Travel Matters – London

ABTA’s Travel Matters conference returns. 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 will remain 'Travel in Turbulent Times’. Only six months have passed since we last met, and it's clearer than ever that the travel industry faces continued turbulence. Attend to hear from a high profile line-up of speakers including politicians, top industry figures and media commentators.

Speakers will address the impact on travel of the first year of the Labour Government, the current state of the global economy along with what support the industry needs from government.  Hear presentations and discussions around UK EU relations; apprenticeships and skills; sustainability developments and regulatory changes.

	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.
	Dame Irene Hays, Chair and Owner, Hays Travel Dame Irene Hays DBE, DL is the chair and owner of Hays Travel, the UK’s largest independent travel agency. Under her leadership, the company has expanded significantly, operating nearly 500 retail outlets nationwide and generating a record turnover of approximately £423.5 million in the fiscal year ending April 2023, with gross sales reaching £2.2 billion. Dame Irene has been instrumental in driving Hays Travel’s success, notably leading the acquisition of Thomas Cook’s retail operations in 2019, saving over 2,000 jobs.  Since then, Hays Travel has acquired 7 other businesses, both retail and online and grown their homeworking operation to 700 people. Hays Travel also carries out the back-office support services for 120 independent travel agencies across the UK. Dame Irene has been recognised for her dedication to public service and business excellence and has been recognised with several honours.  She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2008 for services to local government and later elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2021 for her contributions to training, education and young people.
	Lord (Kim) Darroch KCMG Kim Darroch is the former British Ambassador to the United States, and former British Representative to the EU. Drawing on over forty years’ experience of diplomatic service, Kim shares vital lessons on international relations and leadership. Joining the Diplomatic Service straight from university, Kim went on to hold a diverse range of offices including Private Secretary to the Minister of State responsible for the Middle East, and Head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office News Department. He was Head of the Adriatic Department during the Balkans conflict, and served in Rome and Tokyo. He later assumed the role of British Representative to the European Union, and became Britain’s National Security Adviser. Kim subsequently served as the British Ambassador to the United States for three years, during a period of unprecedented geopolitical turbulence incorporating the Trump Presidency and the aftermath of Brexit.  Kim is the chairperson of non-partisan, campaign group, Best for Britain. He was appointed a Companion of Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG), and as a Knight Commander (KCMG). He was also made a life peer in the House of Lords.
	Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms and Minister of State (Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism), Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport Sir Chris Bryant was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 8 July 2024. He was elected as the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore (previously Rhondda) on 7 June 2001. He studied English at Mansfield College, Oxford, and theology at (ISEDET) in Buenos Aires and at Ripon College, Cuddeson, Oxford. Sir Chris Bryant was Chair of the House of Commons Committees of Standards and Privileges from 2020 to 2023 and a Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2017 to 2023. He was Shadow Culture Secretary in 2015 and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016. He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Asia from 2009 to 2010. He was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons from 2008 to 2009.   He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Leader of the House of Commons in 2008. Sir Chris Bryant was an ordained priest and served as a curate at the Church of All Saints, High Wycombe from 1986 to 1989, and Youth Chaplain to the Diocese of Peterborough from 1989 to 1991, when he left the ministry and started work as the election agent to the Holborn and St Pancras Constituency Labour Party.   He was elected to Hackney Borough Council in 1993, representing Leabridge ward, and served until 1998. From 1998 until his election to Parliament in 2001, Bryant was the Head of European Affairs for the BBC. He has published several books on British political and parliamentary history.

• Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA
• Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs, ABTA
• Alistair Rowland, Chairman, ABTA
• Richard Toomer, Executive Director, Tourism Alliance
• Lauren Broughton, Head of Public Affairs and PR, UK Inbound
• Rob Griggs, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Airlines UK

09:00 – 09:30 – Networking breakfast

09:30 – 09:40 – Welcome from conference moderator    
LBC’s Tom Swarbrick

09:40 – 09:50 –  Opening address and ABTA'S 75 years
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA 
    
09:50 – 10:20 – Ministerial keynote
Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms and Minister of State (Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism), Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
    
10:20 – 10:45 – View from Industry: Dame Irene Hays
Dame Irene Hays, Chair & Owner, Hays Travel

10:45 – 11:05 – Where are we now?

• A look at the economic situation one year into a Labour Government and what this means for outbound travel.

11:05 – 11:25 – Networking tea and coffee break

11:25 – 11:30 – Welcome back
LBC’s Tom Swarbrick

11:30 – 11:50 – Political commentary: State of the world

• A look at the global political landscape and current affairs in the UK a year into the new government
• What does the geopolitical upheaval mean for travel?

Lord Darroch, former British Ambassador the United States, and former British Representative to the EU

11:50 – 12:15 – Panel: the UK EU reset and what the travel industry needs from government going forward

• UK EU relations
• Tourism strategy and the role for outbound travel
• Links between aviation, travel and tourism

MODERTOR: LBC’s Tom Swarbrick
Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs, ABTA
Richard Toomer, Executive Director, Tourism Alliance
Lauren Broughton, Head of Public Affairs and PR, UK Inbound
Rob Griggs, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Airlines UK
   
12:15 – 12:20 – Closing address
Alistair Rowland, Chairman, ABTA

12:20 – 13:00 –  Networking lunch

13:00 – Close

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.

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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.