Power Engagement, Boost Loyalty, Attribute Sales & Drive Conversions:
Brand New & Engaging Multi-Platform Strategies To Unlock Digital Travel Marketing Success With The Latest Digital, AI, Tech & Social Media Trends & Innovations
REGISTRATION OPENS
08.30 Registration & Informal Networking
OPENING REMARKS
09.00 GIC Welcome & Morning Chairs’ Opening Remarks
Steven Seddon, CMO, IceTravel Group – IceLolly.com & Travel Supermarket
Karla Hernández Zaldívar, Global Social Media Insights Manager, Booking.com
DIGITAL MARKETING TRAVEL: STRATEGIES FOR 2026 & BEYOND
09.05 Prepare Your Brand For 2026 Through Resilient Strategies That Capitalises On Opportunities & Future-Proofs Your Brand
- Craft innovative, attention-grabbing campaigns that create demand today and position your brand for success in 2026 and beyond
- Secure long-term loyalty by creating a brand that resonates with your audience now, while strategically positioning your business to capitalise on emerging opportunities and shifts in the market
- Master the art of multi-channel marketing and how to effectively create demand across various platforms, drive immediate results, and ensure your brand stays ahead in the evolving digital landscape
- Identify the key factors that influence travel decisions and how to incorporate them into your marketing strategies, proactively shaping your approach for the future of travel
Jessie Brechin-Leman, Marketing Director, Jacada Travel
CUSTOMER-FACING AI
09.25 Navigate The Fusion Of AI & Human Touch: Master Authenticity, Engagement & The Future Of Customer Interaction
- Integrate AI in a meaningful way by blending new techniques into content generation whilst maintaining authentic human touch for optimal customer experiences
- Deep dive into the dynamic landscape of AI adoption to leverage its strengths while being mindful of its challenges to optimise results and ensure stress-free customer journeys
- Chatbots vs humans: delve into this changing dynamic and discover how AI can support human functions, creating the perfect synergy to deliver personable interactions that reflect customer needs
Tim Gunstone, CCO, HotelPlanner
PANEL Q&A
PRACTICAL AI APPLICATIONS TO STREAMLINE PROCESSES
09.45 Leverage Practical & Proven AI Capabilities To Drive Efficiencies, Enhance Integration, & Future-Proof Digital Travel Marketing Strategies
- Get ahead of the curve by harnessing AI’s current capabilities and empowering your team with the right tools to stay agile and resilient as the digital landscape continues to evolve
- Future-proof your travel brand by exploring the exciting new possibilities AI brings to ensure long-term development and innovation
- Maintain balance by exploring ways to effectively integrate AI into existing marketing teams and strategies without breaking the bank
- How can AI transform marketing and SEO strategies to drive more bookings in today’s competitive digital landscape?
Rene Frey, CEO, Rough Guides
Pete Durant, Head of Brand and Marketing, Secret Escapes
David Lee, Director of Innovation and Growth, Holiday Extras
Stefano Pinzani, Director, Marketing & Commercial Planning, South Europe, Costa Crociere S.p.A.
Liam Branaghan, Performance Marketing Lead (Delivery, EMEA, Uber
CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY: TRIP.COM
10.15 Trip.com Case Study and TikTok Insights Session
Andy Washington, General Manager EMEA, Trip.com
10.35 Bonus Session; Reserved For Exclusive Conference Partner
11.05 Morning Break with Informal Networking
BRAND NEW CUSTOMER INSIGHTS & EVER-CHANGING BEHAVIOURS
11.35 Leverage Deeper Insights & Craft Customer-First Marketing To Drive Bookings & Enhance Your Customer Journeys
- Maximise insights into every stage of your customer’s decision-making journey to refine your approach and messaging at each touchpoint to boost conversions and drive bookings
- Your customer journey doesn’t end when the holiday does! Implement smart lead generation strategies and post-trip engagement to transform customers into long-term brand advocates
- Create a seamless booking process and use customer insights to streamline journeys, ensuring a smooth, stress-free experience that leaves a lasting impression and enhances customer satisfaction
Charlotte McCooey, Content & Planning Lead, TUI
SUSTAINABILITY IN TRAVEL
11.55 Continue To Prioritise & Integrate Green Initiatives Into Your Brand’s Vision & Values To Engage The Ever-Increasing Rise Of Eco-Conscious Travellers
- Sustainability is shaping the future of travel so how can you seamlessly blend your green initiatives into your digital marketing strategy and capture the attention of eco-conscious tourists and encouraging brand loyalty?
