The time has finally come: on 7 March, the ITB Berlin Convention will finally open its doors again to the most important players in the international travel industry. Under the motto ‘Mastering Transformation’, they will discuss industry topics of the future over three days. Dr. Markus Heller, Managing Partner of Dr. Fried & Partner and member of the Board of Experts, is responsible for the topic track Tour Operator, Travel Sales, Carrier and Cruise, which will take place on 7 March on the Blue Stage in Hall 7.1b. Below, we offer you an insight into the exciting track programme:
10.30 – 10.40 | Tour Operator, Travel Sales, Carrier & Cruise Track
Opening and Greeting of the Tour Operator, Travel Sales, Carrier & Cruise Track (ENG)
Dr. Markus Heller, Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Day Moderator)
10.45 – 11.45 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track
Expectations and forecasts from the customers’ perspective for the travel industry of tomorrow (ENG)
Changing travel: Rising inflation and ongoing crises have changed the way we travel. But how will tomorrow’s customers travel? And what expectations will the industry have to meet to fulfil these new demands? These are the key questions that will be the focus of the panel discussion ‘Expectations and forecasts from the customers’ perspective for the travel industry of tomorrow’ at ITB. From three different perspectives, the panelists will discuss changes in consumer behavior, present current customer needs and identify resulting industry trends.
Sabine Rogg, Trendbüro (Speaker & Panelist)
Bryan Bachrad, Expedia Group (Speaker & Panelist)
Dr. Dirk Glaeßer, World Tourism Organization, UNWTO (Speaker & Panelist)
Monica Jones, Conference Moderator / TV News Anchor (Moderator)
12.00 – 12.40 | Carrier & Cruise Track
How Technical Innovation in Aviation can Shape Tomorrow’s Customer Journey (ENG)
The travel industry is increasingly focusing on the individualisation of customer needs. The industry is in the midst of a transformation process in which all processes are optimised to meet customer needs. The opportunities that arise for the industry as a result of this are already evident in the aviation industry. The panel discussion ‘How technical innovations in aviation can shape the tomorrow’s customer journey’ focuses on technical innovations that enable assumptions about the customer journey of the future. What is important, what are the key challenges and levers, and what can other market participants in the travel industry learn from the aviation industry?
Jürgen T. Siebenrock, Lufthansa Group (Keynote Speaker & Panelist)
Annika Ledeboer, Ryanair (Panelist)
Marco Ciomperlik, TUI Group (Panelist)
Peter Glade, SunExpress (Panelist)
Marc Thibeault, Navitaire Digital (Panelist)
Monica Jones, Conference Moderator / TV News Anchor (Moderator)
13.00 – 13.45 | Carrier & Cruise Track
Carriers at the Crossroads between Decarbonisation and Changes in Booking and Travel Behaviour (ENG)
The essential importance of sustainability and environmental protection is increasingly putting pressure on the travel industry to change. But how can the balancing act between decarbonisation and changes in booking and demand behaviour be managed? This question is an essential part of the panel discussion ‘Carriers at the crossroads between decarbonisation and changes in booking and travel behaviour’, in which tourism transport companies and stakeholders discuss demand recovery and sustainable market changes, as well as current developments and their challenges for the industry.
Susanne Bouma, Neste (Keynote Speaker & Panelist)
Carl-Eric Schelleman, Air France-KLM Group (Panelist)
Björn Bender, Rail Europe (Panelist)
Kevin Bubolz, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Panelist)
Jörn Messner, Lufthansa Industry Solutions (Panelist)
Dr. Markus Heller, Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Day Moderator)
14.00 – 14.45 | Carrier & Cruise Track
Luxury Cruises in the Context of Crises and Inflation (ENG)
The session ‘Luxury Cruises in the Context of Crises and Inflation’ addresses the congress motto ‘Mastering Transformation’. Key players in the luxury cruise industry discuss the development of demand in the luxury travel market in the face of crises and rising inflation. The discussion will focus on the development of customer needs in the luxury cruise segment in the context of external factors. Do these influence travel behaviour? How can crises and inflation be linked to luxury travel? The event is designed to create transparency regarding the current opportunities and challenges that market participants must face in order to master the transformation.
Michael Ungerer, Explora Journeys (Panelist)
Douglas Prothero, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (Panelist)
Andreas Nüssel, Silversea Cruises (Panelist)
Markus Stumpe, Cruisewatch (Panelist)
Dorothea Hohn, Global Communication Experts GmbH (Moderator)
15.00 – 15.45 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track
Tour operators and travel distribution in the midst of transformation processes – from classic tour operator to high-reach distribution platform (ENG)
‘Tour operators and travel distribution in the midst of transformation processes – from classic tour operator to high-reach distribution platform’. The panel discussion at ITB is dedicated to the latest developments and changes in booking and travel behaviour, as well as innovative business logic. The discussion will focus on the question of what changes are taking place in the processes of tourism companies and how they are affecting the industry. The participating experts will also discuss how customer centricity can be successfully implemented and which approaches can further drive the transformation of the industry.
Laura Meyer, Hotelplan Group / MTCH AG (Keynote Speaker & Panelist)
Casper Urhammer, FTI Group (Panelist)
Traci Mercer, Sabre (Panelist)
Erwan Corre, Worldia (Panelist)
Dr. Markus Heller, Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Day Moderator)
16.00 – 17.30 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track
Connected Trips vs. package holidays – market requirements and technical possibilities (DE)
Competition between connected trips and package holidays is keeping the travel industry busy. The panel discussion ‘Connected Trips vs. Package Holidays – Market Requirements and Technical Possibilities’ will focus on the future of the travel industry. Experts will discuss the development of connected trips and tour operator holidays compared to the individual travel market, based on current market trends and changes in booking and travel behaviour. The discussion will also address whether secured trips justify higher costs than booking individual services and whether the package holiday will develop into a service-based and multi-component travel experience in the future.
Roland Gassner, Travel Data + Analytics GmbH (Speaker)
Ralph Schiller, FTI Group (Panelist)
Stefan Baumert, TUI Deutschland GmbH (Panelist)
Ömer Karaca, Schmetterling International GmbH & Co. KG (Panelist)
Dr. Ute Dallmeier, First Reisebüro Mönchengladbach GmbH (Panelist)
Frank Oostdam, ECTAA (Panelist)
Felix Methmann, Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband e.V. (Panelist)
Dr. Markus Heller, Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Day Moderator)
We are looking forward to exciting keynotes, panel discussions and new ideas!
Secure your tickets now at: https://www.itb.com/en/besuchen/tickets/