Future of Tourism Summit 2019: Top Global Destination Experts arrive in SL

CNN’s Richard Quest leads a line-up of star speakers and distinguished panelists sharing insights and strategies to power sustainable industry recovery

Facilitating the resurgence of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry at an accelerated pace, the highly anticipated third edition of the Future of Tourism Summit (FOT 2019), will be held on September 23, 2019 at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts. Exploring topics under the timely theme, Challenges and Growth in Crisis, this year’s summit has attracted some of the world’s top destination experts, helmed by CNN’s foremost business correspondent Richard Quest.  

Endorsed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), FOT 2019 will focus on sensitive topics that will bring to light the recovery and rebuilding efforts of an industry such as tourism that contributes substantially to the economic growth of many countries around the world. With the specialist knowledge of the participating global experts and local industry leaders, the Summit will address a myriad of topics under the theme, discussing insights and sustainable strategies that can be integral in overcoming challenges faced by the hospitality and tourism industry of a travel destination such as Sri Lanka.  

Leading this year’s exclusive line up of speakers is Richard Quest -- famed CNN international correspondent, business editor and host of Quest Means Business. He will also hold a special discussion on the future of tourism both locally and globally with none other than the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe. Other star speakers include Anita Mendiratta – Special Adviser to the Secretary General of the UNWTO. She will kick-off the summit with her keynote address on her topic, ‘Rising Above - Emerging Stronger through Crisis’. Puneet Chhatwal - Managing Director and CEO of Taj Hotels -- TATA Group, will share his own experiences and initiatives through his topic ‘Recovering from a Crisis and rebuilding the brand’.  
Dileep Mudadeniya, Vice President John Keells Holdings, Head of Brand Marketing Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts and CEO Cinnamon Life Mall will be joined by both Puneet Chhatwal and Anita Mendiratta with Kishu Gomes, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, for the FOT 2019 summit for a panel discussion on ‘Building a recovery marketing plan for all sectors’ moderated by Damian Cook, CEO of E-Tourism Frontiers, who is also scheduled to speak at the event on ‘Priority actions, partners and channels when connecting with resilient markets.’  

The summit will also feature Ashish Hemrajani, Founder and CEO of Book My Show. He will speak on the ‘Role of Entertainment in Destination Rebuilding’, Rene Massati, Partner at TrendOne GmBh, on ‘Use of Design Thinking for Creative Solutions in Marketing’, Vesta Ratkeviciute, Senior Regional Communications and Marketing Consultant at Southeast Asia Euromonitor International, on ‘Global Consumer Trends; Opportunities for the Travel Industry’, Michael Yam, CEO and Managing Director of Impetus Alliance, on ‘The breakthrough in Investment tourism’, Vidhi Godiawala, Business Development Manager, Central and South Asia, STR on ‘Post recovery of Accommodation Sector - Lessons from other Destinations’ and Derek Jones, CEO of DER Touristik UK, on ‘Building Destination Confidence Among Tour Operators’.  
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