MEET THE SPEAKERS
Join the visionaries who are Changing Worlds
To provide you with only the most specialist speakers and perception-altering talks, we’ve teamed up with industry-leading companies to curate over 60 hours of truly insightful content.
2019 SPEAKER LINE-UP
Steven Overman
THE CONSCIENCE ECONOMY: A New Era for Business
Steven Overman
Founder, Conscience Culture Ventures
main stage
THE CONSCIENCE ECONOMY: A New Era for Business
HOW TO MASTER: Future-proofing your Brand and Business
Environmental and economic sustainability, living a meaningful life that makes a difference for others, and catalysing a better world for all are no longer nice-to-haves, but urgent priorities. Brands that build these imperatives into all that they do will be ahead of the curve, enjoying clear brand differentiation, customer preference and the bottom-line benefits of sustainable operations. Luxury brands are poised – and have a duty – to lead in this new era by becoming ‘conscious economy companies’ and balancing profit with purpose, which is why this session will explore practical ways to embed business practices as a force for good into your operations to make what you do more meaningful for yourself, staff and guests.
About Steven Overman
As a transformational business and brand leader, and author of The Conscience Economy, Steven has been at the forefront of global societal change for decades. He has collaborated with the world’s leading creative studios and advertising agencies, innovated sustainable hospitality concepts and co-created award-winning youth marketing campaigns.
Gaurav Sinha
CREATING COMPASSION: How to Use the Power of Empathy in Business and Life
Gaurav Sinha
Founder & CEO, Insignia Worldwide Group
business stage
CREATING COMPASSION: How to Use the Power of Empathy in Business and Life
Drawing inspiration from experiences in hospitality, branding and philanthropy, this talk will look how the travel industry can change its outlook on the world, in everything from operations to communications with travellers. You’ll discover how to use empathy to transform your business, make connections and future-proof your brand narrative.
About Gaurav Sinha
Gaurav is the author of critically acclaimed strategy and philosophy book Compassion Inc., which provides insights about the power of empathy in business and life. As an anthropologist, writer and activist, he works at the intersections of strategy and storytelling, curating cultures and creating destination brands that resonate with distinction.
Miguel Cunat
MANAGING THE FALLOUT: Responding to Natural and Political Crises
Miguel Cunat
CXO, The Fabulous Getaway
main stage
MANAGING THE FALLOUT: Responding to Natural and Political Crises
The rise in global crises presents a significant challenge to the travel industry, particularly in some emerging destinations. So how can companies respond to natural and political disasters while working alongside governments to provide efficient responses that protect people and businesses? This panel session will look at the role of hotels and DMCs as well as what you need to do from an insurance perspective: from having the right coverage to working with appropriate organisations. You’ll leave with a fuller understanding of the value of preparation, relationships and how to cultivate those relationships so that your people are ready, aware and available to act when needed.
About Miguel Cunat
Rohit Kohli
BUILDING COMPANY CULTURE: Why a Good Workplace Starts with Great Leadership
Rohit Kohli
Managing Director, Creative Travel
business stage
BUILDING COMPANY CULTURE: Why a Good Workplace Starts with Great Leadership
The phrase ‘company culture’ gets thrown around a lot, but what exactly does it mean and why is it important for business leaders to understand – and implement? This leadership talk will look at how to effectively build your internal culture and what the value is in company values when seeking to improve efficiency and retain talented, hardworking employees. You’ll learn why creating rituals, recognition and rewards really matter; why investing in your people delivers big returns in the long run; and what your role as a leader is in creating a better working environment.
About Rohit Kohli
Alexis Alford
CRACKING GEN-Z: Appealling to the Future Travellers of the World
Alexis Alford
Founder, Lexie Limitless
business stage
CRACKING GEN-Z: Appealling to the Future Travellers of the World
In recent years the topic of Generation Z – and how companies can connect with this young consumer group to secure their loyalty – has been hard to avoid in the travel industry. So who better to reveal the insights your business needs to succeed than a vastly experienced traveller who belongs to this increasingly influential cohort? Hear from Alexis Alford about the key differences in the ways younger and older generations travel, and why it is Gen Z travellers who are more likely to embrace experiential trips. Her talk will also reveal how social media has impacted the travel industry and why this needs to be a key component of your brand.
About Alexis Alford
A true traveller at heart, Alexis Alford broke the Guinness World Record for the Youngest Person to Travel to Every Country by more than three years – at just 21 years old. Her passion for new and unique experiences has led her to all 196 countries, amassed her over 250k Instagram followers and seen her blog, Lexie Limitless, hit 17k monthly readers. She uses these platforms to encourage young people, especially women, to get out of their comfort zones and discover different cultures, and has worked with brands, hotels and tour operators across the world to create promotional content.
Senta Slingerland
BEYOND PROFIT: Building Purposeful Brands, with Integrity
Senta Slingerland
Founder, City Shapers
business stage
BEYOND PROFIT: Building Purposeful Brands, with Integrity
Purpose is a reason for a brand to exist beyond simply making a profit. But in this era of political turmoil, global warming and ever-increasing competition, there is a temptation to green- and pinkwash. So how do you build brands with purpose in a sustainable, authentic and impactful way? This talk will look at cases from other industries where brands have embraced their values and seen great business success, as well as providing a simple guide that will help you on your way to figuring out the ‘what, how and why’ of your brand and develop ways to integrate these in your marketing and guest experiences.
About Senta Slingerland
Excited by the fact that power and innovative ideas are increasingly coming from new demographics, industries and parts of the world, Senta Slingerland launched a programme in 2014 to accelerate the careers of female creatives in the advertising industry. She has since written a book called City Shapers London about the creative people in the city who are changing its very culture by making it more liveable, inclusive and, essentially, more interesting. Her next exciting step is to develop this concept into a global platform of influential ‘city shapers’.
Ted Muhlner
MANAGING THE FALLOUT: Responding to Natural and Political Crises
Ted Muhlner
Senior Vice President, Redpoint Resolutions
main stage
MANAGING THE FALLOUT: Responding to Natural and Political Crises
The rise in global crises presents a significant challenge to the travel industry, particularly in some emerging destinations. So how can companies respond to natural and political disasters while working alongside governments to provide efficient responses that protect people and businesses? This panel session will look at the role of hotels and DMCs as well as what you need to do from an insurance perspective: from having the right coverage to working with appropriate organisations. You’ll leave with a fuller understanding of the value of preparation, relationships and how to cultivate those relationships so that your people are ready, aware and available to act when needed.
