Event details
This popular annual one-day event delivers practical guidance for travel businesses of all sizes from PR professionals, industry peers, journalists and ABTA experts to help you plan and update your crisis communications strategy.
Updated to include a deep dive into post-crisis recovery, learn how to effectively prevent further damage to your brand and get advice on how you can achieve a positive outcome in the event of a crisis. Take part in practical exercises to test your interview skills and learn how to respond as a crisis evolves. Hear new case studies including managing a major aviation incident and what to do when your response doesn't go to plan.
About the event
The past few years have shown that a crisis can happen at any point and to any organisation. Whether it’s a fatality, a sickness outbreak, an act of terrorism or a natural disaster, travel organisations of any size can be affected by a crisis, and an immediate response is required.
Having a crisis management communications strategy is vital to protect your business. If a crisis happens tomorrow, are you prepared?
Do you know the process for updating your key stakeholders, including staff, customers and concerned family members?
Can you effectively manage and monitor your social media accounts and maintain your online reputation?
Are you able to manage the media, handle press calls and do you know who your media spokespeople are?
Attend this seminar to hear best practice guidance from the experts. Gain insight into exactly what the media want from you when a crisis occurs including a session with The Independent’s Simon Calder who will give his top tips on working with journalists before, during and after a crisis.
Sessions
- Crisis management, planning and execution: the role of the PR team
- How to build and maintain good relationships with the media
- Preparing your spokespeople and message development
- Effective use of social media during a crisis
- An interview with The Independent’s Simon Calder and his top tips for working with media
- Handling a recent major aviation incident with Manchester Airport Group
- The role of the ABTA comms team in a crisis
- Post-crisis recovery: preventing further damage to your brand
Speakers
- Moderator: Victoria Bacon, Director of Brand and Business Development, ABTA
- Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor, The Independent, TV & Radio Broadcaster
- Louis Blake, Group Head of Communications, Manchester Airports Group
- David Sanders, Director, UK Media & PR, Princess Cruises
- Rachel O'Reilly, Head of Communications, Kuoni
- Sean Tipton, Media Relations Manager, ABTA
- Marc Cornelius, Founder & Managing Director, 8020 Communications
- Trudi Beggs, Director, 8020 Communications
- Kate Beveridge, Director, 8020 Communications
Benefits of attending
- Ensure you are fully prepared to communicate with stakeholders and the media if a crisis occurs
- Learn what the media are really looking for from a journalist’s perspective
- Take part in interactive workshops to test your interview and response skills in a crisis
- Understand how to plan, respond to and recover from a crisis with effective PR handling
- Gain new ideas for updating your organisation’s crisis communications strategy
- Understand how ABTA works with Members during a crisis and the role of FCO advice
- Learn from best practice presentations and industry case studies
Who should attend?
Travel professionals who are likely to have a role in communicating with the media in a crisis. The seminar is designed for large and small companies, including the following teams:
- Directors, CEOs and senior managers
- Communications, external affairs and PR teams
- Emergency planning and crisis management teams.
Event prices
ABTA Member/ABTA Partner* rate – £235 plus VAT
Non-Member rate – £355 plus VAT
This includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day, all delegate materials, presentations and an attendee certificate.
Make payment by credit or debit card. ABTA Members and Partners can request an invoice.
View our booking terms and conditions here.
Discounts
- Book three places and get 50% off the third place.
(This discount will be automatically applied when you book online.) - If you are looking to book for a larger group please contact events@abta.co.uk for a bespoke discount.
*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. For information about becoming a Member click here.
Event sponsorship
Event partner
At 8020 Communications, we’re in the inspiration game. As a leading travel PR agency, we know how to put travel destinations, products and services on the map. Through creative media relations, vivid digital media campaigns, valued marketing content and reputation management, we connect the right travellers to businesses and generate the excitement that builds bookings and sales. 8020’s team is passionate about travel and combines that spark with deep industry insight, creativity and brilliant execution to ensure outstanding, measurable PR results. Our team’s experience includes leading tour operators, destinations, airlines, airports, private aviation services, accommodation providers, TMCs and travel technology companies.
Find us at: www.8020comms.com
For details on how to promote your company at this event, contact Matt Turton on 020 3693 0194 or mturton@abta.co.uk
To view our commercial opportunities brochure click here.
