Schedule for Thursday, 6/25
Welcome to Thursday!
These tips will help you track your day — and a very packed agenda.
- All times are EDT (NYC time).
- No need to register for sessions: The webinars are open. Please attend as many as you like.
- There are two conference rooms for panels and presentations, so you will need
to keep track of two URLs. (Happy hours have their own URL.)
As a handy guide:
-
Room 1: Presentations that start at :00 and :30
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Room 2: Presentations that start at :15 and :45
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Lounge: Happy Hour!
Tonight, A Cocktail Tour Around the World
Join us together with some of the world’s finest brands for a spirited journey around the globe. Take a guided tour of Italy, Mexico, and France to learn about their most famous spirits and signature cocktails. Join in — or simply sit back and enjoy!
- If you have a question during a session, enter it in the Q&A button at the bottom of
the Zoom screen. We will get to as many as we can.
- We will email all attendees a wrap-up of the panels and presentations after the conference.
So don't worry if you miss something! You can catch up later.
- To share on social, we're @NewTravelConf on Twitter and @thenewtravelconference on Instagram.
Have a great conference!
Jack Ezon, Pavia Rosati, Shivani Vora
The New Travel Co-Founders
Thursday, June 25
9:00 - 11:00 - Exhibitor Presentations
9:00 - 9:30
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
The iconic Grand Hotel in the heart on Lake Como, which inspired Greta Garbo, is set to reopen on June 26 for the season. Owner Valentina will explain their choice to reopen to pay tribute to the lake, to summer, to beautiful Italy, and to la Dolce Vita.
Valentina De Santis, Owner and CEO
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9:15 - 9:45
Masseria San Domenico and Borgo Egnazia
Iconic family-owned hotels with strong Puglian identity, embodying local traditions through unique tailor-made experiences.
Valeria De Luca, Sales Manager
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9:45 - 10:15
Casa Angelina - Amalfi Coast, Italy
A Little Slice of Heaven with elegant simplicity at the heart of the Amalfi Coast.
Annarita Aprea, Director of Sales & Marketing
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10:15 - 10:45
Sea Song Tours – Turkey
Why you need destination intelligence in today’s travel world, and which experiences will give you the feeling of intimacy and privacy with your travel companions.
Karen Fedorko Sefer, Founder/CEO
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10:30 - 11:00
Red Carnation Hotels
What life has been like for the hotel teams during lockdown, which hotels are already welcoming guests back, and which hotels are planning to open this summer.
Also, an exclusive update on three brand new Red Carnation Hotels planned for 2021.
Jonathan Raggett, Managing Director at Red Carnation Hotels
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10:45 - 11:05
IHG
IHG New Brands: Quick updates on some of IHG’s newest brands at every price point: Regent, Kimpton, voco, Avid and Atwell Suites.
Jane Mackie, SVP, Global Marketing-Luxury and Upscale Brands
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11:00 - 1:15 - Lunch + Learn Workshops
11:00 - 11:40
Younger travelers will be back on planes and exploring the world sooner than older ones. And luxury trip-design firms that would like to win over the 30- and 40-year-olds may want to rethink old notions of what travelers are looking for. Now more than ever, millennials want itineraries that reflect inclusivity and social awareness, enabling them to connect with different peoples, give back to communities, find common ground, and bring home new insights. Equally important for trip-planning firms is to reexamine how they work: The Silicon Valley set in particular can get frustrated by legacy trip-planning practices that they view as antiquated, non-transparent, and hopelessly manual. To gain the trust and business of millennials and tech moguls, here are steps to consider.
Maita Barrenechea · Founder/Owner, Mai 10
Gwen Kozlowski · President, Exeter International
Jennifer Virgilio · Partner, Queen of Clubs
Mei Zhang · Founder, WildChina
Moderator: Wendy Perrin · Editor in Chief, WendyPerrin.com
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11:45 - 12:25
How to Communicate During a Crisis
It’s not a question of if your business will face a crisis, but when. Whether the crisis is environmental, political, personal, or Covid-19, it is important to know how to communicate with your audience across all your platforms: your website, your social media channels, your public statements, and staff and client conversations — as well as when and if to pivot your communications to address current events and social issues. This panel will explore how others have fared and what the appropriate messaging is, and will provide a toolbox of strategies so you’re prepared for what’s over the horizon.
Peggy Bendel · President, Bendel Communications International
Hugh Riley · Partner, The Portfolio Marketing Group and former Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization
Allison Sitch · Vice President, Public Relations, The Americas, Marriott International
Anne-Laure Tuncer · Director USA, Atout France
Moderator: Louise O’Brien, Regional Director of Public Relations, The Americas – Langham Hospitality Group
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12:30 - 1:10
How to Make Travel More Welcoming to Black People
True hospitality must mean equality. But too often, the travel industry — and especially the luxury travel industry — disproportionately caters to white audiences. This conversation will explore how the entire industry can learn to be more inclusive, understanding, and proactive.
Kellee Edwards · Travel Host, Travel + Leisure and Travel Channel
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon · Journalist and Host, JetSetSarah.com
Milton Howery III · Director of Public Relations, Memphis Tourism
Kim Jamieson · Director of Marketing, Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Travis Levius · Journalist, Video Producer, and Consultant
Moderator: DeMarco Williams, Managing Editor, Forbes Travel Guide
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1:15 - 6:15 - Exhibitor Presentations
1:15 - 1:45
Index Select with Cuba Candela and Experience Morocco
Encouraging global unity during the anti-racism awakening.