About Ted Muhlner
As a leader of Redpoint Resolutions – a global provider of medical and security evacuations, travel assistance and operations services to corporations, governments and private customers – Ted Muhlner helps people in emergencies around the world. He is also a member of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Association in North America, which strives to preserve wild animal habitats, advocating for conservation so that wildlife and future generations of humans can enjoy and benefit from the backcountry for years to come.
Sophia Hock
HOW TO MASTER: Cultivating the Hospitality Gene Within Local Communities
Andreas Grosskinsky
MANAGING THE FALLOUT: Responding to Natural and Political Crises
Andreas Grosskinsky
General Manager, Destination Asia Indonesia
main stage
MANAGING THE FALLOUT: Responding to Natural and Political Crises
The rise in global crises presents a significant challenge to the travel industry, particularly in some emerging destinations. So how can companies respond to natural and political disasters while working alongside governments to provide efficient responses that protect people and businesses? This panel session will look at the role of hotels and DMCs as well as what you need to do from an insurance perspective: from having the right coverage to working with appropriate organisations. You’ll leave with a fuller understanding of the value of preparation, relationships and how to cultivate those relationships so that your people are ready, aware and available to act when needed.
About Andreas Grosskinsky
Andreas Grosskinsky and his team at Destination Asia Indonesia are passionate about both customer satisfaction and building long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships across the industry. They aim to inspire through unique experiences and develop strong ties between the DMC, agent and guest while also collaborating with competitors to share problems and overcome challenges. With a head office based in Bali, Andreas is an expert in planning for crisis management – from staff training and ground operations to reporting and communications – and has a unique insight into best practice on the subject.
Thomas Reilly
CHANGING WORLDS: How We Made a Film and the Importance of Educating Women
Eric Shepard
ENHANCED EXPERIENCES: How to Use Emerging Tech in Experiential Travel
Eric Shepard
Vice President, Lonely Planet Ventures
main stage
ENHANCED EXPERIENCES: How to Use Emerging Tech in Experiential Travel
Drawing on Eric’s expertise incorporating groundbreaking tech into experiential travel, this talk will deep dive into the newest trending technology, what problems it solves and how it can work for your business. From using AI and AR for immersive, first person content to help conversion, to tapping into recognition technology, big data and blockhain to for greater personalisation and improved customer experience, you’ll learn how to use the latest innovations – as well as which dynamic companies are driving their development.
About Eric Shepard
Eric Shepard made his name with his first start-up, TRILL Travel, a tech disruptor that was the first company to turn social media content from influencers into bookable experiences. Realising that consumers wanted to replicate the type of travel they saw on social platforms, and that no one was currently connecting the dots, he leveraged AI to analyse pictures and automatically create links to booking sites. The success of his pioneering idea was recently cemented by the acquisition of TRILL by Lonely Planet, which has become the first global brand to collaborate in this way with expert voices and curators, using the latest tech to take travel to exciting new places.
Stephanie Haynes
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: How to Embrace Change and Trust Your Intuition
Stephanie Haynes
COO, Lifestyle Capital Partners
wellness stage
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: How to Embrace Change and Trust Your Intuition
This intimate talk will begin with a sound healing session by Sonia Ferre, owner of holistic sanctuary MasQi Energy House, followed by an inspiring, insightful account of the journey she and elite business coach James Boyd took – going from a position of strife to strength in their personal and professional lives. They will share the knowledge you need to turn to, and trust, your intuition, eschewing the ‘how to live your best life’ clichés in favour of a more practical approach. Join them for an inclusive sharing of thoughts as they unearth key takeaways on how you can embrace change to overcome adversity.
About Stephanie Haynes
With over 15 years’ experience in marketing, communications and brand leadership – from global and regional strategy to executing integrated marketing and PR plans – Stephanie Haynes knows how to deliver exceptional sales and marketing solutions. After stints with a host of luxury companies, including Burberry, Giorgio Armani and Six Senses, she brings a wealth of brand expertise to the highly competitive luxury industry and now works for Lifestyle Capital Partners, who provide advice for ultra-high-net-worth families. Her personal journey also featured its share of adversity, as she battled through a two-year recovery from a chronic condition to return as a highly regarded COO.
Dominique Antiglio
WORKPLACE WELLNESS: Why it’s Essential for Your Business
Dominique Antiglio
Founder, Be Sophro
wellness stage
WORKPLACE WELLNESS: Why it’s Essential for Your Business
With overwhelming evidence demonstrating burnout and stress-related illnesses are at an all-time high, it’s never been more important for businesses to take stock of their team’s wellbeing in order for them, and subsequently your company, to thrive. With customer care comprising the very essence of hospitality, wellness retail entrepreneur and champion of self-care Tracey Woodward and business wellness advisor Giselle La Pompe-Moore share with you why and how a nurturing approach to staff wellbeing ensures a winning solution for all.
About Dominique Antiglio
As well as being a best-selling author, Dominique Antiglio is a qualified and globally sought-after sophrologist, specialising in stress and sleep management, anxiety, self-development and preparation for birth and other major life events. With a background in osteopathy and a passion for the connection between mind and body, she uses her expertise to support people through challenging times – having overcome health issues herself earlier in life – and founded Be Sophro to help clients transition to a calmer, focused and more productive version of themselves.
Giselle La Pompe-Moore
WORKPLACE WELLNESS: Why it’s Essential for Your Business
Giselle La Pompe-Moore
Founder and Wellness Practitioner, Project Ajna
wellness stage
WORKPLACE WELLNESS: Why it’s Essential for Your Business
With overwhelming evidence demonstrating burnout and stress-related illnesses are at an all-time high, it’s never been more important for businesses to take stock of their team’s wellbeing in order for them, and subsequently your company, to thrive. With customer care comprising the very essence of hospitality, wellness retail entrepreneur and champion of self-care Tracey Woodward and business wellness advisor Giselle La Pompe-Moore share with you why and how a nurturing approach to staff wellbeing ensures a winning solution for all.
