Travel's must attend event for connection, insight and influence
Session topics
Speaker and session details will be added as they are announced, with new information published regularly in the lead-up to The Travel Convention. Check back soon for the latest updates.
ABTA Spotlight - the road ahead
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA
ABTA’s Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer, explores the central
theme of this year’s Travel Convention, ‘Managing Uncertainty with Confidence’
- offering his insight on the sector and how ABTA and its members are managing
the changing travel landscape.
Managing uncertainty with confidence
Eleanor Winton, Foresight and Innovation Specialist
Eleanor Winton, founder of strategic foresight consultancy
Foresightfully, will explore how leaders can navigate uncertainty with
confidence and approach disruption with curiosity rather than caution. In a
world where uncertainty has become the operating environment rather than a
passing storm, she will examine why leaders need to develop new skills and
greater confidence to thrive. Drawing on her experience advising boards and
leadership teams across multiple industries, Eleanor will explore the thinking
traps and blind spots that can hinder strategic decision-making. Through
examples of innovation in uncertain times, she will challenge delegates to get
curious, think differently about the future and identify new opportunities for
growth and change.
Leading through uncertainty
Garry Wilson, CEO, easyJet holidays
Jacqueline Dobson, President, Barrhead Travel
Shaun Moreton, CEO, On the Beach
In this session, Garry Wilson, CEO of easyJet holidays; Jacqueline Dobson, President of Barrhead Travel; and Shaun Moreton, CEO of On the Beach, will explore what leadership looks like when certainty is in short supply. Drawing on their own experiences of steering businesses through periods of uncertainty, change, growth, and transformation, they will discuss how they make decisions under pressure, maintain clarity when information is incomplete, and create confidence across their organisations even when the future remains unclear.
The conversation will examine the realities leaders face when markets shift unexpectedly, customer expectations evolve rapidly, or external events threaten carefully constructed plans. How do leaders avoid becoming overly cautious or reacting too quickly? How do they balance short-term responses with long-term strategy? And how do they communicate in ways that keep teams focused, engaged and resilient?
Burglar for hire: security breaches and the human element
Jenny Radcliffe, "The People Hacker"
Renowned social engineer and award-winning cyber security expert Jenny Radcliffe will be addressing delegates at this year's Travel Convention. Known as "The People Hacker", Jenny is a professional "burglar for hire" who has spent her career testing the security of organisations by bypassing systems through psychology, persuasion and social engineering.
Jenny will explore how the human side of security can be both a weak point and a strength for organisations. She will discuss how the psychology of businesses, teams and individuals can be exploited by criminals to breach defences and gain access to systems, data, finance and personal information. Through an anecdote-driven, high energy talk, Jenny will expose our human vulnerabilities and share practical steps individuals and companies can take to better protect
themselves.
Holiday Habits 2026-2027
Ruth Venn, Associate Vice President, Sales & Distribution, P&O Cruises
Amy Tidball, Head of Planning & Pricing, TUI UK & I
Adam Murray, EMEA CFO, Flight Centre
Rick Jones, Partner, PwC
Discover how consumers are travelling in this exclusive Travel Convention business session. The top findings from ABTA’s respected annual Holiday Habits report will be shared by ABTA’s Director of Communications, Graeme Buck, exploring how people travelled over the past 12 months and what their holiday plans are for the year ahead.
Convention moderator, Jonathan Samuels will then lead a conversation on the findings with an expert panel, who will also share what they’re seeing in their areas.
The world in flux
Lewis Goodall, Political journalist, author and broadcaster on LBC
Lewis Goodall is a journalist, broadcaster and author known for sharp political analysis, investigative reporting, and compelling storytelling. As co-presenter of chart-leading podcast The News Agents on Global Player, which reaches around 5 million downloads a month, and weekend presenter on LBC, he is one of the UK’s most recognisable voices in political journalism and current affairs.
In Madeira, Lewis will deliver a sharp, agenda-setting perspective on a world under pressure and the forces likely to shape the next 12 to 24 months. Drawing on his work across The News Agents and LBC, he will unpack the political, economic and social currents influencing public mood, business confidence and risk, helping travel leaders better understand the landscape their customers, investors and teams are navigating in an increasingly uncertain world.
