Travel Matters 2012

Addressing the key policy matters and current issues affecting travel

At ABTA's Travel Matters policy event on 10 May 2012, senior industry figures gathered to discuss the current and future policy issues impacting the industry and press our case on range of matters with the Secretary of State for Transport The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP and the Tourism Minister John Penrose MP.

Travel and tourism touches ordinary people, every day. From the hundreds of thousands of British jobs it supports and the billions in GDP that it generates to the travel experiences of millions of tourists and business people leaving or coming into the country.

The issues discussed will shape our industry for many years to come. Particularly important is the need for the Government to support all sectors of the tourism mix: domestic, outbound and inbound, and the CEBR report, commissioned by ABTA and presented at Travel Matters, made a compelling case for the value of outbound travel to the UK both financially and as a provider of jobs.The consequences of how we, together with the policymakers, address challenges like aviation capacity, taxation and consumer financial protection will be with us not just today, but for many years to come.

Download Programme
Download the Report on value of outbound travel 
Download the Deloitte presentation 

Our speakers:

• The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for Transport
• John Penrose MP, Minister for Tourism and Heritage
• Ian Ailles, CEO - Mainstream, Thomas Cook UK & Ireland
• Cllr Daniel Moylan, Deputy Chairman, Transport for London
• Graham Pickett, Lead Partner, Travel, Hospitality and Leisure, Deloitte
• John McEwan, Chairman, ABTA
• Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA
• Stephen D’Alfonso, Senior Public Affairs & Research Manager, ABTA

Our panellists:

• Mary Rance, Chief Executive, UKinbound
• James Berresford, Chief Executive, VisitEngland
• Kane Pirie, Chief Executive, Travel Republic
• Mike Bowers, General Counsel UK & Ireland, TUI Travel PLC
• Louise Ellman, Chair of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee
• Dr Tim Leunig, Chief Economist, CentreForum
• Luke Pollard, Head of Public Affairs, ABTA 

Full details of our speakers and panellists

Moderator

Daisy McAndrew – Special Correspondent, ITV News



Daisy McAndrew returned to the Travel Matters stage to moderate this year’s conference. Previously Economics Editor of ITV News, Daisy is currently ITV News Special Correspondent and their most senior female reporter. Daisy’s wealth of experience in politics and economics will be invaluable in helping to steer us through the key debates. 

Headline sponsor

This year’s Travel Matters event is kindly sponsored by Deloitte, leading advisers to the travel and aviation sector, providing robust business advice to companies globally ranging from specialised finance, tax and structuring work to organisational and business model transformation. For further information about Deloitte, click here.