About Giselle La Pompe-Moore
Giselle La Pompe-Moore is a Reiki master, meditation teacher and wellness guide. She set up Project Ajna, a mystical wellness practice where she guides one-to-one clients on their journey to rediscovering the relationship they have with their skin and soul by giving them the tools, time and space they need to prioritise their self-care and overall wellbeing. Her sessions, workshops and corporate wellness offerings are all designed to promote physical, emotional, mental and spiritual balance and Giselle's mission is to make wellness, self-care and mystical practices more accessible after witnessing the life changing effects they've had on her clients.
Zina Bencheikh
WOMEN AT THE TOP: Why the Future of Hospitality Leadership is Female
Zina Bencheikh
Regional General Manager, PEAK DMC
main stage
WOMEN AT THE TOP: Why the Future of Hospitality Leadership is Female
This panel session will take a timely look at why it’s the women in local communities who are the real hustlers; the first ones to realise that knowledge equals power; and the first ones to educate themselves to open up a career in hospitality. While just a few years ago women comprised only 9% of US hotel company presidents and (excluding HR roles) less than 20% of leadership positions in hospitality, the future is looking much brighter. Discover how, in an industry founded on warm and welcoming guest service, the percentage of female leaders could increase to as much as 50% in the next five years.
About Zina Bencheikh
Zina Bencheikh is driven by her passion for making the world a more inclusive and equal place to live. She uses the global reach of PEAK DMC to create economic opportunities for women through tourism, breaking down gender barriers in countries where women have been traditionally excluded from paid work, such as Morocco. Her inspiring work has already helped shift mindsets in the country and help a growing number of women find work as tour guides, and she is now committed to finding the next generation of female tour leaders by partnering with Education For All, who educate and empower girls in rural Morocco.
Harsha Chanrai
WOMEN AT THE TOP: Why the Future of Hospitality Leadership is Female
Harsha Chanrai
CEO & Founder, Saira Hospitality
main stage
WOMEN AT THE TOP: Why the Future of Hospitality Leadership is Female
This panel session will take a timely look at why it’s the women in local communities who are the real hustlers; the first ones to realise that knowledge equals power; and the first ones to educate themselves to open up a career in hospitality. While just a few years ago women comprised only 9% of US hotel company presidents and (excluding HR roles) less than 20% of leadership positions in hospitality, the future is looking much brighter. Discover how, in an industry founded on warm and welcoming guest service, the percentage of female leaders could increase to as much as 50% in the next five years.
Monday
HOW TO MASTER: Cultivating the Hospitality Gene Within Local Communities
The travel industry needs to change its approach to entering neighbourhoods. Hospitality owners and operators know the value of embracing the local community, but other than supporting the occasional local coffee grower or artisan, how can companies truly integrate into the communities in which they operate? This masterclass will look at the importance of giving back before taking in order to engage the local population; understand their needs and concerns; and ensure their buy-in while also achieving long-term business success.
Sunday
About Harsha Chanrai
The passion and vision to set up Saira Hospitality was driven by a simple but powerful idea: to create a world where all under-advantaged local communities are offered free education and employment by the luxury travel industry. Harsha Chanrai’s belief that hospitality companies need to give before they take – with education being the greatest gift of all – has fuelled her organisation’s success in finding ‘diamonds in the rough’ among communities, identifying those with the talent and desire to build a career in the industry. Over the past four years, Saira has graduated 180 students across LA, Mexico and the British Virgin Islands, placing them with high-profile partners including Standard, Virgin, Rosewood and Autograph.
Sam Conniff Allende
BE MORE PIRATE: The Art of Professional Rule Breaking
Sam Conniff Allende
Author & Entrepreneur, Be More Pirate
main stage
BE MORE PIRATE: The Art of Professional Rule Breaking
Realising that most of the ‘rules’ of work are just age-old bad habits that need to be broken is one of the most important breakthroughs you can make for you and your company. All it takes to change the rules – and get away with it – is for you to prove your new ideas work. This boundary-breaking headline talk will shatter the preconceptions surrounding rule breaking; encourage you to ‘Be More Pirate’ in your approach to business; and inspire you to stop asking permission, and prepare to start asking for forgiveness instead. After his Main Stage talk, join Sam for an interactive workshop that will help you rip up the rulebook on traditional business and learn how to truly master the art of professional rule breaking.
About Sam Conniff Allende
As a purpose-driven strategy consultant, Sam advises brands such as Red Bull, Unilever, Mercedes, and Rolex, where he advocates ‘business as unusual’ and encourages leaders to step up their corporate responsibility and accountability. Plus, with 10 start-ups to his name – including a Bafta-winning content agency, a genre-defining interactive TV Series and an industry-leading creative youth network – there isn’t much that this multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur hasn’t achieved. His inspiring book, Be More Pirate, or How To Take On The World and Win, was published in 2018 and acts as a manifesto for each of us to create the sort of ‘good trouble’ the world so desperately needs.
Kuba Nowak
CHANGING WORLDS: The Power of Visual Storytelling
Mike McHugo
CHANGING WORLDS: How We Made a Film and the Importance of Educating Women
Emma Barnett Spitzer
FAMILY FOCUS: Why Wellness Isn’t Just for Individuals
Emma Barnett Spitzer
Managing Director, Essential Escapes and Tots Too
wellness stage
FAMILY FOCUS: Why Wellness Isn’t Just for Individuals
In response to a rise in teenage anxiety; screen time taking over family time; and the overarching trend towards a more wellness-centric lifestyle, the industry is increasingly moving to accommodate the modern family. As travellers seek experiences that offer them more quality, nurturing time with their loved ones, how can high-end hospitality react and provide the type of connective, group sessions they crave? An expert panel featuring Balance Holiday’s Stella Photi and Sandra Hoffman from Children’s Concierge will discuss the best ways for the industry to put family connections at the top of the agenda.
