GLOBAL SUMMIT 2021 26-27 April, Cancun, Mexico Speakers are subject to change Session times are in Cancun local Time
DAY 1: MONDAY 26 APRIL
09.45 – 10.15 OPENING CEREMONY
Christopher J. Nassetta, Chair, World Travel & Tourism Council and President & Chief Executive Officer, Hilton Carlos Manuel Joaquin Gonzalez, Governor of Quintana Roo
10.15 –10.30 OPENING SPEECH
Gloria Guevara, President & Chief Executive Officer, World Travel & Tourism Council Miguel Torruco, Secretary of Tourism of Mexico
10.30 – 11.25 SESSION 1 – THE BIG PICTURE
10.30 – 11.05 Panel: COVID-19, From Start to Present
In the span of a few months in the first part of 2020, the world shifted. COVID-19 has caused incredible tragedy, while altering our way of life dramatically. The Travel & Tourism sector has been tremendously impacted. Seemingly overnight, hundreds of countries halted international travel. In 2020, 62 million Travel & Tourism jobs were lost and $4.5 trillion in global GDP. Yet our sector has remained steadfast in the face of adversity. With the Coronavirus front and centre, what has the sector learned from previous crises, how far have we come, and what can we do to recover as swiftly as possible from this crisis?
Arnold Donald, President & Chief Executive Officer, Carnival Corporation Greg O’Hara, Founder and Managing Partner, Certares Rita Marques, Secretary of State of Tourism of Portugal José Reynoso del Valle, Executive Vice-President and Chief Revenue Officer, Telmex Matthew Upchurch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Virtuoso
Moderated by: Kathleen Matthews, Journalist & WTTC Ambassador
11:05– 12:05 Flash Learnings: From Impact to Recovery
Leaders will share their experiences, insights and learnings in addressing COVID-19 and accelerating the recovery of their segment or industry.
Keynote 1: Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer, InterContinental Hotels Group Keynote 2: Ariane Gorin, President, Business Services, Expedia
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11.25– 12.05 STRATEGIC INSIGHT SESSIONS IN PARALLEL
1. Reshaping a Shared Future: The North American Story
While states and nations in North America undertook very different crisis response strategies, the region was consistent in its sharp focus to stabilise local economies, support business continuity, and preserve employment. Generating over US$ 240 billion in visitor spend in 2019, the region is a prime destination. In fact, Canada, Mexico and the United States ranked in the top 15 countries in terms of Travel & Tourism contribution to GDP. As we look back to move forward, what lessons have North American nations learned and how are these reshaping the future of Travel & Tourism in the region?
Alex Zozaya, Executive Chairman, Apple Leisure Group J.D. O’Hara, Chief Executive Officer, Internova Travel Group Robin Tauck, Co-Owner, Tauck Inc; Chairman, Tourism Cares USA Fred Dixon, President & Chief Executive Officer, NYC & Company Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer, Travelport
Moderated by: Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Weekly
2. Tales from the East: Asia-Pacific’s Path to Recovery and Beyond
Over the last decade, the Asia-Pacific region has been a driver of Travel & Tourism growth, accounting for 33% of total outbound Travel & Tourism spend in 2019. This growth was put to a sudden halt due to COVID-19, resulting in prolonged international border closures and the loss of over 34 million Travel & Tourism jobs in Asia-Pacific in 2020. As the region first affected by the pandemic, the sector has had to remain agile in its crisis response but rigid in its dedication to maintaining public health, business continuity and jobs. What lessons can the Asia-Pacific region share with the world and what must be done to once again become a driver of Travel & Tourism growth?
Pansy Ho, Co-Chairperson and an Executive Director, MGM China Holdings Limited Tadashi Fujita, Director, Japan Airlines James Liang, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Trip.com Group Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Secretary of Tourism of the Philippines Puneet Chhatwal, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Indian Hotels Company
Moderated by: Aradhana Khowala, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Aptamind Partners
3. Map to the Future: Accelerating the European Recovery
Europe has long been a top destination globally, leading international visitor spending, with US$ 640 billion spent in 2019 alone. Like most other regions, Europe’s Travel & Tourism sector has been devastated by COVID-19, with numerous countries imposing travel restrictions, leading to the loss of 3.6 million jobs in 2020. While domestic and regional travel began picking up in the summer, second waves shook early signs of recovery and raised alarm bells. How can the European experience with COVID-19 be of value to the rest world, and what needs to be done to further accelerate the recovery of the sector and rebuild for the future?
