TUI AG chairman Michael Frenzel has been confirmed the headline speaker at World Travel Market Captains of Industry lunch on the first day of the 2012 event.

Frenzel will take part in a question and answer session in front of an invite-only audience of more than 120 of the industry’s most senior professionals.

The event takes place outside ExCeL’s West Entrance on the moored Silver Sturgeon Boat at noon.

As Chairman of Preussag AG in 1994, Frenzel repositioned the organisation into Europe leading tourism company in only a few years starting with the purchase of Hapag-Lloyd in 1997 before snapping up TUI in Germany and Thomson Travel in the UK.

In 2002 the company’s name was changed to TUI AG and in September 2007 Frenzel was appointed chairman of TUI Travel.

The event is opened by Reed Travel Exhibitions chairman World Travel Market and Just a Drop chief Fiona Jeffery.

“I am delighted Michael has agreed to speak at the prestigious Captains of Industry Lunch,” Jeffery said.

“He is arguably the most important individual in the global tourism industry as he has masterminded the completion of Europe’s biggest travel company.

“Under Michael’s leadership TUI has also been at the forefront of expansion into the new and emerging markets and his insight in to the future of travel and tourism will be fascinating for the invite-only senior audience at the event.”