WTM Ministerial Programme

• UNWTO & WTM Ministers' Summit: Investment in Tourism Technology

  Tuesday 6 November 2018 11:00-13:00 London, United Kingdom

  WTM Global Stage, Exhibitor Floor, South Hall Entrance S10 - AS1350, ExCeL

  The UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit will provide a truly practical platform for tourism leaders of the public and private sectors to share best practices and explore investment opportunities in tourism technology.

  This year, we present a disruptive new format. With the private sector crucial in setting the tourism agenda, we invite private sector leaders to a panel on investment in tourism technology. This will be followed by a round table of both ministers and private sector to discuss a way forward for tourism that includes stronger public-private partnerships and an agenda for the sector’s digital transformation.

  Developing an innovation ecosystem, data-driven decision making, digital destination branding, and the role of government and policy are among the topics to be addressed. With last year’s WTM sparking a million meetings, the Summit will expand its impact with a focus on creating and exchanging innovative ideas and partnerships for the sector’s future.

• Proposed Agenda

  Tuesday 6 November 2018
  Moderator: Richard Quest, CNN

  10:30-11.00	Registration
  11:00-11:15	Opening & Welcome Remarks Simon Press, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Director, WTM London Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO
  11:15-12:00	Private Sector Panel: Investment in Tourism Technology Considering the impact of technology in tourism, from Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to Artificial Intelligence (AI), for a seamless, personalized and exciting tourism experience and for the growing necessity for stakeholders to adopt a digital strategy, investment in tourism technology is growing in importance. Leading investors will present the challenges and opportunities in investing in tourism technology. Alexis Bonte Venture Partner, CEO& Co-Founder, Atomico & eRepubliks Lab Lio Chen, Managing Director, Travel & Hospitality Center of Innovation, Plug and Play Morten Lund, Investor, Founder & CEO, Poshtel & ConsultingXO Victor Chua, Founding & Managing Partner, Vynn Capital
  12:00-12:45	Ministerial Discussion: Investing in the Future of Tourism Ministers and other public sector stakeholders will join the private sector panelists and engage in a discussion on the way forward for tourism. The backdrop is a world where tourists are one click away from their next destination and share their interest and emotions in real-time, and where technological advances have an exponential impact on management efficiency and sustainability. Ecosystem development, data-driven decision making, digital destination branding, the role of government and policy, are among the topics to be addressed. Hon. Catherine A. Afeku, Minister, Ghana H.E. Enrique de la Madrid , Secretary of State of Tourism, Mexico Hon. Michael Ellis, MP/Parliamentary Under Secretary, of State of Arts, Heritage and Tourism, United Kingdom H.E. Mohammad Al Meheiri, Head of the National Tourism Authority, United Arab Emirates H.E. Rashidi Hasbullah, Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia Mr. Benjamín José Liberoff Nemirovsky, Vice Minister Uruguay Jason Song, CEO, Drore Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA Terry von Bibra, General Manager, Europe, Alibaba Group
  12:45-13:00	Closing Remarks
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