Arrive, freshen up, and settle into your room at the Hilton Marina Fort Lauderdale. Your conference journey begins this evening with the opportunity to acquaint yourself with fellow guests at the welcome drinks and dinner, set around the pool overlooking the tranquil marina.
Through a combination of keynotes and panel discussions, our industry experts will guide delegates through engaging content centred around the customer, duty of care, and cost management – the three travel essentials required to chart a course of success for a customer-centric travel business.
Coming right off the GBTA Convention, we will share the trends, themes, and announcements, leaving attendees to decide which are 'to be' and which are 'not to be'.
· Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
· Katie Virtue, Client Solutions Lead, Festive Road
· Johnny Thorsen, VP Strategy & Partnerships, Spotnana
Cost - increase income via cross-selling, up-selling and clearly defining value adds.
Customer - who are the right customers for your offerings and understanding their needs better
Care - this can either be looking at traveller welfare, environmental aspects and / or own staff
· Richard Savva, Changing Times
Blended travel, generational shifts and new travelers and attendees are all resulting in different customer desires. We will hear from a panel on what TMCs must consider to provide value to changing customers.
· Carmen Smith, Senior Manager - Travel & Events, ICF
· Oren Geshuri, Travel & Expense Practice Leader, Deloitte
· Richard Lebowitz, Forbes Travel Guide
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
Revenue sources and models were greatly impacted by the pandemic but technology solutions and new types of partners are presenting new revenue streams. This panel will share where the opportunities lie for TMCs.
· Carmen Smith, Senior Manager - Travel & Events, ICF
· Jack Dow, Founder & CEO, Grapevine
· Mat Orrego, CEO, Cornerstone
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
Sustainability, diversity and inclusion are topics on many agendas but priority of these areas among travelers, attendees and corporate programs varies. This panel will weigh on these topics to explore whether they should be a pain or priority for the TMC.
· Mark Corbett, Founder & Director, Thrust Carbon
· Oren Geshuri, Travel & Expense Practice Leader, Deloitte
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
These interactive breakouts will ask attendees to identify Roses (what's working well and we should keep doing), Thorns (what is a challenge) and Buds (the new opportunities) across Travel, Meetings and Leisure. Get ready to work with other attendees to debate future growth opportunities for independent TMCs.
· Corporate - Susan Lichtenstein, Vice President Sales, HQ
· Meetings - Katie Virtue, Principal, Supplier Consulting, Festive Road
· Leisure - Richard Lebowitz, Forbes Travel Guide
These interactive breakouts will ask attendees to identify Roses (what's working well and we should keep doing), Thorns (what is a challenge) and Buds (the new opportunities) across Travel, Meetings and Leisure. Get ready to work with other attendees to debate future growth opportunities for independent TMCs.
· Corporate - Susan Lichtenstein, Vice President Sales, HQ
· Meetings - Katie Virtue, Principal, Supplier Consulting, Festive Road
· Leisure - Richard Lebowitz, Forbes Travel Guide
These interactive breakouts will ask attendees to identify Roses (what's working well and we should keep doing), Thorns (what is a challenge) and Buds (the new opportunities) across Travel, Meetings and Leisure. Get ready to work with other attendees to debate future growth opportunities for independent TMCs.
· Corporate - Susan Lichtenstein, Vice President Sales, HQ
· Meetings - Katie Virtue, Principal, Supplier Consulting, Festive Road
· Leisure - Richard Lebowitz, Forbes Travel Guide
We come back together to hear the output from all of the sessions and identify commonalities which will indicate the seeds to purchase, plant and grow.
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
This evening, after a networking drinks reception, we come together for our Gala Dinner. Enjoy networking drinks and a three-course seated dinner comprising creative dishes using fresh local ingredients.
After breakfast, our conference journey continues as we traverse the travel technology landscape and hear from our expert keynotes about tech solutions that are at play now and on the roadmap for the future. With a focus on customer experience, care for our people and the environment, and generating new revenue streams, ask yourself if these sessions could provide answers and solutions to catapult your business into a new horizon.
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
New technology solutions continue to present themselves in travel and meetings and now we will get to know some of them better. In this first date with technology enablers, you ask the questions and determine which one would get the second date.
· Ron Glickman, Vice President - North America , Snowfall
· Charity Rumery, CRO, HQ
· Annette Cumming, CRO and Head of Marketing , BTP
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
It's time to quiz the technology providers on the future roadmap and what that will mean for independent TMCs and travel agencies. Let's see who can get the most points and be crowned our Travel Technology Jeopardy Champion!
· Jack Dow, Founder & CEO, Grapevine
· Mike Daly, Vice President-Sales, Serko
· Erik Mueller, CEO, Grasp
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
NDC, the most controversial acronym in travel right now. As corporates assess impact to their travelers and programs, they are asking TMCs for answers. With modern retailing shaking up revenue streams and tech stacks, we will talk with a panel of experts on how TMCs can earn and operate.
· Mark Walton, CEO, Solutions Travel
· Fred Bowen, Sr. Director, Corporate & Global Business Accounts, Amadeus
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
After a day and a half of content that's got you thinking and excited about the opportunities, we close the conference by working together to write the future heading for the independent TMC/travel agency.
· Moderator: Susan R. Lichtenstein, Vice President of Sales, HQ
The conference draws to a close with a farewell lunch and a final opportunity to network with delegates, speakers, and supplier partners before you embark on your journey home.
Option breakout sessions hosted by Hickory Global Partners and The Advantage Global Network will be offered from 1.45pm – 3.00pm.