About Emma Barnett Spitzer
After seeing a gap in the market for a luxury wellness operator, Emma Barnett Spritzer founded Essential Escapes in 2002 – one of the first companies to offer dedicated luxury spa holidays – before launching Tots Too in 2007 to cater to families looking for spa experiences to enjoy with their children. She competed as a finalist on the UK’s popular MasterChef TV programme in 2015 and has since built on her passion for bringing food and adventure together with her experience in the wellness market, eventually rebranding Essential Escapes to include her three pillars of wellness: spa, food and adventure.
Jens Kozany
OUR BIGGEST ASSET: Creating Positive Partnerships with Local Communities
Jens Kozany
General Manager, Segera
sustainability stage
OUR BIGGEST ASSET: Creating Positive Partnerships with Local Communities
Community is an increasingly compelling buzzword in the luxury travel industry, but what does good community engagement look like and how can it heighten your operational and guest experience? Tourism relies on good service and positive community relations, so inclusive growth is not about developing isolated pockets of best practice but rather forging a local, sustainable economy for the greater good – especially where travel is a significance GDP contributor. This panel will take the audience on a journey exploring community relations from rainforest villages in Costa Rica to a hotel school for locals in Indonesia and empowering women from local tribes in Kenya.
About Jens Kozany
After spending time in South Africa’s famous winelands and working as operations manager for the Seychelles’ exclusive North Island, Jens Kozany became addicted to the concept of a remote existence, finding a love for marrying wilderness experiences with a unique and exclusive lifestyle. In 2012 he helped create the Segera Retreat – now an award-winning, eco-luxury safari outpost – in philanthropist Jochen Zeitz’s private wildlife sanctuary in Kenya, putting the Long Run’s ‘4Cs’ sustainability philosophy into practice. Combining fine wines, culinary delights and personalised service with conservation, community, culture and commerce, Segera has become a driving force in worldwide sustainable tourism.
Peta Panos
BEYOND THE SPA: Creating Transformational Journeys through Authentic Wellness
Peta Panos
Founder & Managing Director, Spiritual Quest Journeys
wellness stage
BEYOND THE SPA: Creating Transformational Journeys through Authentic Wellness
Underpinned by the seemingly unstoppable trend of transformational travel, authentic journeys and grassroots experiences, the wellness industry is diversifying and travellers are now looking for more than just a visually appealing hotel spa. With bespoke treatments, programmes and yoga retreats already a given, this panel will look at what’s next for world of wellness travel and, more importantly, how businesses can evolve their offerings for discerning customers. Join Mason Rose’s Head of Wellness Jacinta Stevens in conversation with fellow experts Livia Manca di Willahermosa, Nikhail Kapur and Peta Pantos to find out how to take craft truly transformational journeys.
About Peta Panos
Throughout an extensive career in South African inbound tourism – during which time she worked across small, medium and large business in a variety of roles, including CEO – Peta Panos travelled to a huge number of spas, retreats and spiritual centres around the world. However, she often found 5-star spas lacking in heartfelt, spiritual growth experiences and set up Spiritual Quest Journeys to craft more authentic, transformational wellness travel options. Her approach focuses as much on the inner journey as the outer, physical journey, tailoring each one in collaboration with trusted travel partners to help travellers develop personal mastery and success in their own quest for personal fulfilment.
Sonia Ferre
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: How to Embrace Change and Trust Your Intuition
Sonia Ferre
Founder, MasQi - The Energy House
wellness stage
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: How to Embrace Change and Trust Your Intuition
This intimate talk will begin with a sound healing session by Sonia Ferre, owner of holistic sanctuary MasQi Energy House, followed by an inspiring, insightful account of the journey she and elite business coach James Boyd took – going from a position of strife to strength in their personal and professional lives. They will share the knowledge you need to turn to, and trust, your intuition, eschewing the ‘how to live your best life’ clichés in favour of a more practical approach. Join them for an inclusive sharing of thoughts as they unearth key takeaways on how you can embrace change to overcome adversity.
About Sonia Ferre
Following a personal crisis and moment of realisation, Sonia Ferre left her job in the textile industry in 2013 to open MasQi, The Energy House on a 19th century farm in the heart of the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park. Fuelled by her desire to share her experiences and understanding of life with her guests, this boutique wellness hotel seeks to help travellers become more aware of their lives and the changes they want, or need, to make. Through a programme of yoga, meditation, macrobiotic food and energetic therapies – all surrounded by beautiful, rugged nature – Sonia improves people’s health, lifestyle and happiness.
Leah Della-Guardia
HOW TO MASTER: Cultivating the Hospitality Gene Within Local Communities
Nikhil Kapur
BEYOND THE SPA: Creating Transformational Journeys through Authentic Wellness
Nikhil Kapur
Director & Founder, Atmantan Wellness Centre
wellness stage
BEYOND THE SPA: Creating Transformational Journeys through Authentic Wellness
Underpinned by the seemingly unstoppable trend of transformational travel, authentic journeys and grassroots experiences, the wellness industry is diversifying and travellers are now looking for more than just a visually appealing hotel spa. With bespoke treatments, programmes and yoga retreats already a given, this panel will look at what’s next for world of wellness travel and, more importantly, how businesses can evolve their offerings for discerning customers. Join Mason Rose’s Head of Wellness Jacinta Stevens in conversation with fellow experts Livia Manca di Willahermosa, Nikhail Kapur and Peta Pantos to find out how to take craft truly transformational journeys.
About Nikhil Kapur
As well as being an established Ironman Triathlete, Nikhil Kapur co-founded the award-winning Atmantan Wellness Centre in Mulshi – a hill station near Pune, India. The resort provides deep, authentic and multi-dimensional wellness experiences focused on healing atma (soul), mana (mind) and tann (body) in unison, with guests cared for and served with warm Indian hospitality. Driven by his passion for sustainability Nikhil also set up Keona Organics, which facilitates organic farming practices in farms near Pune, to create more awareness around organic produce and encourage people to make responsible food choices in their own lives.
Sandra Hoffman
FAMILY FOCUS: Why Wellness Isn’t Just for Individuals
Sandra Hoffman
President & Owner, Children’s Concierge, LLC
wellness stage
FAMILY FOCUS: Why Wellness Isn’t Just for Individuals
In response to a rise in teenage anxiety; screen time taking over family time; and the overarching trend towards a more wellness-centric lifestyle, the industry is increasingly moving to accommodate the modern family. As travellers seek experiences that offer them more quality, nurturing time with their loved ones, how can high-end hospitality react and provide the type of connective, group sessions they crave? An expert panel featuring Balance Holiday’s Stella Photi and Sandra Hoffman from Children’s Concierge will discuss the best ways for the industry to put family connections at the top of the agenda.