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Caroline Leboucher, Chief Executive Officer, Atout France - France Tourism Development Agency Friedrich Joussen, Chief Executive Officer, TUI Group Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister of Tourism of the United Kingdom Roberto Martinoli, President & Chief Executive Officer, Silversea Cruises Robin Ingle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ingle International
Moderated by: Ros Atkins, Presenter, BBC World News
3. Shifting Gears for Recovery: Rebuilding Travel & Tourism in Latin America
As COVID-19 swept through Latin America, it destroyed 4 million jobs in its wake. The closure of international borders to protect public health has been devastating to the sector and made its 2019 GDP contribution of US$ 267 billion, a goal for recovery rather than a marker on its path to future growth. What strategies and policies are being implemented or need to be enacted to recover the millions of jobs destroyed and the US$ 110 billion GDP lost to establish a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive sector?
Martin Zanone, Managing Director, Eurotur Hugo Desenzani, Chief Executive Officer, Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas Gordon Wilson, President, WorldReach Software Julián Guerrero Orozco, Vice-Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism of Colombia
Moderated by: Arturo Sarukhan, President, Sarukhan + Associates
12.05 – 13.15 LUNCH
13.15 – 14.35 SESSION 2 – ACCELERATING THE RECOVERY
13.15 – 13.25 Flash Learnings: From Impact to Recovery
Leaders will share their experiences, insights and learnings in addressing COVID-19 and accelerating the recovery from creating a contactless experience and air corridors to enhancing health & safety protocols.
Richard Fain, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
13.25 – 13.40 Hotseat: Testing, Until a Vaccine
There is a need to ensure sufficient and swift testing capacity for COVID-19, not only to minimise the spread of the virus, before a vaccine is widely available, but also because it is a prerequisite for travellers to feel safe and comfortable. What is needed to ensure we have an appropriate quantity of tests readily available at an affordable price with high accuracy and an acceptable turnaround time? When might a vaccine become widely available?
Harry Theocharis, Minister of Tourism of Greece
Facilitated by: Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News
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13.40 – 14:20 Panel: Rebuilding Traveller Confidence in the Wake of COVID-19
While the widespread availability of a vaccine will be a gamechanger for Travel & Tourism; interim solutions that enable people to live and travel prior to a vaccine will be key. While certain groups remain hesitant to travel, the majority is still fuelled by wanderlust, with 83% of global travellers planning to travel before a vaccine becomes available. From transparency and authenticity to coordination, communication, technology and protocols, how is the Travel & Tourism sector rebuilding traveller confidence in the wake of COVID-19?
Marian Muro, Director General, Turisme de Barcelona Enrique Ybarra, Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer, City Sightseeing Worldwide Fernando Valdes Verelst, Secretary of State of Tourism of Spain Gibran Chapur, Executive Vice-President, Palace Resorts Daniel Richards, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Global Rescue
Moderated by: Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Weekly
14.20 – 14.35 Hotseat: The Traveller of the Future
Travel is the out-of-home activity which Americans have missed the most. Yet travellers’ attitudes and expectations may have shifted during COVID-19. As we work to revitalise the Travel & Tourism sector, how have travellers’ trends, desires, and demands shifted? Will travel be viewed differently? As we work to restore traveller confidence, how must we adapt to enable the sector to thrive once again?
Brian Chesky, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Airbnb
Facilitated by: Glenda McNeal, President, Enterprise Strategic Partnerships, American Express
14.35 – 15.15 STRATEGIC INSIGHT SESSIONS IN PARALLEL
1. Travel in the Fast Lane: Safe & Seamless Travel
With 45% of passengers ready to discard their paper passports and use biometric identification instead, it is clear that digital identity and biometric identification will become increasingly important. This will be combined with an acceleration of innovations in health & safety, ranging from thermal imagining to electrostatic sprays. As the sector redoubles its efforts to provide a safe and seamless traveller experience to rebuild traveller confidence, how will it respond to new health requirements and integrate testing ahead of a vaccine, while moving towards a contactless traveller journey?