- Make sustainability part of your brand DNA by authentically marketing your initiatives and resonate with eco-conscious travellers to prove your brands commitment, ultimately elevating your brand’s credibility
- Highlight your commitment to evolving net-zero and carbon-neutral targets by pinpointing the sustainability metrics that matter most to your customers
Elizabeth Hogg, Chief Operating Officer, Holiday Extras
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES
12.15 Master Innovative Social Media Strategies By Measuring Effectiveness, Balancing New Approaches & Amplifying Brand Impact
- How can you measure your social media effectiveness so you can make data-informed decisions that advance your campaigns and deliver strong ROI?
- Blend user-generated content with branded posts to harness the power of both to form engaging strategies which resonate with your audience and enhance your brand identity
- Make a big impact without needing the big spend: leverage cost-effective tools and organic strategies to maximise your social media results and expand your audience
- Determine how travellers use social media to influence their decisions and maximise these insights to shape campaigns that effectively drive conversions and bookings
- Strengthen your brand by perfecting your channel blend, leading to increased brand presence and lasting customer loyalty
Eglantina Becheru, Global Director of Brand, Content & Creative, Flix
SPOTLIGHT SESSION
SPOTLIGHT SESSION: TIKTOK INSIGHTS
12.35 TBC
Ola Quadrino, Head of Travel, Client Solutions, TikTok
12.55 Lunch & Informal Networking For Speakers, Delegates & Partners
13.25 Informal Breakout Discussions
A) TikTok Spotlight
Karla Hernández Zaldívar, Global Social Media Insights Manager, Booking.com
B) Customer Loyalty
C) Price Modelling
Sakina Mizra, Senior Commercial Strategy Analyst, British Airways
D) Legislation & Policy
E) Demographics
F) Budgets
Pete Durant, Head of Brand and Marketing, Secret Escapes
13.55 Afternoon Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks
Callum Marius, Social Media Content Manager, Govia Thameslink Railway
Morena Mannino, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Welbeck Hotel, IHG
INFUENCER MARKETING
14.00 The Influencer Impact: Tap Into Influencer Power To Showcase Your Destinations, Drive Tourism & Maximise Impact Through Strategic, Win-Win Partnerships
- Activate the power of influencers to generate excitement and elevate your brand by partnering vibrant, attention-grabbing content that boosts awareness and captivates your audience like never before
- Hidden stars! Empower your team and loyal customers to share real, relatable stories to perfect the blend between paid campaigns and organic content that extends your brand reach
- How can you inspire travellers to take the leap? Craft compelling stories that strike the perfect balance and capture the thrill of adventure through aspirational content while grounding it in authentic travel experiences that influence decisions and spark bookings
- Unlock the full power of your influencer partnerships and translate their user-generated buzz into conversions with measurable impact
Sean Rooney, Senior Influencer & Digital Marketing Manager, Holiday Pirates
PANEL Q&A
SOCIAL MEDIA: CHANNELS, CONTENT & TRENDS
14.20 Navigate The Ever-Changing Social Media Landscape By Leveraging New Channels, Spotting Disruptive Trends, Creating Innovative Content & Strengthening Your Travel Brand Presence
- Tune in to the latest channels and updates, giving you the edge to spot fresh opportunities, strategically positioning your brand and amplifying your message
- Spot the social media trends likely to disrupt the industry next by leveraging trend analysis tools to catch rising trends and create timely, relevant content
- The question we’d all like the answer to: how can you stand out from the competitive crowd without breaking the bank? Get creative with innovative yet budget-friendly content tricks which capture attention, drive engagement, and boost brand visibility
- Is your brand ready for the spotlight? Evaluate TikTok’s role in your digital marketing strategies to maximise impact on its vibrant audience
- Create snappy, fun, and captivating videos that get people talking, boosting both engagement and ROI in the process
Molly Peel, Head of Social Media, Red Carnation Hotels
Zoe Holland, Head of Brand & Acquisition, Travelopia (Citalia, Sovereign Luxury Travel, American Holidays)
Josh Pizey, Global Head of Social, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
Nikkita Satori-Sigrist, Social & Content Manager, Topdeck Travel
Alicia Hatcher, Marketing Manager, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
