WRTD Conference 2008

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World Travel Market 2008 hosted a conference on ‘The Business Case for Responsible Tourism’.  A line-up of some of the world’s leading responsible tourism experts spoke to delegates about how to secure market advantage through responsible tourism.

Video and audio content from the Business Case for Responsible Tourism Conference is available for download for fee of £30.  For more details and to subscribe, click here.

Businesses engage with Responsible Tourism for a wide range of reasons – this important conference focused on the business case and addressed: 

 What does Responsible Tourism mean for your bottom line?
 How can “doing good” enable businesses to do well?
 Develop strategies to minimise risk and enhance your product
 How to secure your market advantage

Panel of Speakers

• Jane Ashton, TUI Travel PLC
• Paulina Bohdanowicz, Hilton Europe
• Andrew Cole, Ramada Grange Hotel
• Lyndall De Marco, Executive Director, International Tourism Partnership
• Guido Bauer, CEO, Green Hotel Certification-Caribbean
• Dr Xavier Font, Leeds Metropolitan University
• Richard Hearn, Village Ways and former MD of Inntravel
• Claire Howse, Sustainability Director, & Beyond
• Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market
• Geoff Manchester, Managing Director, Intrepid Travel
• Amanda Marks, Tribal Travel
• Chris Thompson, Head of Responsible Tourism, Federation of Tour Operators

Programme Agenda

Location: South Gallery 21 and 22

11.00		Opening Introduction presented by Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market
11.15 – 11.45		Introduction Session The Business Case for Responsible Tourism Professor Harold Goodwin, Chair of Responsible Tourism Management and Director of International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds Metropolitan University
11.45 – 12.00		The Travelife Sustainability System and what it means for your business Chris Thompson, Head of Responsible Tourism, Federation of Tour Operators
12.00 - 12.15		Refreshment Break

Breakout Sessions

Each of the speakers focused on the business case for Responsible Tourism and addressed the contribution which Responsible Tourism has made to their bottom line through cost savings, improved products, PR and marketing, repeat business, enhanced staff morale and retention.

	Tour Operator Session Location: South Gallery 19			Hotel Session Location: South Gallery 20
12.15 – 13.15	Chair: Harold Goodwin, Director of Programmes, ICRT Leeds Metropolitan University		12.15 - 13.15	Chair: Dr Xavier Font, Director of Studies, ICRT Leeds Metropolitan University
13.15 – 14.00	Lunch		13.15 – 14.00	Lunch
14.00 – 15.30	Speakers Jane Ashton Richard Hearn Geoff Manchester Amanda Marks Chris Thompson		14.00 – 15.30	Speakers Paulina Bohdanowicz Andrew Cole Lyndall De Marco   Guido Bauer Claire Howse
15.30 – 16.00	Questions and Answers Session		15.30 – 16.00	Questions and Answers Session