The world has changed. So has the climate playbook.
Dr Gabrielle Walker, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, CUR8
Seven years ago at The Travel Convention in Tokyo, climate change expert Dr Gabrielle Walker told us that the time for climate action was now. Since then, climate predictions have become realities that the travel industry is already navigating. But the solutions have changed dramatically too.
What have we learned, what did we get wrong, and what can businesses do differently now? From the collapse of the old offsetting model to the emergence of an exciting new generation of solutions, Dr Walker explores a climate playbook increasingly built around pragmatism, resilience and business value, and what it will take to keep us travelling.
Dr Gabrielle Walker is the Co-Founder and Chief Scientist of CUR8, which helps organisations to put essential climate interventions to work — integrating them into business priorities, climate strategies, and value chains.
Learn about a different way to grow
James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel has become one of the industry's success stories by pursuing a path that seeks to balance profit and purpose. In a fireside conversation with Convention moderator Jonathan Samuels, Intrepid’s CEO, James Thornton, reflects on the leadership decisions that have shaped the company’s growth, its approach to destination and geopolitical risk, and the realities of creating positive change through the joy of travel.
The new business of reassurance
Robbie Hodges, Trend strategist
As travel leaders navigate uncertainty, so do the travellers they serve. AI, economic volatility, and climate disruption are reshaping how consumers make decisions, who they trust and what they expect from brands. Faced with growing complexity, people are increasingly seeking guidance, reassurance, and control.
Presenting for consumer trends firm, TrendWatching, trend strategist Robbie Hodges will explore the new rules of consumer influence in an age of uncertainty. Drawing on a proprietary trend framework and global innovation database, he will reveal how shifts in behaviour, trust and expectations are creating opportunities for travel brands to help consumers move from uncertainty to confidence – and earn lasting loyalty as a result.
AI in action: real case studies
Niel Alobaidi, CEO, Newmarket Holidays
Matt Callaghan, COO, easyJet holidays
Lisa McAuley, Managing Director, World Travel Holdings UK
In this session, three travel business leaders will share their experiences of embedding AI into their organisations. Through a series of real-world case studies, delegates will hear how these companies have approached AI so far, the opportunities and challenges they've encountered along the way, and the learnings they will take into the next phase of their AI projects. If you're wondering how to successfully build AI into your business, this session is for you.
AI, skills, and the future of work
Natalie Campbell MBE, Social entrepreneur and Chair, Workforce Development Trust
We were once given a simple formula for success: work hard, build strong relationships and deliver a great product or service. Today, that formula is being reshaped by AI, changing customer expectations and the growing demand for new skills. For leaders, the challenge is no longer simply keeping pace with change but helping their people navigate it with confidence.
In this session, social entrepreneur and Chair of the Workforce Development Trust, Natalie Campbell MBE will explore what future-ready leadership looks like in an era of rapid transformation. Using AI as a thread throughout, she’ll examine how leaders can build cultures of curiosity, adaptability and continuous learning, while developing the uniquely human capabilities that technology cannot replace. The organisations that succeed will be those that empower people and technology to thrive together.
Making waves: trust, teamwork and collective performance
Tom Dean MBE, triple Olympic champion
In our closing session, Convention moderator Jonahan Samuels will be joined for a fireside chat by triple Olympic champion Tom Dean MBE. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Tom etched his name in history as the first British male swimmer in 113 years to claim gold in the 200m freestyle, followed by a second gold in Team GB’s 4x200m freestyle relay. He broke further records at the Commonwealth Games, picking up an unprecedented seven medals in one championship, and went on to win more world medals and retain his 4 x200m title at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Beyond the pool, through the Tom Dean Swim School in collaboration with The Royal Foundation, he empowers the next generation of swimmers, as well as promoting water safety and drowning prevention with the Royal Life Saving Society UK. Tom has recently been making waves, having set a new British record for a cross-channel relay swim earlier this month, and is looking to add more medals to his collection at LA 2028.
Tom will reflect on the role of trust, shared goals, and collective performance in achieving success, demonstrating that even individual success is built on a strong team environment. Don’t miss the chance to hear from one of Britain’s most well-loved sports personalities at this year’s Travel Convention.
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