On the occasion of its fifth anniversary, the Resilience Council takes a look back as well as forward and shares key lessons learned around preparedness, crisis management and resilience.  Four topics are central to our messaging for the industry.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLANNING, BE PREPARED 

When the Resilience Council was launched in 2016, the world was dealing with terrorism.  JMG launched this initiative to help build confidence in the traveller through increasing destination preparedness and on-going resilience.  Very few wanted to speak about the topic but quickly the need overcame hesitation.  We have learned a lot about crisis management planning.  The key elements and where it is working now 5 years later.  Who is planning and who isn’t?  What are some case studies that underscore the value of CMP?  What will we be looking at for the next 5 years around crisis preparedness and planning?

Speaker:   Jill Sinclair, CEO, Global Health Assured

SUSTAINABILITY BUILDS RESILIENCE  

It may have been around for decades in various parts of the travel industry, but the industry as a whole has not made sustainability mainstream.  On the contrary, even the definition is not the same for everyone.  For purposes of this event, we will discuss both the social and environmental aspects of sustainability.  What are the successes and where are the stumbling blocks to that mainstreaming?  Our speaker will have just returned from a global event on the subject and along with her insights we will hear what transpired at this groundbreaking event as well as her view of the global industry.

Speakers:  Yolanda Perdomo, Global Tourism Strategist, ICF

THE IMPORTANCE OF REAL-TIME INFORMATION

One of the first lessons learned as the Resilience Council began working with destinations five years ago was the need and utilization or lack thereof for information.  All businesses are overwhelmed by data but few can turn the date into real time information.  Our speakers will share some key learnings about the industry and the power of real-time data.

Speakers:

Kayee Cheung, VP Global Innovation, Skyscanner LTD.

Carlos Cendra, CMO, Mabrian Technologies

CRISIS COMMUNICATION DETERMINES THE OUTCOME

Communication is at the heart of resilience.  Identifying perception issues is the constant work of public relations companies who work with destinations.  Once identified, messaging has to address the reality and ensure the all are succinct and in tandem.  Crisis communication is that much more difficult because there is a time constraint to it.  Within the first 69 minutes of a crisis the messaging has to be out before the citizen journalist is leading the narrative.  Our speakers will share tricks of the trade.

Speaker: Debbie Flynn, Managing Partner, Global Travel Practice Leader, FINN Partners

Moderator for each segment: Ian Taylor, Executive Editor, Travel Weekly