Destination Crisis Management and Operational Response for Travel

As recent years have shown, the travel industry can be unpredictable with crises taking many forms including extreme weather, geopolitical challenges and health outbreaks. A crisis management plan with action guidelines is essential in enabling you to respond in the correct way to a crisis to protect employees, customers and other stakeholders.

Hear insights into what the emerging threats to the travel industry are and what you can do to prepare for them. Learn about the support that is available to you, and travellers’ perceptions and expectations.

During this practical day you will look at your crisis management plan and ensure it meets the needs of your business and the ever-changing travel landscape. You will gain tips on how to communicate this with the business, your supply chain and other stakeholders, and how to ensure buy-in from senior management.

A practical exercise will provide guidance on reviewing and simulating your plan and the importance of testing.

During a crisis you will be responsible for providing a duty of care to both employees and customers, hear a legal expert outline your obligations under the Package Travel Regulations and the potential legal impacts as a result of inadequate crisis preparedness and response.

There will also be in-depth guidance on recovery after a crisis, focusing on how you can work with the destination on health and safety considerations and when is the right time to return. You will hear a presentation on the importance of looking after the health and wellbeing of your team, how to prepare staff and provide ongoing support post-crisis.

The agenda will include case study presentations from organisations who have experienced crisis and how they responded to support staff and customers in destination.
 

• The changing landscape of crises, emerging threats and priorities for crisis management
• Extreme weather and how best to prepare and manage natural disasters
• An update on your legal obligations and responsibilities under the Package Travel Regulations
• Developing and modifying your crisis management plans
• Simulating and testing your plan
• Recovery after a crisis and working with destination to find the right time to return
• Looking after the health and wellbeing of your team.

Moderator: Angela Hills, Head of Destinations, ABTA

Angie is the Head of Destinations at ABTA, with responsibility for destination operations, health, safety and security, crisis management and incident management. She is one of ABTA’s key points of contact for government representatives (UK and overseas) and destination tourism authorities, on destination-related matters and projects. Angie is a regular speaker on behalf of the tourism industry at UK and international conferences, delivering health and safety, crisis and operational training to suppliers and Governments in destinations. In addition, Angie is a key industry stakeholder representative for international committees for destination and safety related matters. Angie is responsible for the ABTA health & safety and operational committees, the forums where Members come together to discuss and as appropriate collectively tackle destination related matters. Angie received a police commendation from New Scotland Yard for her work on counter terrorism and was awarded an MBE in the Kings New Years honours list for services to improving health, safety and security standards for British travellers abroad.

Angie has over 35 years travel industry experience having joined the industry in 1988, working in various management roles both overseas and in the UK, for a major UK tour operator. In September 1998 she was appointed as the Head of Health and Safety and Operational Support for the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and International Federation of Tour Operators (IFTO). Since July 2008 when FTO merged with ABTA - The Travel Association, Angie has been responsible for destination operations, health, safety and security, crisis management and incident management at ABTA.

Speakers include:

• Alex Stevens, Deputy Head of Crisis Management Department, FCDO 
• Dr Dipti Patel, Director, NaTHNaC
• Claire Mulligan, Partner, Kennedys
• Adam Polly, Crisis and Welfare Manager, easyJet holidays
• Steve Hilton, Head of Global Response Centre, FCDO
• Heather Pennock, Destinations Manager – Health, Safety, Crisis & Operations, ABTA
• Lynne Raw, Operations and Senior Executive, Kuoni
• Tatika Aldous-Creary, Head of Protective Security, Overseas and Vulnerable Communities Homeland Security Group
• Sophia Willitts-King, Deputy-Director and Head Crisis Management Department, FCDO
• Becky Pearce, Incident & Crisis Manager, TUI UK&I
• Miles Manning, Director, Family Liaison Consultancy
• Richard Gordon, Director, Bournemouth University Disaster Management Centre

• Understand the emerging threats facing the travel industry
• Get an update on your legal obligations and responsibilities 
• Develop a sound crisis management plan to prepare for any eventuality
• Learn from the experiences of others and hear how others in the travel industry responded to crises
• Take part in a practical exercise to review, simulate and test your plans
• Hear how to work with the destination following a crisis and when is the best time to reinstate and promote the destination 
• Get an understanding of the impact of a crisis on your staff and how to look after their psychological and physical wellbeing.

The event is ideal for anyone working in the travel industry with responsibility for destinations, health and safety and crisis management including:

• Crisis management and operational teams
• CEOs and directors
• Communications and PR teams
• Health & safety teams
• Customer service and care teams
• Marketing and product teams
• Legal teams.

ABTA member/Partners:
Early Bird member rate - £249
Standard member rate - £279

Non-members:
Early Bird non-member rate - £389
Standard non-member rate - £419

Early bird rates will expire on 7 March.

This includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day, all delegate materials, presentations and an attendee certificate. 

Make payment by credit or debit card. 

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.

For information on how to promote your company at this event, please contact events@abta.co.uk.