Tyler LaMont, Partner at Index Select
Danielle Dormand, Partner at Index Select
Hicham Alaoui, Co-founder of Experience Morocco
Chad Olin, Founder of Cuba Candela
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1:45 - 2:15
Micato Safaris
Safari: latest updates and post-Covid.
Dennis Pinto, Managing Director
Liz Wheeler, Director of Global Operations
Emily Baldwin, Director of Communications
Amanda Mulhearn, Strategic Business Manager
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2:00 - 2:30
VisitBritain
- The current status of travel to Great Britain.
- Regions to watch in Great Britain in 2021 and beyond.
Julia Gordin, Senior Communications Manager, U.S.
Tara Barnes, Travel Trade Manager, Eastern and Central Region
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2:15- 2:45
1 Hotel South Beach
1 Hotel South Beach Health and Safety Program Overview
Fernando Cerna, Director of Sales and Marketing
Vanessa Longette, Director of Environmental Health and Safety
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2:30 - 3:00
Remote Lands
What we are seeing as destinations that will rebound in Asia from key market segments. In addition, we plan to speak about the history of Remote Lands and our USPs.
Catherine Heald
Melisa Novick
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2:45 - 3:15
GEMS Holding Ltd. - Representing Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort
Dominica's iconic hotels embrace the intersection of unspoiled nature, authentic sustainability, and unmatched luxury.
Dinesh Kissoon, General Manager
Gregor Nassief, Owner
Rachel Johnson, PR
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3:00 - 3:30
AdventureWomen
AdventureWomen is the leader in women's adventure travel since 1982, when it was started by Susan Eckart. In 2016, she sold it to the mother-daughter team of Judi Wineland, Erica Landerson, and Nicole Wineland-Thomson. In this presentation, female travel pioneer Judi Wineland discusses the story behind AdventureWomen, how they have grown, the power of women-to-women connections, and upcoming itineraries to new destinations in 2021.
Judi Wineland, Owner
Nicole Wineland-Thomson, Owner & Director of Programming
Erica Landerson, Owner &General Manager
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3:30 - 4:00
Villas of Distinction
Everything points to luxury villas being one of the first segments of travel to return. We will share with you how we are helping you post-Covid to drive customers and put customers at ease so they will book a luxury villa experience with you.
Steve Lassman, Vice President
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3:45- 4:15
Awasi - Relais & Châteaux
- Ostentation vs. Simplicity: a new kind of luxury is on the rise.
- The pursuit of creating memorable experiences.
Matías de Cristóbal, General Director and member of the Relais & Châteaux Executive Committee
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4:00 - 4:30
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown – A Lifestyle Destination
Downtown continues to invent itself, and many visitors to NYC, and even New Yorkers, have yet to discover it. See how Downtown has transformed itself from a 9-5 working neighborhood into a 24/7 lifestyle.
Michael Law, Senior Director of Marketing
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4:15 - 4:45
Catalina Island Company
Catalina Island Company, Catalina Island's Premier Resort Operator
An Open Air Island Escape Just One Hour From SoCal
Dave Stevenson, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Catalina Island Company
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4:30 - 5:00
Sonoma County Tourism
Starting June 19, Sonoma County will re-open for travelers visiting from outside the county. Sonoma County Tourism (SCT) has launched a campaign to welcome visitors back and worked with business groups across the county to develop the SAFE Travels Promise. Leveraging the countywide brand – Life Opens Up – the campaign targets consumers in drive markets, who are pre-disposed to taking a trip to Sonoma County. The tourism agency has also developed a series of promotions to generate awareness about the re-opening and the destination's appeal for road trips.
Birgitt Vaughan, Director of Global Media Relations
Todd O'Leary, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
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5:00 - 5:30
Singita
Discover Singita's Regions and Locations, new properties in Rwanda (Kwitonda Lodge & Kataza House) and how they are easily combined with Singita Serengeti properties, our Private Collection (Singita’s exclusive-use villas), and our Southern African properties (in Zimbabwe + SA).
Kendra Vellante
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5:15- 5:45
Viceroy Resorts of the Caribbean
- Traveling the Untouched Caribbean
- Physically Distancing Viceroy Style
- Oceanfront Home away From Home – Villa & Residence
Karen Giordano, Regional Director of Sales
Tim Luksa, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing
Ruth Chaves, Associate Director of PR and Marketing
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5:45 - 6:15
Dream Hotel Group
Join renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group for an inside look at how boutique luxury lifestyle hotels are innovating the guest experience during these unprecedented times. The future of experiential travel and community-driven hotels in a post-pandemic world; what’s trending in hotel packages, partnerships, and promotions; redefining live music, virtual DJs, pop-up events, and other hotel happenings; exploring new technologies, robotics, and more. With an emphasis on recently reopened hotels in Nashville, Hollywood, South Beach and Durham.
Katie Fontana, Vice President, Communications and PR
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6:00 - 7:00 Happy Hour!
6:00 - 7:00
A Cocktail Tour Around the World
Join us together with some of the world’s finest brands for a spirited journey around the globe.
Take a guided tour of Italy, Mexico, and France to learn about their most famous spirits and signature cocktails.
Join in — or simply sit back and enjoy!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________