Sean Donohue, Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Kelly Craighead, President & Chief Executive Officer, CLIA Jose Ricardo Botelho, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, ALTA Andrew Wingrove, General Manager, Aviation, CLEAR Ewald K. Biemans, Owner and Chief Executive Officer, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba
Moderated by: Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News
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2. Distant Lands, Familiar Processes: The Harmonisation of Health & Safety Protocols
Following lockdowns and the rise of remote work, travellers are more eager than ever to discover new countries or rediscover familiar ones, with 79% of people claiming they were more likely to visit their dream destination once restrictions were lifted. What’s more 69% of travellers cite cleanliness and health and safety measures as a critical component to rebuild confidence. How have health and safety measures been adapted and how have they helped the recovery?
Kim Day, Chief Executive Officer, Denver International Airport Ronella Tjin Asjoe -Croes, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Authority of Aruba David Lavorel, Chief Executive Officer, Airports and Borders, SITA Ted Balestreri, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Cannery Row Company Andrea Grisdale, Chief Executive Officer and Sole Founder, IC Bellagio
Moderated by: Chris Ship, Journalist & Presenter, ITV News
3. From Turmoil to Transformation: Protecting our Workforce & Recovering 100 Million Jobs
As arrivals stopped abruptly in early 2020, the fuel for the growth of Travel & Tourism halted and the sector struggled to protect its workforce. While the sector’s agility and governmental policies provided much-needed lifeline, more will be needed to revive 100 million jobs globally. As a sector that is all about people, what should the sector do to protect the millions of livelihoods that rely on the sector and bring back those who lost their jobs?
Shirley Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Rajawali Property Group Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie of France Mark Hoplamazian, President & Chief Executive Officer, Hyatt Hotels Corporation Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Airports International
Moderated by: Richard Quest, Journalist & Presenter, CNN
4. Reboot, Adapt, and Thrive: The Path to Recovery for Destinations
The desire to stay close to home and travel domestically or regionally in 2020 was fuelled by the comfort of the familiar and the fear of getting infected or quarantined in a distant destination. Research revealed that 86% of recent air travellers were somewhat or very worried about being quarantined while travelling. As we look to the future, how can the sector capitalise on the resurgence of domestic and regional travel; and how can it ultimately accelerate the return to international travel, which is key to the sector’s recovery?
Caroline Beteta, President & Chief Executive Officer, Visit California Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global Chief Executive Officer, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Rob Torres, Managing Director, Travel, Google Muzzammil Ahussain, Executive Vice-President, Consumer Travel, Seera Christopher Thompson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Brand USA
Moderated by: Jacqueline Gifford, Editor in Chief, Travel + Leisure
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15.15 – 16.00 BREAK
16.00 – 17.45 SESSION 3 – RESILIENCE THROUGH LEADERSHIP
16.00 – 16:10 Keynote: The G20 in Action
An unprecedented crisis requires unprecedented action and collaboration. This is evident in the coordinated actions the G20 has taken in the face of COVID-19. What has been accomplished under the Kingdom’s leadership of the G20 and what more needs to be done to enable the sector’s recovery?
Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia
16.10– 16.55 Panel: Recovering 100 Million Jobs
The private sector cannot accelerate recovery and bring back 100 million jobs alone; public-private collaboration is essential. Key principles from international coordination to reopen borders and aligning health & hygiene standards to the implementation of international testing protocols and the promotion of travel; must be adopted. As the sector works hand in hand to achieve full recovery, what learnings have been gained and what more needs to be done to achieve full recovery?
Craig Smith, Group President, International, Marriott International Luís Araújo, President, Portugal Tourism Board and European Travel Commission Isabel Hill, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director, National Travel and Tourism Office; U.S. Department of Commerce Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General, Airports Council International (ACI) World Gilson Machado Neto, Minister of Tourism of Brazil
Moderated by: Aradhana Khowala, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Aptamind Partners
16.55 – 17.45 1:1: Transitioning from Crisis to Sensation
This one-on-one interview with former President and 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Juan Manuel Santos will explore his resolute efforts to achieve peace reconciliation and justice in Colombia and the incredible transformation of its Travel & Tourism sector. How did Colombia transition from what was effectively a geopolitical crisis and a lagging tourism hub into a leading global destination in a nation prioritising sustainability and development?
Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia (2010 – 2018)
Facilitated by: Gloria Guevara, President & Chief Executive Officer, World Travel & Tourism Council
17.45 CLOSE OF DAY 1
DAY 2: TUESDAY 27 APRIL
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09.00 – 10.15 SESSION 4 – MAKING A LASTING DIFFERENCE
09.00 – 09:10 Keynotes: The Future of Travel & Tourism
Three leaders share their experience with COVID-19 and their vision for the future of the Travel & Tourism sector.
Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia E. David Burt, Premier of Bermuda
09.10 – 09.55 Panel: Looking to a Sustainable & Inclusive Future
While people’s desire to travel has not subsided, travellers remain wary of crowds and may look for new areas to vacation to, with smaller and more remote destinations growing in popularity. This will require swift action for destination readiness, both to protect local communities and to ensure the safety of travellers. As we look to an even more sustainable and inclusive future, how can destinations around the world continue to build back better?
Aileen Clemente, Chairman & President, Rajah Travel Corporation Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, The Travel Corporation José Carlos Azcárraga, Chief Executive Officer, Grupo Posadas Flavia Santoro, Chief Executive Officer, ProColombia Frank R. Rainieri, President & Chief Executive Officer, Grupo Puntacana
Moderated by: Kathleen Matthews, Journalist & WTTC Ambassador
09.55 – 10.15 Flash Learnings: Making a Lasting Impact
Leaders will share their insights and learnings in addressing issues from environment and sustainability to accessibility and inclusion, and how to plan to elevate these in the wake of COVID-19.
Darrell Wade, Chairman, Intrepid Group Kike Sarasola, Founder & President, Room Mate Group
10.15 – 11.10 BREAK
11.10 – 14.00 SESSION 5 – THE JOURNEY AHEAD
11.10 – 11.35 Hotseat: Going Green
Three leaders discuss how the Travel & Tourism sector is becoming increasingly sustainable and how they can help to shift traveller behaviour using technology.
Ivan Eskildsen, Minister of Tourism of Panama Megan Morikawa, Global Director of Sustainability, Iberostar
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Frank Marini, President, Yankee Leisure Group
Moderated by: Kathleen Matthews, Journalist & WTTC Ambassador
11.35 – 12.20 Panel: Sustainability through Social Responsibility
More than ever before, we dream of discovering the world and its natural wonders. Yet to ensure our planet’s long-term sustainability, we must all play our part. While Travel & Tourism has made great progress, we must move further and faster, working together to take action to address the threats on our communities and environment, from climate change, plastics, and wildlife preservation to human trafficking. What should the sector concretely do to accelerate the sustainability agenda so as to preserve people and our wildlife and ecosystems? And what can we do collectively to help stimulate new traveller behaviours?
Fahad Hamid Addin, Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Tourism Authority Geoffrey Kent, Founder and Co-Chairman, Abercrombie & Kent Norma Elena Negrete Aguayo, Chief Executive Officer, ECPAT Mexico Raki Robert Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Luis García Codrón, Chief Executive Officer, Europamundo Vacaciones
Moderated by: Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News
12.20 – 13.05 Panel: The State View
With states and cities taking an increasingly important role on the global stage, what is the role of states in enabling their destinations grow sustainably and inclusively and ensuring the sector can reach its social impact potential?
Mauricio Vila Dosal, Governor of the State of Yucatán Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism of Jamaica Claudia Cornejo, Minister of Foreign Trade & Tourism of Peru Roger Dow, President & Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Travel Association
Moderated by: Arturo Sarukhan, President, Sarukhan + Associates
13.05 – 14.00 In Depth: Celebrating Diversity, Empowering Women
This one-on-one interview with Martina Navratilova will focus on her personal experience as an inspiring leader, a world-class athlete, and a global icon. Martina has and continues to play an important role in advocating for women, lesbian, and gay rights as well as underprivileged children.
Martina Navratilova, Former Professional Tennis Player and World No 1
Facilitated by: Arnold Donald, President & Chief Executive Officer, Carnival Corporation
14.00 – 14.30 CLOSING CEREMONY
Miguel Torruco, Secretary of Tourism of Mexico
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2021 Fall Host Christopher J. Nassetta, Chair, World Travel & Tourism Council and President & Chief Executive Officer, Hilton Gloria Guevara, President & Chief Executive Officer, World Travel & Tourism Council
14.30 – 15.30 LUNCH
15.30 CLOSE OF DAY 2
Register for the virtual platform, by 26th April 2021, to watch the sessions live and catch up on any sessions missed. https://wttc.org/Global-Summit/Summit-Virtual-Invite
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