, transportation and other factors will shape future travel plans. The session will feature Dona Regis-Prosper, newly appointed Secretary General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, and the first woman in that role; Claire Ross, Sustainability Director, DER Touristik UK, and Hazel McGuire, General Manager, UK & Ireland, Intrepid Travel. The session will be moderated by Richard Hammond, Editor of Green Traveller magazine and Executive Videographer, Green Traveller Productions.

The final panel session 'The Page Turns | The Travel Media's Next 10 Years' features top travel editors George Kipouros, Editor in Chief & CEO, Wanderlust; Lisa Minot, Head of Travel, The Sun, and Thomas Midulla, Editor in Chief at NetJets, the Magazine (Europe & USA), and International Editorial Director at Centurion & Departures Magazines. The debate is moderated by Paul Charles, CEO and Founder, The PC Agency, a former journalist turned industry communications head.

The inaugural TravMedia Summit in the UK concludes with a much-anticipated session featuring Bruce Poon Tip. Bruce is the founder of community tourism pioneer G Adventures, creator of the Planeterra Foundation – leveraging tourism for global social good – and executive producer of the acclaimed film, 'The Last Tourist'.

He has addressed the United Nations and global corporations, delivered TED keynotes, received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, been EY Entrepreneur of the Year on three occasions, and is a New York Times Best-Selling author.

Juliet Kinsman has been an editor, journalist and broadcaster for almost three decades. She's Sustainability Editor of Condé Nast Traveller, and the driving force behind The Standard's new sustainable-travel channel and six-part podcast. Kinsman has written for a plethora of media titles, guidebooks and was Founding editor of Mr & Mrs Smith.

Last year's IMM drew a record-breaking attendance of over 500 PR professionals, journalists, and influencers, who held more than 10,000 pre-scheduled meetings.

Journalists checking in to last year's show represented media titles including The Times, The Telegraph, The Sun, The i, Daily Mail, National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, JRNY, CNN Travel, France Magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, Cruise Adviser, loveEXPLORING, TTG, OutThere, Good Housekeeping, and Bella magazine.

Brands at the show included Tourism Australia, VisitEngland, Explore France, Visit Orlando, Expedia, Princess Cruises, Flight Centre and over 150 other industry organisations. Exhibitor highlights in 2023 included major delegations from France, Australia, USA, and Canada. The event enjoyed headline sponsorship from Australia with other sponsors including Flight Centre, Azerbaijan Tourism Board, Pure Michigan & Visit Detroit, and VisitEngland.

Now in its 12th year, IMM is established as the must-attend annual event for travel and tourism brands to make media connections, nurture established relationships, and catch up with industry friends.

Louise Napier, TravMedia UK's Managing Director, said: “The Summit has proved a massive success at IMMs worldwide, and we are thrilled to launch our version with such a spectacular line-up of speaking talent. The day will generate an intense debate on the biggest issues facing our industry.”

IMM 2024 will provide exhibitors with an exponential return on investment from two highly productive days of activity. Timed, pre-scheduled 15-minute meetings between exhibitors and journalists remain the cornerstone of the event. Alongside breakfasts and lunches, and socialising at the IMM evening drinks party at the end of day one, the event will introduce further breaks between meetings – providing more focus in the meetings and further informal networking.

TravMedia UK launched IMM in 2013. The event has evolved globally to become the world's leading show connecting the travel industry with the media. IMM is operated by TravMedia, the global network connecting the travel industry with the media and content creators.

* Tags: #travel, #travel event, #exhibition, #sustainability, #IMM, #IMM UK, #TravMedia, #TravMedia UK, #green travel, #networking, #journalists, #media, #PR, #London, #QEII Centre
* Mark Tilley at mark.tilley@travmedia.com
* Louise Napier at louise.napier@travmedia.com