About Sandra Hoffman
Sandra Hoffman set up education company Children’s Concierge, LLC, to help families explore destinations around the world to further embellish their children’s education, working with schools, child development centres, museums, historic houses and hotels. She’s an educator and psychologist with a passion for real-world learning; connecting families with the world around them; and helping everyone realise their own potential and how they fit into the world. Her work is driven by a firm belief that travel awakens curiosity and that being curious is the first step towards great learning, understanding and appreciation.
James Boyd
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: How to Embrace Change and Trust Your Intuition
James Boyd
Public Speaker, Coach, Master Guitarist
wellness stage
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: How to Embrace Change and Trust Your Intuition
This intimate talk will begin with a sound healing session by Sonia Ferre, owner of holistic sanctuary MasQi Energy House, followed by an inspiring, insightful account of the journey she and elite business coach James Boyd took – going from a position of strife to strength in their personal and professional lives. They will share the knowledge you need to turn to, and trust, your intuition, eschewing the ‘how to live your best life’ clichés in favour of a more practical approach. Join them for an inclusive sharing of thoughts as they unearth key takeaways on how you can embrace change to overcome adversity.
About James Boyd
With a boundless passion and curiosity for creativity, James Boyd has spent a lifetime pursuing excellence in many fields. A gifted public speaker, he teaches business leaders the secrets of world-class learning and performance, hosting immersive seminars, thought-provoking speeches and exclusive events. James is also masterful guitar player, releasing a small number of concerts each year and working with private clients to create extraordinary musical experiences in secret locations.
Juliet Kinsman
HOW TO MASTER: Creating Sustainability Stories that Engage Guests and Staff
Dietmar Mueller-Elmau
FAMILY FOCUS: Why Wellness Isn't Just for Individuals
Dietmar Mueller-Elmau
CEO & Managing Partner, Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway
wellness stage
FAMILY FOCUS: Why Wellness Isn't Just for Individuals
In response to a rise in teenage anxiety; screen time taking over family time; and the overarching trend towards a more wellness-centric lifestyle, the industry is increasingly moving to accommodate the modern family. As travellers seek experiences that offer them more quality, nurturing time with their loved ones, how can high-end hospitality react and provide the type of connective, group sessions they crave? An expert panel featuring Balance Holiday’s Stella Photi and Sandra Hoffman from Children’s Concierge will discuss the best ways for the industry to put family connections at the top of the agenda.
About Dietmar Mueller-Elmau
With a background in hotel administration, Indian philosophy and software development before becoming a renowned wellness hotelier, Dietmar Mueller-Elmau has always approached things differently. Since rebuilding his family retreat in the Bavarian Alps and modelling it as a five-star spa, resort and cultural centre, he has created a truly unique hideaway that is tailored to families, couples and solo travellers of varying ages. It’s a venue like no other, which plays host to lectures, concerts and world leaders (most notably the G7 Summit in 2015) as well as saunas, acclaimed restaurants and lavish accommodation, where kids are made to feel just as welcome as their parents.
Jessica Renshaw
SELLING WELLNESS: How to Make it Worth the Investment
Jessica Renshaw
Travel Advisor, Renshaw Travel
wellness stage
Selling Wellness: How to Make it Worth The Investment
For most hotels, spas are likely to contribute as little as 5 per cent of total revenue – so why does wellness continue to play such an important role in the industry? This frank discussion with leading travel and wellness experts Claudia Roth of Soul Luxury, President of the Wellness Tourism Association Anne Dimon and Renshaw Travel’s Jessica Renshaw will dive into exactly why wellness is worth the investment. Moderated by Mason Rose Founder Tanya Rose, the panel will look at the importance of marrying your wellness offering to your current product; building insightful client profiles; and taking an authentic approach to marketing to attract new clients.
About Jessica Renshaw
Guided by her passion for wellness travel, Jessica Renshaw joined her family’s boutique luxury travel company, Renshaw Travel, and channelled the knowledge from her Kinesiology degree to start work as a wellness travel consultant. Since then she has team up with her sister to create their own brand, The Renshaw Wellness Collection, which promotes unique, transformative wellness experiences as well as the best wellness resorts and hotels, and also crafts bespoke wellness journeys. Driven by an interest in holistic health, she believes in using travel as a catalyst to help people achieve a healthier, happier and more balanced life.
James Glancy
FUELLING THE FUTURE: How Conservation and Tourism Drive Each Other
James Glancy
Director of Special Projects, Veterans For Wildlife
sustainability stage
FUELLING THE FUTURE: How Conservation and Tourism Drive Each Other
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we are witnessing the greatest extinction crisis since dinosaurs disappeared from our planet 65 million years ago. For iconic species like jaguar, stingray and rhino, the threat is now so great that their fate sometimes lies in the hands of a few private landowners and tourism businesses. This talk will introduce the audience to pioneering individuals leading the conservation charge, from Raja Ampat’s pristine coral reefs to the world’s largest wetlands in Brazil’s Pantanal. Looking at successful examples from Africa, Brazil and Indonesia, you’ll learn how to use wildlife tourism to protect vital ecosystems while proving the economic value of conservation.
About James Glancy
After serving around the world in the Royal Marines and British Special Forces, James Glancy now dedicates his time and energy to conservation charity Veterans for Wildlife. The organisation deploys highly skilled and experienced former service personnel to prevent wildlife crime, having helped build community-owned nature reserves and reintroduce rhinos into protected areas. James’ mission, typified by his work as presenter of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, is to educate people about the devastating decline in nature as a result of human activity and what they can do to change it.
