Advisory Council

A critical success factor to World Travel Market has been its ability to anticipate industry developments and trends and ensure these are reflected in the backbone of World Travel Market's strategic development. The WTM Advisory Council plays a critical role in this, pulling together industry leaders from across the globe that reflect regional interests and those of our key global stakeholders including exhibitors, buyers ,visitors, Meridian Club members and trade associations.

The Advisory Council has also helped World Travel Market reflect on key strategic issues such as Apartheid, Responsible Tourism, 9/11 as well as helping shape the business effectiveness of the event. World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, appreciates and values the industry insight the WTM Advisory Council offers and uses this strategic body to help shape and develop the event for the future.

The WTM Advisory Council members are:

Nikki White, Head of Destinations and Sustainability, ABTA Ltd. The Travel Association

Nikki White joined ABTA as Head of Destinations and Sustainability in October last year. Nikki has gained an impressive grasp of travel and tourism strategy over her years as Head of Strategy and Development at travel and leisure marketing experts Fox Kalomaski. Here she worked with a number of destinations as well as specialist agents, tour operators and airlines devising a range of strategic policies.

Nikki’s expertise in sustainable tourism has recently been enhanced by her completion of a Masters degree in Sustainable Development. Nikki is Head of Destinations and Sustainability at ABTA which includes responsibility for sustainability, operations, health and safety and crisis management.

Tracey Poggio, Chairman, Association of National Tourist Office Representatives (ANTOR)

Tracey has worked in the travel industry for over 15 years, having started her career in tour operation for specialist European operator Eagle Tours.

Moving into PR, she worked for city media and marketing agency, P.G.C. for 8 years, before becoming a founding Director of dotcom PR Ltd., a specialist online agency that went on to win the Docklands new business of the Year 1999, before it was sold.

In 2002 she started her own media consultancy Redleaf Associates working with a range of media, property and travel clients.

As a fellow Gibraltarian, Tracey has worked extensively throughout her career with the Gibraltar Tourist Board and currently heads up its UK marketing team.

Since 2006 she has been the Chairman of the Association of National Tourist Office Representatives (ANTOR), having been its vice-Chair from 2004-2006.

More on ANTOR

Tony Gonchar, Chief Executive Officer, American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)

Tony Gonchar assumed the role of CEO for ASTA in December 2010. A travel industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, his career has been marked by successful leadership roles in complex strategic planning; marketing and branding, sales management; and customer recognition and retention.

Prior to joining ASTA, he was the executive vice president of sales and marketing at Virtuoso, the global luxury travel consortium, where he was responsible for the company's member and supplier relationships, as well as all marketing programs and strategy.

Gonchar also spent seven years at Expedia running its private label and branded partnerships division. There, he was responsible for the identification, negotiation and execution of partnerships, acquisitions and integrations with smaller technology startups, as well as major multinational corporations. Additionally, he oversaw product planning, business development, account management, partner marketing, operations and public relations for the firm.

Most recently, he was a consultant for Microsoft, where he was responsible for building a CRM strategy for the online Microsoft Store division.

Before working in the travel industry, Gonchar was a database marketing partner for Bozell, and a manager of direct marketing for Bank of America. Gonchar received his B.A. in economics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

More on ASTA

Carol Hay, Director of Marketing, Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO)

Carol Hay is the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) director of marketing in the UK/ Europe. Carol leads the CTO’s operations in Europe, including designing, implementing and managing the organisation’s strategic marketing and public relations programmes for all European markets. Prior to joining the CTO, Carol was Antigua and Barbuda’s director of tourism for the UK and Europe, a position she held for four years.

Carol has over twenty years tourism experience and has worked extensively throughout the Caribbean and Europe’s, she holds a bachelors degree in administration and a masters degree in marketing.

More on CTO

Gareth James, Executive Secretary, European Tourism Action Group (ETAG)

Gareth James was born and brought up in Truro, Cornwall and after obtaining a degree in Hotel, Catering and Tourism from the University of Surrey joined the British Tourist Authority in 1968 where he worked for 34 years.
After short training spells in London, Frankfurt and Toronto Gareth was posted to the BTA office in Los Angeles where he was responsible for promoting tourism to Britain from the 12 Western States of the USA. After a short spell in London Gareth's next assignment was to Teheran where BTA was keen to capitalise on the growing interest in Britain by Iranians. After the revolution in 1979 Gareth returned to London before being posted to Sydney as Manager, Australia and New Zealand which was followed in 1988 by a seven year assignment as Manager, Canada based in Toronto.
Creating a new Brand for British Tourism was the project that brought Gareth back to London as well as working with the newly devolved Scotland and Wales tourism interests to develop a coordinated inbound UK tourism effort. Gareth's final overseas posting was to Tokyo before returning to London to help revive UK inbound tourism after the events of 9/11.
After retiring in 2002, Gareth took over from Bill Richards, the job of secretary of ETAG - a European organisation representing primarily SME's in the private sector. Gareth, who is married to Philippa lives in Kew,London,where they have an allotment.

