Travel Matters Programme
‘Choices for Growth’
24 June 2015
09:40 Welcome by conference moderator
Daisy McAndrew
09:45
The next five years – Choices for growth
Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive
Welcoming attendees, this presentation will outline the day’s theme, and present refreshed
Cebr research on outbound travel’s economic benefit to the UK.
09:55
Challenges and opportunities for travel businesses in a changing marketplace
Andrew Swaffield, The Monarch Group CEO
Paralleling the political and economic landscape with Monarch’s corporate turn-around,
this presentation will highlight the key challenges facing industry: political, economic, and social
– and what Government can do to help.
10:10 Building a framework for growth in travel
Robert Goodwill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport
10:20 Panel discussion and audience Q&A with:
Mark Tanzer, Andrew Swaffield and Robert Goodwill MP
10:50 Coffee break
11:20
A changing regulatory landscape – A view from Brussels
Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission
The Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers will present the conclusion of the Package
Travel Directive revision process, and cover other regulatory changes on the horizon that will
impact on travel businesses. There will be an opportunity for audience Q&A.
11:40
Clear skies ahead? Trends in aviation and travel
Graham Pickett, Lead Partner – Travel, Hospitality & Leisure, Deloitte
Oil prices, currency fluctuation, political unrest, and war – this session is an analytical
assessment from Deloitte’s Global Leader for Travel and Aviation on the socio-economic and
geopolitical trends emerging today that will shape trends in travel for years to come. There will
be an opportunity for the audience to put questions to Graham.
11:55
Panel discussion: Building confidence in travel
Simon Bunce, Head of Legal and Membership Services, ABTA
Kate Jennings, Head of Aviation Policy Implementation, DfT
Mike Bowers, Tui Travel plc
John Hays, Managing Director, Hays Travel
Richard Downs, Founder and CEO, Iglu.com
Speakers will assess the impact of the revised Package Travel Directive on travel businesses,
and the Government’s timeline for UK implementation.
12:25
Keynote: A changing politics
Cathy Newman, Journalist and News Presenter
Hot on the heels of the General Election – this presentation will assess how a changing politics
in Westminster will affect the way Government, businesses, and voters interact.
12:40
Panel discussion: New Parliament, new faces… new priorities
Stephen D’Alfonso, Head of Public Affairs, ABTA
Nigel Huddleston, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Mid Worcestershire
Luke Pollard, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Chris Galanty, Travel Experience Director, Flight Centre Travel Group UK & Ireland
After the dust of the 2015 General Election has settled, this session will bring together those
from across the political spectrum with industry to analyse the priorities of the new
Government, and how those align with the industry’s key interests.
13:10 Closing Remarks
Noel Josephides, Chairman, ABTA
13:15 Delegate lunch