Inge De Lathauwer
OUR BIGGEST ASSET: Creating Positive Partnerships with Local Communities
Inge De Lathauwer
Founder, Sumba Hospitality Foundation
sustainability stage
OUR BIGGEST ASSET: Creating Positive Partnerships with Local Communities
Community is an increasingly compelling buzzword in the luxury travel industry, but what does good community engagement look like and how can it heighten your operational and guest experience? Tourism relies on good service and positive community relations, so inclusive growth is not about developing isolated pockets of best practice but rather forging a local, sustainable economy for the greater good – especially where travel is a significance GDP contributor. This panel will take the audience on a journey exploring community relations from rainforest villages in Costa Rica to a hotel school for locals in Indonesia and empowering women from local tribes in Kenya.
About Inge De Lathauwer
As founder of the Sumba Hospitality Foundation, Inge De Lathauwer understands the potential dangers of mass travel an uncontrolled planning for upcoming destinations, so she works to ensure local communities are educated and prepared to welcome tourism, ensuring that they can benefit financially while preserving their culture and environment. Her foundation welcomes students from underprivileged backgrounds, providing them with 18 months of vocational education to find them hospitality employment, and its success seeing demand from investors and government to replicate the model increase enormously.
Jerome Mass
HOW TO MASTER: Creating Social Currency Through Experiential Branding
Marit Miners
FUELLING THE FUTURE: How Conservation and Tourism Drive Each Other
Marit Miners
Co-Founder & Director of Sales and Marketing, Misool
sustainability stage
FUELLING THE FUTURE: How Conservation and Tourism Drive Each Other
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we are witnessing the greatest extinction crisis since dinosaurs disappeared from our planet 65 million years ago. For iconic species like jaguar, stingray and rhino, the threat is now so great that their fate sometimes lies in the hands of a few private landowners and tourism businesses. This talk will introduce the audience to pioneering individuals leading the conservation charge, from Raja Ampat’s pristine coral reefs to the world’s largest wetlands in Brazil’s Pantanal. Looking at successful examples from Africa, Brazil and Indonesia, you’ll learn how to use wildlife tourism to protect vital ecosystems while proving the economic value of conservation.
About Marit Miners
A firm believer in the power of private enterprise to lead conservation efforts, Marit Miners uses tourism to transform the planet through pioneering private resort Misool. The island destination has spearheaded the creation of a 300,000-acre private marine reserve in Indonesia, prohibiting fishing and helping fish stocks to more than double in a 6-year period, as well as protecting some of the most biodiverse reefs on earth. The sustainable hospitality project has proven a major draw for travellers wanting to be part of the conservation story while also empowering local communities and benefiting local fishermen.
Julie Cheetham
MAKE IT A MINDSET: Why Sustainability Needs to be More Than Just a Project
Julie Cheetham
Director, Grootbos Private Nature Reserver
sustainability stage
MAKE IT A MINDSET: Why Sustainability Needs to be More Than Just a Project
We are now at a crossroads: the planet needs minds to shift quicker, and that includes how we view the concept of sustainability. This insightful talk from one of the world’s most respected conservationists will explore why making sustainability into a mindset, and shifting attitudes from short-term to long-term – from exploitative to nurturing – is the only viable option for taking businesses into the future. Delphine will demonstrate how the 4Cs (conservation, community, culture and commerce) can act as a framework for taking a holistic approach to truly embed sustainability into an organisation.
About Julie Cheetham
After 15 years in the financial services sector, Julie pursued her passion for sustainable development, conservation and human rights by joining the Grootbos Foundation as Managing Director and heading up Responsible Tourism for the Private Nature Reserve (PNR). Recognised as a world leader in luxury ecotourism, the Grootbos PNR goes beyond simply preserving South Africa’s pristine wilderness; the team constantly researches and innovates to pioneer new ways of transforming the lives of local communities, while always sharing knowledge and experiences with other properties and non-profits around the world.
Roberto Klabin
FUELLING THE FUTURE: How Conservation and Tourism Drive Each Other
Roberto Klabin
Owner, Caiman Ecological Refuge
sustainability stage
FUELLING THE FUTURE: How Conservation and Tourism Drive Each Other
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we are witnessing the greatest extinction crisis since dinosaurs disappeared from our planet 65 million years ago. For iconic species like jaguar, stingray and rhino, the threat is now so great that their fate sometimes lies in the hands of a few private landowners and tourism businesses. This talk will introduce the audience to pioneering individuals leading the conservation charge, from Raja Ampat’s pristine coral reefs to the world’s largest wetlands in Brazil’s Pantanal. Looking at successful examples from Africa, Brazil and Indonesia, you’ll learn how to use wildlife tourism to protect vital ecosystems while proving the economic value of conservation.
sustainability stage
COMMERCE AND LEGACY: Making a Business Case for the Future
One of the most pressing challenges for leading sustainable properties – and any business driven by more than just the bottom line – is how to secure their legacy and ensure the next generation carries on their good work. Drawing from innovative examples, including the likes of The Long Run, this talk will discuss the pioneering tools needed to ensure biodiversity is conserved; intergenerational plans to engage future conservationists; and the financial mechanisms needed to support the ‘4Cs’ of sustainability: conservation, community, culture and commerce.
About Roberto Klabin
Roberto Klabin has been a passionate servant of environmental conservation since his college days in Brazil in the 1970s, at a time when knowledge and awareness of sustainable practices were still in their infancy. Together with like-minded collaborators, he has set up a number of environmental NGOs, later serving as president of Brazil’s pioneering SOS Atlantic Forest. His involvement in the Pantanal region stretches back over 30 years, where he combines ecotourism, cattle ranching and habitat preservation, and continues to lead the movement in Brazil in the recent, politically difficult, times – communicating the importance of his work to politicians, business people, and society at large.
James Currie
COLLABORATION NOT COMPETITION: Why and How to Work Together for Positive Change
James Currie
Brand Ambassador, Wilderness Safaris
sustainability stage
COLLABORATION NOT COMPETITION: Why and How to Work Together for Positive Change
Being truly sustainable is so much more than just ‘going green’; it requires a commitment to the four pillars of sustainability: environment, economics, culture and society. Good businesses do all four at once, but will have a greater impact if they collaborate with others. Sustainability should not be competitive – it’s about realising that everyone has a part to play (and that even giving 1% is better than nothing). This talk will explore how hotels, tour operators and destinations, regardless of their size, can work together to reduce their environmental impact without increasing costs. Examples include a continent-wide conservation strategy, a hotel-led waste management scheme with corporate sponsorship, and how to exchange sustainability knowledge in a global organisation.
sustainability stage
MAKE IT A MINDSET: Why Sustainability Needs to be More Than Just a Project
We are now at a crossroads: the planet needs minds to shift quicker, and that includes how we view the concept of sustainability. This insightful talk from one of the world’s most respected conservationists will explore why making sustainability into a mindset, and shifting attitudes from short-term to long-term – from exploitative to nurturing – is the only viable option for taking businesses into the future. Delphine will demonstrate how the 4Cs (conservation, community, culture and commerce) can act as a framework for taking a holistic approach to truly embed sustainability into an organisation.
