Asian Resilience Summit

Organised by the Resilience Council, alongside partner the Nepal Tourism Board, this event will review successful policies in Nepal which led to stabilization and growth of the travel sector.

Session 1: Keynote interview with selected dignitaries

Following Dr Rifai’s remarks, this session will address which countries have harnessed the economic driver of tourism and ensured resiliency through proper positioning of the sector.  Global leaders of travel and tourism will discuss case studies and how to continue to thrive and how values in tourism look from global and regional perspectives.  Q&A with

Dr. Taleb Rifai, Co-Chairman, The Resilience Council

H.E. Edmund Bartlett CD, MP, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica Tourism Board

H.E. Jing Xu, Regional Director, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)

Ian Taylor, Executive Editor, Travel Weekly Group

Session 2: Sustainability meets resilience in Nepal

A well-known global special interest operator will explain what PEAK looks for in its destination partners regarding resiliency and what they have found unique about Nepal.  A global PR firm, Edelman will share key elements in communicating globally and what expectations are.  In response, speakers will hear what pillars in the local industry think are missed opportunities in marketing Nepal abroad.  The Nepali panelists will showcase Nepal’s travel opportunities which drive their inbound traffic in comparison to challenges they have faced or are facing where sustainable tourism leads to resiliency.

Natalie Kidd, Managing Director, PEAK DMC aka Himalayan Encounters

Raj Gyawali, Managing Director, Social Tours

Yogendra Shakya, Managing Director, Ace Hotels

Robin Amatya, CEO, Sabah Nepal

Session 3: Communication and training

Global experts will share their experiences in communication plans prior to, during and post a crisis. In the age of social media, building trust is a key element in communication. What works and what does not.  After questions, the speakers will share key pointers in communicating and take focused questions on digital mediums and technologies.

Natasha Martin, Event Moderator & Managing Director, Bannikin Travel and Tourism

Virginia Ngai, Director of Strategy, CatchOn

Damian Cook, CEO, E-Tourism Frontiers

Michael Goldsmith, Founder, Magellan Marketing, Las Vegas

Paul Charles, Founder & CEO, PC Agency

Prof. Lloyd Waller, Executive Director, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, Jamaica

Session 4: Growing business through local opportunities, impact tourism and cultural heritage

We will look at best practices from global marketing firms who regularly struggle with identifying USPs, fine tuning messaging, pricing tactics, creative direction and communication to encourage business between Asia and Europe.  The session will focus on uncovering true gems within a destination and using tourism to drive social change through innovation.

Anil Chitrakar, President, Siddharthinc

Ibrahim Osta, Director, Middle East and North Africa, Chemonics International

Paras Loomba, CEO, Global Himalayan Expedition

Dr. Ghana Gurung, Country Representative, WWF Nepal

Suzanne Al Houby, Owner, Rahhalah Adventures and Summiteer

Session 5: Applying data for targeted action

TripAdviser analysis of Asian destinations/resiliency in comparison to key European destinations/resiliency.  Data is playing a significant role in successful push for market share, what tools are out there and how can they be used?

Sixit Bhatta, Co-Founder/CEO, Tootle

Sarah Mathews, Head of Destination Marketing, APAC, TripAdvisor

Session 6: Maximising opportunities found within cultural diversity

The various beliefs, behaviours and practices that keep society vibrant present a myriad of opportunities and certainly some challenges. Our panel will explore these elements, looking at Eastern and Western norms within the travel industry. What benefits are derived and what concerns need to be addressed, given the demand for deeply experiential travel. Do the geographic dispositions of operators service their targeted customer and how are companies capitalizing yet adapting? What challenges are faced and do these decisions feed into long term sustainability?

Kanak Mani Dixit, Founder, Himal South Asian

Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)

Prof. Wolfgang Arlt, Founder & Director, COTRI – China Outbound Tourism Research Institute

Ajay Prakash, President, IIPT – India

Adam Vaught, Director, Sales and Operations, Zicasso

Phil Sylvester, Head, PR/Media Comms, Travel Safety Expert, World Nomads

Tom Jenkins, CEO, European Tourism Association

Session 7: Bright ideas – future trends

Our panel will discuss the range of opportunities for public private partnerships within the travel and tourism sector in Nepal and what entrepreneurs are doing to make use of these resources.  Who has been successful and why.  How success is measured and are these sustainable programmes with built in resiliency.

Gail Moaney, Managing Partner, Director, Finn Partners

Prof. Sudarshan Raj Tiwari, Architect & Co-Chair, Academic Council

Omar Samra, Founder, Wild Guanabana

Yuvika Bhandari, Executive Director, Shashi Holidays

Dawa Steven Sherpa, Managing Director, Asian Trekking

Kiran Yadav, Chairman & Managing Director, Success TryAngles

Paul Rogers, CEO, Planet Happiness