Event details
ABTA is pleased to announce the 14th Travel Matters Conference will take place on 19 June 2024.
Travel Matters is the travel and tourism industry’s forum for debating the political and policy issues that matter most to our sector. It brings together an invited audience of the industry’s most senior figures, travel and transport media as well as leading political stakeholders, to look at how events in Westminster, Brussels and the wider world will impact on consumers, business and the travel industry.
About the event
ABTA’s Travel Matters conference returns on Wednesday 19 June 2024. Join over 200 senior travel and tourism industry to hear thought-leading commentary on current affairs and the issues affecting travel. The annual event brings together an audience of CEOs and executive directors, political figures, government stakeholders and national and travel trade media representatives.
We are pleased to announce this year's theme, 'Travel in Turbulent Times’. The conference will include a high profile line-up of speakers including politicians, top industry figures and media commentators.
Speakers will look at what the travel industry needs from Government as we face a host of challenges and change over the coming year, including the cost of living crisis; elections both in the UK and globally; regulatory changes; sustainability roadmaps; the introduction of e-visa schemes by the UK and EU; education and skills reviews, and continued development of EU relations.
Speakers
 | LBC's Tom Swarbrick Tom Swarbrick is LBC’s drive time presenter 4-6pm weekdays and presenter of Swarbrick on Sunday 10am – 1pm. After working at the BBC, Tom joined LBC as a reporter. Covering terror attacks, the migration crisis, Trump’s campaign and the 2015 General Election, Tom was named both the National Radio Journalist of the Year and the International Reporter of the Year. In 2016, he was hired by Downing Street as an adviser to Prime Minister May. At the heart of government, Swarbrick was by the Prime Minister’s side as Trump was elected President, the triggering of Article 50, the ill-fated General Election campaign and the negotiations to lead the UK out of the EU. Tom left Downing Street to return to a career in broadcasting in March 2018. Swarbrick on Sunday from 10am focuses on the political stories of the day, is broadcasted live from LBC’s new Westminster studios, both on radio and on video, streamed in HD. |
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 | Sonia Sodha, Chief Leader Writer and Columnist, The Observer Sonia Sodha is chief leader writer and columnist at the Observer and a political, economic and social commentator on TV and radio. She has worked across politics and policies for think tanks, in the charity sector and as a senior adviser to Ed Miliband when he was the leader of the Labour party. Prior to her career in journalism, Sonia worked for two centre-left think tanks, IPPR and Demos, where she led programmes on education, families and social policy. After a stint working for the Labour party advising Ed Miliband, she then held a series of senior strategic roles for charities such as Which?, the Dartington Social Research Unit and Generation Change. As well as writing for the Observer she also covers stories for the Guardian and is a sought after media commentator, appearing regularly on news segments and BBC’s flagship politics shows and news segments. She is also passionate about social issues and has made Analysis documentaries for BBC Radio 4 on a diverse range of subjects from Brexit and immigration, to the future of work and the university system. Drawing on her work in the charity and policy sectors, in speeches she explores the rise in demand for socially responsible business practises and looks at how businesses can learn from other sectors to ensure that they are truly socially conscious. She is also an enthusiastic host and facilitator, bringing knowledge of both the big picture political issues and the current cultural questions to the table. Away from journalism and broadcasting, Sonia is a trustee of the Trust for London and the Indigo Trust, and is also a former primary school governor. |
- Alistair Rowland, Chairman, ABTA
- Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA
- Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs, ABTA
Event timings
09:00 – 09:30 – Networking breakfast
09:30 – 10:45 – Travel Matters conference sessions
10:45 – 11:15 – Networking tea and coffee break
11:20 – 13:00 – Travel Matters conference sessions
13:00 – 14:00 – Networking light lunch
Event prices
Complimentary invitations are issued to senior industry figures, travel and transport media as well as leading political stakeholders.
Additional tickets are available to purchase for ABTA members/Partners and non-members.
ABTA member/ABTA Partner rate* – £150 plus VAT
Non-Member rate – £279 plus VAT
*To qualify for the ABTA member/Partner discount you must have a current ABTA Member/Partner number or your application must be in progress when the event takes place.
Non-members are welcome to attend ABTA Conferences and Events. For information about becoming a member click here.
View our booking terms and conditions here.
Event sponsorship
Media partner
Global is one of the world’s leading Media & Entertainment groups. Global is home to national market leading media brands broadcasting across the UK on DAB & FM and worldwide on Global Player which allows listeners to enjoy all of Global’s radio brands, podcasts and playlists, in one place. Global is also a leading Outdoor company in the UK & Europe, with over 235,000 sites reaching 95% of the UK population. Its portfolio encompasses TfL’s Underground network, almost all major UK airports, the UK’s largest portfolio of roadside posters and premium digital screens in prime locations, and the UK’s largest network of buses in all major cities. On-air, on Global Player and with our outdoor platforms combined, Global reaches 51 million individuals across the UK every week. Global created and operates DAX (Digital Ad Exchange), the market leader in digital audio advertising and a pioneering platform in programmatic outdoor advertising.
