ABTA is pleased to announce that Ben Reid OBE, Chief Executive of The Midcounties Co-operative, will join the speaker line-up at this year’s Travel Matters conference on 26 June 2013. Ben will speak alongside the Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport and Craig Kreeger, Virgin Atlantic’s new Chief Executive Officer, as well as many others. Under the conference theme “An Agenda for Growth”, Ben will talk about the opportunities, challenges and barriers to inspiring business confidence, particularly on the high street.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said: “We are delighted that Ben will join the Travel Matters conference. He has a huge amount of invaluable industry experience and insight and we look forward to hearing his views. He joins a fantastic line up of speakers who will be sharing their views on key issues such as consumer protection and aviation capacity, in what looks set to be a day of lively and constructive debate.”

This year’s event, taking place at Millbank in Westminster on 26 June 2013, will see leading industry figures discussing topics such as aviation capacity, the competitiveness of the UK’s travel and tourism sector, tourism’s Olympic legacy, and the opportunities, challenges and barriers to inspiring business and consumer confidence.

Other confirmed speakers for the one day event include:
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA
Graham Pickett, Lead Partner, Travel, Hospitality & Leisure, Deloitte
Bernard Donoghue, Director, ALVA
Sandie Dawe, Chief Executive, VisitBritain
Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Shadow Aviation Minister
Robert Sinclair, CEO, Bristol Airport
Paul Simmons, Commercial Director UK, easyJet
Doreen McKenzie, Proprietor, Knock Travel
John de Vial, Head of Financial Protection, ABTA
Kate Jennings, Head of Aviation Regulatory & Consumer Policy Division, DFT
Roger Allard, Chairman, All Leisure Group
Mike Bowers, General Council, TUI Travel
Michel de Blust, Secretary General, ECTAA
Richard Downs, CEO, Iglu.com