Perla Bloom, Global Senior Comms Planning Manager, Expedia
Justyna Bednarska, Marketing Deputy Director, LOT Polish Airlines
Kieran Shew, Managing Director, Trending Travel
DOUBLE PERSPECTIVE
DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES, MEASUREMENT & ATTRIBUTION
14.50 Translate Data Into Actionable Insights To Optimise Impact & Deliver Informed Experiences That Will Wow Your Customers At Every Touchpoint
- Deep dive into your data to uncover customer trends and preferences and explore exactly how to turn insights into actionable strategies that will secure bookings and bottom-line success
- Make informed decisions! Discover how to choose the best data tools for your brand to improve your marketing performance and drive ROI
- Learn how to navigate data privacy laws while still capturing the valuable insights that fuel informed marketing decisions, leading to better customer experience and engagement
14.50 Abhishek Choudhary, Senior Product Manager, Booking.com
15.10 Elizabeth Feehan, Senior Manager, Performance Marketing – Metasearch, Expedia Group
15.30 Bonus Session; Reserved For Exclusive Conference Partner
16.00 Afternoon Break With Informal Networking
PROACTIVE & VALUE-ADDING PERSONALISATION
16.30 Unlock Personalisation Perfection In Travel Marketing By Utilising Data, Navigating AI & Capturing Emotional Connections To Boost Conversions & Attract Prospective Travellers
- How can you stand out in a world flooded with information? Harness data-led personalisation to deliver unique experiences and create journeys that truly speak to individual needs and desires
- The changing world of data: discover new ways to provide tailored services while adhering to constantly updated data protection regulations to ensure your customers’ privacy is maintained
- Strike the right balance: how can you use AI within your marketing team to deliver personalised experiences that tap into the emotional core of travel? Unlock ways to create authentic, memorable campaigns that connect you with your audience and ultimately boost conversions
Scott Brown, Group Director of Sales & Marketing, Amante Capital
PANEL Q&A
CUSTOMER TRAVEL TRENDS
16.50 Unpack The Hottest Travel Trends By Crafting Travel Marketing Strategies Which Engage Destination-Focused Travellers & Drive Real Growth
- Bring your destinations to life! Focus on the unforgettable experiences and connections travellers crave and position your brand as the ultimate facilitator of meaningful adventures that create lasting memories
- With value-driven travel on the rise, shape digital campaigns that showcase how your brand delivers exceptional experiences at a great value, capturing the attention of savvy travellers who want quality without compromising on cost
- Locate the latest travel hotspots and uncover emerging destination trends – explore ways to capitalise on these to create buzzworthy campaigns that not only captivate travellers but also maximise your revenue potential
- Uncover the secret to why travellers hit “book now” and leverage those insights to launch campaigns that capture attention, spark excitement and drive bookings
Lisa Delaney, Head of Marketing & Lifestyle – Europe, Cathay Pacific
Clarissa Cappelletti, UK Country Manager, WeRoad
Amish Zinzuwadia, Senior Marketing Manager Paid App, Skyscanner
Jae Hopkins, Marketing Director, Explore Worldwide
Daniela Ridgwell, Team Lead CRM & Content Marketing UK, HolidayPirates Group
Ganna Koval, Vice President Loyalty, B2B & Promotions, Minor Hotels
Francesca Marotti, Brand Manager, lastminute.com
AUTHENTIC STORYTELLING
17.20 Weave Authentic Stories In Travel Marketing By Crafting Captivating Content, Evoking Real Experiences & Nurturing Genuine Connections That Resonate Deeply With Customers
- Cut through the noise by crafting content that not only captures attention but sparks action, drawing travellers in with authentic stories that make them excited to book their next trip with you
- Build a stronger connection with travellers by using sentimental storytelling—turning compelling narratives into measurable engagement that drives bookings and loyalty
- Showcase real moments to make your brand the go-to for authentic travel experience and watch customer satisfaction levels soar
- Discover new ways to stay on brand while creating content that feels personable to engage customers and turn interest into bookings
- Transform your customers into storytellers themselves by embracing user-generated content, foster a sense of community, whilst attracting new travellers by sharing firsthand experiences
Makoto Rheault-Kihara, VP of Growth, Hopper
17.40 Afternoon Co-Chairs’ Closing Remarks & Official Close Of Conference