About James Currie
Alongside his role as a brand ambassador for Wilderness Safaris, one of the world’s most renowned sustainable travel operators, James Currie has presented a number of popular birding TV shows on the Discovery Channel and has led professional wildlife and birding tours for more than 20 years. His work has taken him to every corner of the globe and seen him appear as a special guest or consultant on TV, radio and film, lending his expertise, sharing his passion and spreading his message. He is an expert in the fields of sustainable development and environmental management, having worked as Managing Director of the non-profit Africa Foundation, forging links between local communities and wildlife and international travellers.
Andrew Lark
BOOSTING BRAND LOVE: How to Create Distinctiveness and Difference to Grow your Business
Andrew Lark
CEO, Group Lark
main stage
BOOSTING BRAND LOVE: How to Create Distinctiveness and Difference to Grow your Business
In a crowded market where DMCs, destinations and property owners are constantly being disintermediated, how do you create difference and distinctiveness for your offering? Tapping in to his extensive experience in helping businesses grow and win consumers around the world, Andy Lark’s talk will look at how your brand can use rapidly evolving technology to create new offerings and orchestrate unmatchable experiences. Taking a long-term view, he will also probe what market shifts and prevailing trends are most likely to reshape your business – helping you to adapt to succeed now and in the future.
About Andrew Lark
Andy Lark’s twin passions are creating experiences that change lives and using technology to enable those moments to happen on a wider scale. Over the past decade, he’s been instrumental in resetting how businesses are run – and how consumers access and experience travel and destinations globally – by creating a new framework for understanding how companies can create genuine distinctiveness and difference.
Samantha Clarke
BE HAPPY FIRST: Increasing your Wellbeing in Work and Life
Samantha Clarke
Happiness Consultant, Samantha &
main stage
BE HAPPY FIRST: Increasing your Wellbeing in Work and Life
Wellbeing is more than just a trending buzzword: it’s the crucial ability to consistently feel good and function effectively, both in work and your day-to-day life. Delivered by one of the most renowned and accomplished experts in workplace happiness, this session will help you create a clear roadmap on how to consistently feel better, be happier and be more productive. You’ll leave with a stress-proof toolkit of happiness and wellbeing approaches that will enable you to confidently navigate the natural highs and lows that come with modern life.
About Samantha Clarke
Samantha Clarke has taken up the mantle to start a revolution around happiness at work, achieving big results with clients including Nespresso, Innocent, Mediacom, Deutsche Mobile, Shopify, Dishoom and more. Her groundbreaking sessions help leaders and teams create more conscious, happier workplaces; guide individuals through public workshops to unlock their potential; as well as manage stress, build confidence and become a more authentic leader. As well as facilitating workshops and curating online courses, Samantha also hosts the podcast series ‘Conversations with Samantha &’ and has a book on happiness at work lined up for Spring 2020.
Holly Tuppen
HOW TO MASTER: Creating Sustainability Stories that Engage Guests and Staff
Holly Tuppen
Writer, The Long Run
HOW TO MASTER: Creating Sustainability Stories that Engage Guests and Staff
These days, people don’t just want to buy into what you do; they want to know why you do it, and to feel part of your company’s purpose. To really sell the sustainable side of your business you need to be an expert in storytelling – turning facts and reports into engaging narrative to educate and involve your staff, your guests and your shareholders. This masterclass will cover everything you need to know about sharing your sustainability journey with integrity and impact, whether you’re a seasoned sustainability pro or just getting started, covering everything from green-washing to identifying talking points and trends.
sustainability stage
COLLABORATION NOT COMPETITION: Why and How to Work Together for Positive Change
Being truly sustainable is so much more than just ‘going green’; it requires a commitment to the four pillars of sustainability: environment, economics, culture and society. Good businesses do all four at once, but it’s also important to remove guilt from the dialogue around responsibility and sustainability so that every company realises that even small, easy steps can have a big impact. Sustainability should not be seen as a competition – it’s about realising that even 1% better is still an improvement. This talk will look at what all hotels, regardless of their size, can do to reduce their environmental impact without increasing costs; propose a new model for sustainable charity based on exchanging donations for valuable products and services; and engage local communities, from suppliers and employees to customers and governments.
About Holly Tuppen
Holly’s passion for travelling the world responsibly started in 2008 when she set off on a 20-month around-the-world-without-flying adventure. After sailing, cycling, walking and hitchhiking oceans, deserts and mountain ranges, Holly returned to spread the word about sustainable travel through marketing for Greentraveller and as editor of Green Hotelier. She is now a travel writer and consultant specialising in sustainability and conservation working for the likes of Suitcase, The Long Run, World Travel and Tourism Council, ABTA, TTG and The Guardian.
Portia Hart
COLLABORATION NOT COMPETITION: Why the Industry Needs to Work Together for Positive Change
Portia Hart
Founder, Fundación Green Apple
sustainability stage
COLLABORATION NOT COMPETITION: Why the Industry Needs to Work Together for Positive Change
Being truly sustainable is so much more than just ‘going green’; it requires a commitment to the four pillars of sustainability: environment, economics, culture and society. Good businesses do all four at once, but will have a greater impact if they collaborate with others. Sustainability should not be competitive – it’s about realising that everyone has a part to play (and that even giving 1% is better than nothing). This talk will explore how hotels, tour operators and destinations, regardless of their size, can work together to reduce their environmental impact without increasing costs. Examples include a continent-wide conservation strategy, a hotel-led waste management scheme with corporate sponsorship, and how to exchange sustainability knowledge in a global organisation.
