23 Sep
2020

Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP confirmed as a speaker at ABTA’s 2020 Travel Convention

 ABTA has announced that the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport, will be speaking at this year's Travel Convention, which will return for 2020 as a one-day virtual event on 14 October.

The Transport Secretary, who has been leading the Government’s policy on travel corridors and quarantine requirements, will talk to delegates about the Government’s vision for the future of travel and tourism in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and what plans are in place for current EU travel legislation as the UK approaches the end of the transition period.

Further speakers who have also come on board for this year’s event include:

  • Chris Sainty, British Ambassador to Portugal 
  • Jennifer Anderson, Consular Director, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  • Julie Murphy, Chair, Star Alliance UK & Ireland and Sales Manager, UK and Ireland, ANA
  • Melanie Eusebe, Founder, Black British Business Awards 
  • Sally Cope, Regional General Manager, UK/Northern Europe, Tourism Australia
  • Simon Calder, Travel Journalist and Broadcaster  

Under the theme ‘Rebuilding Confidence in Travel’, the 2020 Travel Convention programme will deliver thought provoking content focused on the future of travel and tourism, with keynote speakers, business sessions, a range of specialist workshops and networking opportunities delivered to delegates via a virtual event portal.

Major topics to be discussed include how travel businesses can operate in a world with COVID-19 and prepare for future pandemics; what the latest Brexit developments will mean for the industry; and how sustainability can be embraced as the industry reopens.
The Headline Partners for this year’s Travel Convention are Avis Budget Group, Freshworks, Intertek Cristal and Star Alliance. More information on each of the sponsors can be found at www.thetravelconvention.com/sponsors.
 
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said:
 
“I’m pleased that, at such a critical time for the travel industry, The Travel Convention is able to bring together leading authorities who can share insights into some of the most pressing issues facing the sector.
 
“It feels more important than ever for us to come together to reflect on events and learnings from the past year and discuss how we can all rebuild for this next chapter.
 
“This will be ABTA’s first virtual Convention, and I look forward to welcoming our delegates in October for what I’m confident will be an engaging and productive day.”
 
Delegates are encouraged to book their place for the Travel Convention by Friday 9 October 2020 at www.thetravelconvention.com, where they will also find the full speaker line up. Fees for ABTA Members and Partners are £125 while non-Member fees are £249.

 

About ABTA:
ABTA has been a trusted travel brand for 70 years. Our purpose is to help our Members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers travel with confidence. 

The ABTA brand stands for support, protection and expertise. This means consumers have confidence in ABTA and a strong trust in ABTA Members. These qualities are core to us as they ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members.

We help our Members and their customers navigate through today's changing travel landscape by raising standards in the industry; offering schemes of financial protection; providing an independent complaints resolution service should something go wrong; giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

ABTA has more than 4,300 travel brands in Membership, providing a wide range of leisure and business travel services, with a combined annual UK turnover of £39 billion. For more details about what we do, what being an ABTA Member means and how we help the British public travel with confidence visit www.abta.com.