Patricia Morris, Shadow Minister for Women, House of Lords

Bill Maxwell, Director and Treasurer, Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT)

Bill has 30 years experience in the travel industry specialising in contracting and business relationships. He started his career with the National Bus Company and worked with Wallace Arnold Group as Trade Relations Director. He has a long history of liaising with hoteliers and various other suppliers in the United Kingdom and Europe. Bill sits on the ABTA Code of Conduct Committee, as well as ABTA's Members Committee and UK Tourism Advisory Committee.

Philippe Forest, Country Manager for United Kingdom and Ireland, International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Philippe Forest is French nationality, speaking four languages (French, English, German and Swedish), with over 28 years of experience in the Air Transport Industry in prestigious corporations such as Pan Am, Lufthansa and British Airways Plc., where he reached solid achievements in operations.

On 1st June 2010, he has been appointed Country Manager for United Kingdom and Ireland on behalf of IATA.

Philippe Forest studied Economics at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany.

More on IATA

Gordon Innes, Chief Executive Officer, London & Partners

Gordon is London & Partners’ Chief Executive Officer.
Prior to joining London & Partners Gordon worked for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), where he led the team which oversees the UK’s transition to a green economy and the creation of a Green Investment Bank.

He also held senior positions at the Foreign Office and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). In UKTI, he was responsible for leading its network across the US, as well as the marketing and communications team that promoted the UK economy in North America. Prior to joining the public sector Gordon was a solicitor, both in the City and overseas.

He has worked extensively in both the private and public sectors and, over the years, his work has taken him to Melbourne, London, Brussels, and New York.

Ian Hawkes, Executive Director UK Chapter, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)

Ian has over 40 years' experience in travel industry sales and marketing having worked for BOAC, Qantas and latterly, AB Airlines and a couple of long haul tour operators. As managing director of Core Marketing Ltd., he is the Executive Director of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) UK Chapter and provides the administrative services for the Association of ATOL Companies (AAC). His managerial experience includes both UK and European sales and marketing with particular emphasis on advertising, pricing and promotion.

More one PATA

Nigel Vere Nicoll, Managing Director, African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA)

Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society (1972)

As a former MD of Abercrombie and Kent's Hotel & Lodge Division in Kenya, CEO of Wild Africa Safaris UK ,Head of Marketing Mount Charlotte Thistle Hotels UK, MD of Universal Travel and On Safari, and proprietor of two hotels in Scotland he has extensive experience in hotel management, tour operating & marketing in UK and Africa. Nigel sits on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Consular Stakeholder Panel and the Travel Advice Review Group (TARG) and is a member of the United Nations Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN) working on crisis management in the tourism sector.

Tom Jenkins, Executive Director, The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA)

Tom graduated from Bristol University with a BA in English & History. Following this he embarked on two years post-graduate research at London University’s Courtauld Institute. Before taking the reins at ETOA, Tom held a number of management positions at American Express, ultimately being responsible for all aspects of the company’s inbound leisure travel for scheduled tours, independent vacations and customised itineraries. Prior to joining American Express, Tom was a Director of Equinox Travel and before that he spent 5 years as a tour manager working for American Express and Thomas Cook.

Under Tom’s stewardship, ETOA’s scope of activities have broadened considerably, close relationships have been built with numerous legislators and other trade bodies and membership has more than doubled. He has been responsible for championing tourist access to historic cities, for initiating a Europe-wide coach safety code and for leading a campaign that successfully blocked changes to EU VAT legislation that would have jeopardised 5,000 tourism jobs in Europe. Tom is a ‘Tourism Expert’, often called upon by a variety of media including GM TV, BBC TV, CNN, CNBC & Radios 4 & 5.

More on ETOA

Ken Robinson, Chairman, Tourism Alliance (TA)

Ken Robinson describes himself as "a tourism enthusiast", and is an independent adviser who speaks and writes on tourism topics. He is Chair of the Tourism Alliance (2009/10) and a Board member of Tourism South East. His goal is to be a pragmatic pioneer of new initiatives, strategies and solutions to optimise the economic and social benefits of tourism. He believes Britain’s intrinsic tourism assets require political commitment to help the industry compete globally, and realise its potential. Past Chair of the Tourism Society, and of it’s Think Tank, he was awarded the CBE for services to Tourism in 1997.

