World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, has once again lined up some of the hotel sector’s most influential executives for its WTM 2011 Hotels Programme.
This year’s Hotels Programme, sponsored by Bloomberg, includes speakers from some of the best-known and most innovative property groups in the world, including Rezidor, Hilton Worldwide and Corinthia.
The 2011 programme, which takes place over two days at WTM, kicks off on Tuesday, November 8, with a session called Emerging investment. Opportunities for the Hotel Market.
Hilton Worldwide Vice President, Development, Nick Smart; Royal Bank of Scotland Senior Corporate Director and Head of Hotel Finance, Peter Anscomb; HVS Managing Director, Russell Kett; Rezidor Chief Operating Officer, Wolfgang Neumann and former Hilton Group Chief Executive and current Institute of Hospitality President, Sir David Michels are all lined up to speak during the session.
That is followed by a topical look at how the hospitality sector will fare following the Olympic and Paralympic Games. British Tourism Week Chairman, David Curtis-Brignell; Olympic Park Legacy Company Executive Director of Operations and Venues, Malcolm Ross and W Hospitality Group owner Trevor Ward, will discuss the legacy of London 2012 in a session called When the Party’s Over.
The topic of risk management will be discussed on Wednesday November 9, in a session entitled: Long term risk management – tourism recovery, going beyond security, chaired by Institute of Hospitality Chief Executive Officer, Philippe Rossiter.
He will oversee a debate from a panel of high-profile experts, made up of Rezidor Vice President, Corporate Safety & Security, Paul Moxness; Corinthia CEO, Tony Potter and Dr Alexander Paraskevas, Senior Lecturer in Strategic Risk Management Faculty of Business (Department of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management) Oxford Brookes University.
Rossiter will also chair the next session, Human capital – a look at the changing nature of the Hospitality Labour Force – managing the labour market. Two recruitment experts – Liz Hartstone, Managing Director of Profile Management & Specialist Recruitment and Sean Wheeler, Area Director of Human Resources for the Dorchester Collection – will join Gleneagles Hotels chairman Peter Lederer.
Linking in with the previous debate, Huw O’Connor, Co-founder of hospitality and technology company MOOW and Stephen Minall, Director/Owner of Moving Food/Wrapid, will discuss the pros and cons of technological advances in a session called Evolving technologies replacing human contact – improving service or diluting relationships.
Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market Simon Press said: “Once again, the stellar line up means WTM Hotels Programme is proving to be a must-attend event, with plenty of relevant content and first-class speakers who really know their stuff. You can’t afford to miss it.”
Lindsey Oliver, Commercial Director at Bloomberg Television, said: “The sponsorship of the Hotels Programme at this year’s World Travel Market fits perfectly with Bloomberg Television’s worldwide reach and brand positioning.
“Our extensive coverage and analysis of international business news and stories of global importance has always positioned us as the leading international business channel for the business traveller audience as well as business decision makers and senior executives.
“We look forward to a lively and informative discussion with some of the key players from the tourism sector to discuss the emerging investment opportunities for the hotel market.”
The two-day Hotels Programme will be followed on Thursday, November 10 by the WTM Hotel Distribution Summit in association with Genesys – the Travel Technology Consultancy.
