Digital conference to unite hospitality sector

Web Conference with business people

An online conference is set to bring together industry leaders to discuss the unprecedented economic circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, and what can be done collectively to rebuild confidence.

Created by Bench Events and titled Hospitality Tomorrow, the virtual conference will take place on 7 April from 10am to 4pm BST (8pm to midnight AEST) and registration is free of charge for all participants.

An optional donation will be requested to selected charities helping out those in the hospitality industry, suffering from the worst effects of the coronavirus.

Speakers for the event include US Travel Association CEO Roger Dow, resilience consultant Paul Stoltz, Capital Economics founder and chairman Roger Bootle, and Kenyan politician Najib Balala.

The conference agenda will cover the economics of coronavirus, how to survive the greatest adversity of our time, the nine essential leadership behaviours needed in a crisis, the outlook to recovery, how to capitalise on the upturn when it comes, and the new post-COVID reality

State of the art video conferencing technology will be used to bring virtual main-stage panel sessions to an audience of up to 100,000 online participants.

The plenary debates will be complemented by more focused roundtables, drilling into the detail of specific subjects. People joining remotely will be able to ask questions and post comments in real time using a live chat facility.

Other activities popular at Bench Events’ regular conferences will also be replicated online, including speed networking, which will give participants a series of three-minute one-on-one video calls with other delegates.

There will also be an online exhibition for attendees to browse through virtual exhibition booths and engage in a live video conversation with a representative of the exhibitor.

Jonathan Worsley, founder and chairman of Bench Events, said: “Devastating is the word most governments are using to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society and the economy. The sector that stands to suffer the most is travel and hospitality.

“Today, nothing is certain, except that our world will never be the same again. We need business leaders to come together to discuss the best strategies to cope with the immediate crisis and to plan how to capitalise on the recovery when it comes. That is what Hospitality Tomorrow will do.”

More information about the conference agenda, speakers and registration can be found here.

Featured image credit: iStock/sorbetto

Latest News

  • Travel Agents

Wendy Wu Tours first China mega-famil for 100 travel agents will be full of Wow!

Wendy Wu Tours will run its first mega-famil for 100 travel agents to China this month, as interest in the destination steadily increases. The group will be made up of agents from across Australia, New Zealand and the UK will visit Zhangjiajie, the backdrop for the film Avatar. Delegates will “be treated like royalty every […]

  • Tourism

Tourism Australia announces appointment of Regional General Manager United Kingdom

Tourism Australia has announced the appointment of Andrew Boxall to the role of Regional General Manager United Kingdom and Northern Europe. With more than 25 years of tourism industry experience, Andrew has worked internationally across the Middle East, India, Europe and the UK. More recently he was Flight Centre Travel Group’s executive general manager for […]

  • Destinations
  • Hotels

Chef Alessandro Pavoni Unveils Cibaria at Manly Pacific MGallery Collection

Renowned Chef Alessandro Pavoni will introduce Cibaria Manly – a relaxed Italian all day dining destination set against a beachside backdrop – to the Manly Pacific MGallery Collection, The chef, best known for his culinary success at Ormeggio at the Spit and a’Mare, envisions Cibaria as a European-styled culinary haven where socialising seamlessly transitions from […]

  • Hotels

Hotel Review Atlantis, The Royal: Stunning in every sense

Atlantis Dubai invited Travel Weekly to experience the newly launched luxury resort, Atlantis The Royal as well as Dubai’s first and ultimate entertainment resort, Atlantis, The Palm. The experiences, restaurants and beach clubs at both resorts made up a series of meticulously crafted luxury moments for which Dubai is renowned. From fire-breathing fountains to culinary […]

  • Tourism

Flight Centre’s Big Red Sale starts today

Flight Centre’s biggest sale has just landed giving Aussies the chance to lock in more affordable holidays close to home and overseas with saving of up to 50 per cent. The Big Red Sale starts today, 9 May, and runs until 5 June 2024. Flight Centre Global Managing Director Andrew Stark said that after the […]

  • Cruise

Aurora Expeditions announces savings for solo travellers

Aurora Expeditions has today announced savings for solo travellers thinking of going north for the summer. Adventurous solo travellers can take advantage of no solo supplements, enjoying a guaranteed private cabin on select departures during Aurora’s Arctic 2024 season with plenty of options available on unforgettable voyages visiting Greenland, Svalbard, Northwest Passage, Iceland and more. […]

  • Aviation
  • Destinations

Etihad and Tourism officials launch free Abu Dhabi Stopover

Etihad Airways and the UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi have announced the launch of Abu Dhabi Stopover which invites guests flying through to turn their stopover into a free hotel stay and holiday. The Abu Dhabi Stopover, exclusive to Etihad Airways, will enable passengers to enjoy a convenient free stay in […]

  • Destinations

Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts

Sporting enthusiasts and adventure seekers are gearing up for an action-packed year in Tropical North Queensland, with a lineup of sports events and adrenaline-pumping experiences set to take centre stage in 2024. Leading the charge is the highly-anticipated return of the Crankworx World Tour ‘Paradise Edition’ to Cairns from 22-26 May 2024. The mountain biking […]

  • Travel Agents

Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland

Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]

  • Cruise

Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]

  • Destinations

Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents

World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]