Dermot Blastland, Non Executive Director, On The Beach

In August this year, Dermot Blastland, former TUI Travel UK and Ireland Managing Director, took on a senior role becoming a non executive director at leading online travel agency, On the Beach. Over the past few years, On the Beach has experienced rapid growth and recently became the first independent online travel agency to provide an ATOL approved trust to provide full protection for its customers.

Dermot is also a Trustee for the industry’s charity; Just a Drop – helping to deliver their long term strategy of reducing child mortality caused by unsafe water.

Dermot left TUI Travel in December 2010 after 22 years with the business where he led the integration of the Thomson and First Choice businesses in the UK and re-shaped its operations in Ireland. He was also the Director responsible for Sustainable Development on the Group Management Board and previously held positions as Managing Director of the Mainstream Sector of First Choice Holidays PLC, Managing Director of First Choice Holidays and Flights, Ski, Lakes and Mountains and President of Signature Vacations - First Choice's Canadian Division.

In May 2010 Dermot received the Ambassador Award for The Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Tourism in the British Travel & Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame ceremony.

Prior to joining TUI Travel in February 1988, he was Commercial Director at Thomson and subsequently Managing Director of Portland Holidays.

Mary Rance, CEO, UKInbound (UKI)

Mary Rance, Chief Executive UKinbound since September 2008, is responsible for the strategic and operational management of the Association and its lobbying activity with Government and opinion formers in the inbound industry. Mary has a career leading membership and business organizations in a range of sectors. As London Regional Director of the CBI until 2005, responsible for the largest Region of the CBI, Mary first became involved with many travel industry members and lobbying on transport issues including aviation policy. Mary graduated in law from Birmingham University, is married and has two daughters.

DR. Zoltán Somogyi, Executive Director, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Dr. Somogyi worked in the biggest Hungarian Travel Co. Ltd. IBUSZ from 1974 - 1990. After 1990 Dr. Somogyi established his own private enterprise (Law Office of Somogyi & Szentes) using his experiences in the very special field of tourism law. In 1996 he was appointed to the Ministry of Economy as Under-Secretary of the State in charge for tourism. Returning to the private sector in 1999 he became parallel to the assistant professor of the Budapest College of Economics. Early in the new millennium Dr. Somogyi has returned the public service, from 2002 as the Chairman of the Hungarian National Tourism Agency, then as the President of Hungarian Tourist Office, and at last as State Secretary for Tourism.

In 2007 he was appointed Ambassador of Hungary in Montenegro. But appreciating his experience and contribution to the work of the Organisation, he was elected to the World Committee of Ethics of the UNWTO. Since 1 January 2010 Dr. Somogyi is appointed to the post of the Executive Director of the World Tourism Organization responsible for memberships, relations and services.

More on UNWTO

Sandie Dawe, Chief Executive, VisitBritain (VB)

Sandie Dawe was appointed Chief Executive of VisitBritain in May 2009. She joined VisitBritain in 1991 and became director of Strategy and Communications in 1996.

During her time here she has led marketing, business development and publicity strategies to grow the value of tourism to Britain, including cruise, culture and heritage, business and sports tourism and the UK’s celebration of the Millennium. She established and then chaired the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group (TIER) during a period which covered issues such as SARS the Iraq wars and the terrorist bombings in London July 05.

An active spokesman, Sandie regularly appears on conference platforms and in the media, championing the interests of the tourism sector.

Before joining VisitBritain she worked in media, book publishing and tourism, including the BBC World Service, Book Marketing Council, the English Tourist Board and the London Tourist Board.

Sandie was awarded an MBE for her services to the tourist industry in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2008.

Geoffrey Breeze, Marketing Director, WTTC

Geoffrey Breeze is a career Marketor, starting with Procter & Gamble straight after university, and spending the next nine years in consumer goods marketing, before joining Avis International to run worldwide marketing. He spent fourteen years then running Hilton International's marketing, finally working on the alliance that re-united the U.S. and international Hilton brands. He has also worked extensively in technology in both the entertainment and travel industries, and was until recently regional Vice President of Strategy and Marketing for the Sabre GDS. Geoffrey is a long-time supported of the World Travel & Tourism Council, which he joined as Marketing Director earlier this year.