Twelve events will be focusing on the environment at ITB Berlin this coming March after last year’s discussions drew widespread industry attention.ITB Future Day - adapting to new realities

At the ITB Future Day on 5 March a discussion round moderated by Geoffrey Lipman will be setting the global stage for a climate debate. Among those participating will be UNWTO General Secretary Francesco Frangialli together with ministers, the CEOs of airlines, the hotel trade and other high-ranking decision-makers. Other speakers include Prof. Dr. Norbert Walter, Chief Economist of Deutsche Bank, Eric Heymann, Senior Economist Deutsche Bank AG/DB Research, and Philipp Ehmer, Deutsche Bank AG/DB Research, who will be holding papers on “Tourism in 2030”. They will be unveiling the results of an analysis by Deutsche Bank Research which names the winners and losers as a result of climate change and suggests ways to adapt.

ITB Hospitality Day - the environment concepts of the hotel trade

Among the main topics due to be debated at the Hospitality Day on 6 March are the environment concepts of the hotel trade. Ed Fuller, CEO Marriott International, Tony Williams, Emirates Hotels & Resorts, Dr. Manfred Stock of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Dr. Michael Hartmann, Siemens Technology will be examining the issues.

ITB Aviation Day - is commercial aviation destroying our climate?

On 7 March there will be a dual focus on the highly controversial topic of climate change and commercial aviation. The Solar Impulse Forum chaired by Dr. Bertrand Piccard will be discussing the viability of solar technology in commercial aviation.

Another panel will be discussing the connection between toxic emissions from aircraft and climate change. Taking part are Andrew Harrison, CEO easyJet, Eric Heymann, Senior Economist, Deutsche Bank AG/DB Research, Dr. Rainer Ohler, Senior Vice President Public Affairs and Communications, Airbus, Dr. Janina Scheelhaase, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, and Dr. Tanja Wielgo§, General Manager, Bundesverband der Deutschen Fluggesellschaften.

New - the ADAC Tourism Forum

The ADAC Tourism Forum will be taking place for the first time on 7 March. “Tourism by car in the age of climate change”: Leading experts from the tourism and transport industry, among them representatives from DB Autozug, the ADAC car club, and proponents of zero impact mobility will be debating this issue.

Respecting the environment on holiday and business travels

On Thursday, 6 March a session under the heading of “Progress in tourism research”, will introduce successful methods for developing unique destination products. Prof. Dr. Anders Levermann of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Prof. Dr. Hansruedi Müller, Director of the Research Institute for Leisure and Tourism at the University of Bern will be presenting the scientific facts on climate change and be talking about the impact on tourism. “Respecting the environment” is the topic of the Business Travel Supplier Day on Saturday, 8 March.
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