WTM and IATA are teaming up for a ‘Synergies for Future Growth’ airline conference at ExCel London in November.2006 has been a most challenging year for the aviation sector which has
impacted significantly on all aspects of the travel and tourism industry -
heightened security issues resulting from renewed terrorism threats,
continued rise of low cost carriers, emerging markets, new routes, expanding
airports, the introduction of ‘super’ aircrafts, alliances and partnerships
and keeping competitive.

These are just some of the issues that will be tackled at this year’s World
Travel Market at a special WTM/IATA ‘Synergies for Future Growth’ - Aviation
and Travel and Tourism: Partners in the same industry two day conference
taking place on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 November at ExCeL London. The
conference will also explore the benefits of developing valuable
relationships between aviation and travel/tourism to achieve sustainable
growth.

 

Fiona Jeffery, Managing Director World Travel Market comments, “Over the
past three years World Travel Market has highlighted the vital role the
airline sector plays in the international travel and tourism industry. This
link up with IATA ensures that key issues and developments will be aired and
discussed by people who, on a daily basis, are making decisions that impact
directly on how the world travels.”

 

Simon LaFortune, Assistant Director Conferences and Events IATA adds, “In
our fast-paced industry, we rarely take the time to stop and learn about
where business is heading. World Travel Market and IATA are partnering to
produce a very exclusive conference that will help solidify the partnerships
that already exist between the airlines and the travel and tourism value
chain by looking into the future.

 

“Far from predictable speeches, our high profile speakers are tasked to
address pressing issues head on. The conference will not be a place for
speakers to read out corporate brochures. They are tasked to ‘tell it like
it is’ so that sound business decisions can be made based on facts, best
practices and solid data.  Expect some surprising comments!”

 

On the first day, BBC World Presenter Nik Gowing will open the conference
and introduce IATA’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Giovanni
Bisignani who will present the keynote address ‘State of the industry: A
cautious optimism’.

 

Other presentations and discussions on the first day include: ‘Why should we
all collaborate’; ‘Joining Forces: How Vancouver is getting ready to welcome
the 2010 Olympics’; and ‘How will recent regulatory developments affect your
business’.

 

The second day has sessions on ‘Strategies to leverage direct to consumer
web distribution’; ‘How British Airways is successfully implementing
Simplifiying the Business;  ‘What the future holds for travel
intermediaries’ and ‘Reinventing the way people travel’.
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