About Portia Hart
Since arriving in Cartagena, Colombia, Portia has established four hospitality businesses, the region’s first luxury beach club and a boutique art hotel in the old city centre. All her endeavours are guided by a passionate belief that effective, meaningful change works as a ripple effect from the ground up, with dedicated individuals and small businesses shifting behaviours and philosophies – which in turn engages staff, clients and suppliers on a personal level. In just one year her not-for-profit, Green Apple, has engaged over 20 Cartagena businesses; created five full-time jobs and 10 training opportunities for local artisans; diverted more than 35 tonnes of waste from landfill and even set up Cartagena’s first glass recycling facility.
Palma Michel
HOW TO MASTER: Becoming a more Mindful and Productive Leader
Kimberley Blanchot
HOW TO MASTER: Making Social an Extension of Your Brand
Anne-Cécile Blanchot
HOW TO MASTER: Making Social an Extension of Your Brand
Gabbi Cahane
HOW TO MASTER: Using Brand, Culture and Growth as the Framework for Your Business
Gabbi Cahane
Chairman, Multiple
HOW TO MASTER: Using Brand, Culture and Growth as the Framework for Your Business
This masterclass will draw on Gabbi’s extensive experience in various areas of brand strategy. It will provide a tangible framework for companies to better define their purpose, positioning and personality; develop their internal culture and behaviour; and also look ahead to future growth. By showing how to develop these foundational principles for your brand, Gabbi will give you the tools that will enable you to take a position of leadership, take on threats and opportunities, and, ultimately, take over the world.
business stage
BUILDING COMPANY CULTURE: Why a Good Workplace Starts with Great Leadership
The phrase ‘company culture’ gets thrown around a lot, but what exactly does it mean and why is it important for business leaders to understand – and implement? This leadership talk will look at how to effectively build your internal culture and what the value is in company values when seeking to improve efficiency and retain talented, hardworking employees. You’ll learn why creating rituals, recognition and rewards really matter; why investing in your people delivers big returns in the long run; and what your role as a leader is in creating a better working environment.
About Gabbi Cahane
As co-founder of strategy firm Multiple, Gabbi works with the founders and funders of category-defining companies to drive innovation and change; define branding; and improve reputation, value and influence. Well versed in all aspects of entrepreneurship, his career as an angel investor has seen him connect collaborators and commercial partners – as well as raising awareness, capital, and a few eyebrows along the way.
Delphine King
MAKE IT A MINDSET: Why Sustainability Needs to be More Than Just a Project
Delphine King
Executive Director, The Long Run
sustainability stage
MAKE IT A MINDSET: Why Sustainability Needs to be More Than Just a Project
We are now at a crossroads: the planet needs minds to shift quicker, and that includes how we view the concept of sustainability. This insightful talk from one of the world’s most respected conservationists will explore why making sustainability into a mindset, and shifting attitudes from short-term to long-term – from exploitative to nurturing – is the only viable option for taking businesses into the future. Delphine will demonstrate how the 4Cs (conservation, community, culture and commerce) can act as a framework for taking a holistic approach to truly embed sustainability into an organisation.
HOW TO MASTER: Getting Started on Your Sustainability Journey (Without Feeling Overwhelmed)
This masterclass will focus on how to make the 4Cs (conservation, community, culture and commerce) the guide for your journey to true sustainability – using them as a mindset to understand that long-term business growth is inextricably linked to nature and community wellbeing. You’ll hear actionable takeaways, including five easy ways to reduce resource and increase profits, and how to communicate your vision to staff and guests. The session will also look at wider concerns in your sustainability journey, from understanding your place and identifying your role and relevance, to finding the right partnerships and transferring skills.
sustainability stage
COLLABORATION NOT COMPETITION: Why and How to Work Together for Positive Change
Being truly sustainable is so much more than just ‘going green’; it requires a commitment to the four pillars of sustainability: environment, economics, culture and society. Good businesses do all four at once, but it’s also important to remove guilt from the dialogue around responsibility and sustainability so that every company realises that even small, easy steps can have a big impact. Sustainability should not be seen as a competition – it’s about realising that even 1% better is still an improvement. This talk will look at what all hotels, regardless of their size, can do to reduce their environmental impact without increasing costs; propose a new model for sustainable charity based on exchanging donations for valuable products and services; and engage local communities, from suppliers and employees to customers and governments.
About Delphine King
A passionate conservationist and social scientist, Delphine King has worked tirelessly for more than 20 years as a freelance consultant in some of the world’s most vulnerable areas to fight for marine and terrestrial conservation while also helping communities use sustainable resources and get involved in conservation efforts. Her philosophy for solving the world’s challenges centres around the beliefs that sharing, collaborating and changing mindsets is fundamental, and that business – especially nature-based tourism – has enormous potential to protect biodiversity and be a vehicle for sustainable development. These beliefs underpin all of her inspiring work. As Director of The Long Run, she nurtures and showcases the leaders positively impacting tourism and inclusive conservation and spreads her holistic approach to sustainability based around the balance between the 4Cs.
Louise Cottar
COMMERCE AND LEGACY: Making a Business Case for the Future
Louise Cottar
Director, Nineteen Twenties Safari Camps
sustainability stage
COMMERCE AND LEGACY: Making a Business Case for the Future
One of the most pressing challenges for leading sustainable properties – and any business driven by more than just the bottom line – is how to secure their legacy and ensure the next generation carries on their good work. Drawing from innovative examples, including the likes of The Long Run, this talk will discuss the pioneering tools needed to ensure biodiversity is conserved; intergenerational plans to engage future conservationists; and the financial mechanisms needed to support the ‘4Cs’ of sustainability: conservation, community, culture and commerce.
About Louise Cottar
With over 24 years’ experience working in the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia – in roles as diverse as strategic planning, needs assessment, policy analysis, aid effectiveness and political economy – Louise Cottar is an expert consultant with truly unique insights. During her time with the United Nations, The World Bank and as an independent, she has always worked in volatile areas – be they war zones or vulnerable ecosystems – and her passion for shifting states of fragility to states of stability is evident across all of her work.
Rebecca Mackenzie
HOW TO MASTER: Creating Food Tourism Experiences with a Positive Impact