A World for Travel Conference 2024 concludes in Seville
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Tourism
The 2024 A World for Travel Conference, powered by Eventiz in partnership with the Resilience Council gathered prominent figures and leaders in the global travel industry, highlighting the sector’s achievements, ongoing sustainability efforts, and the essential road forward. Hosted in Seville, this year’s event offered a comprehensive agenda focused on industry performance, climate resilience, energy transitions, and community engagement. With a diverse lineup of industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, the conference underscored the transformative potential of tourism in driving environmental and social progress worldwide.
Conference Highlights and Key Takeaways
Day 1: Shaping the Industry’s Sustainable Future
Opening Remarks
The conference opened with a welcome by Rajan Datar, BBC journalist and the event’s Master of Ceremonies. He introduced Christian Delom, Secretary General of A World for Travel, and Madame Ángela María Moreno Ramó, Deputy Mayor of Seville, who both emphasized the importance of advancing sustainable tourism and highlighted Seville’s commitment to leading in eco-conscious tourism practices.
Industry Performance and Sustainability Outlook
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), provided a compelling overview of the travel industry’s performance, discussing challenges such as recovery from the pandemic, economic impacts, and the importance of sustainable growth. Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President of Advocacy at WTTC, then joined Rajan Datar for a deep dive into the current state of sustainability in travel, focusing on the global industry’s response to climate concerns and sustainable progress.
Morning Sessions: Climate Mitigation and Innovative Solutions
Session 1: Climate Mitigation – Coolcationing
The first session centered on climate change and the concept of “coolcationing,” or adapting destinations to counter high temperatures. Claire Hanney (Managing Director, The Travel Corporation), Jane McFadzean (Senior Director of Global Sustainability and ESG, Trip.com Group), and Andy Fairburn (Co-Founder/Director, Nordic Tourism Collective) shared insights into how destinations can adapt offerings to suit climate realities. These speakers highlighted solutions that align public and private sector efforts in response to temperature increases, emphasizing the importance of redesigning tourism experiences for resilience.
Keynote: Sustainable Cruising
In a keynote address, Wassim Daoud, Head of CSR and Sustainability at PONANT, tackled the question of sustainable cruising. He explored how eco-friendly technologies, itinerary adjustments, and operational shifts can contribute to greener maritime tourism. This session highlighted cruising’s unique sustainability challenges and demonstrated the role of responsible operations at sea.
Spotlight 1: Planning for Heat Resilience
Nikos Gkolfinopoulos, Head of Tourism at ICF, led a focused session on planning for heat resilience in tourism. He offered practical insights into infrastructure and planning adjustments that tourism hubs need to adapt to rising global temperatures, stressing the importance of resilience in tourism destinations.
Afternoon Sessions: Winter Sports and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Initiatives
Session 2: Adapting Winter Resorts to Climate Change
With the warming climate impacting snowfall, ski resorts are reassessing their futures. Speakers including Kelly Pawlak (CEO, National Ski Areas Association), Joe Hession (CEO, Snow Partners), and Sebastien Travelletti (Chairman, Anzere Tourisme SA) discussed how winter resorts are coping by exploring diversification strategies and alternative year-round attractions. The speakers presented approaches to adapt to reduced snowfall, from artificial snow production to infrastructure adjustments that make resorts attractive outside the winter season.
Tête-à-Tête: Sustainability from Outer Space
Professor Laurence Monnoyer-Smith, Head of Sustainable Development at CNES (French Space Agency), engaged in a one-on-one discussion with Rajan Datar about how satellite technology and space-based observations can support sustainability initiatives on Earth. She illustrated the power of space technology in tracking environmental changes and informing global policy.
Session 3: Addressing ESG in Travel and Tourism
This session addressed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, an increasingly critical component of the travel industry. Carlota Galvan (Head of ESG, HBX Group), Jessica Matthias (Global Sustainability Director, Sabre Corporation), Lucas Bobes (Group Environmental Officer, Amadeus), and Geraldine Koenig (Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Beachcomber Resorts) discussed how ESG frameworks are shaping corporate responsibility and stakeholder engagement. This session clarified distinctions between ESG reporting and broader sustainability initiatives, emphasizing transparency and accountability.
Day 1 Afternoon Highlights: Energy Transitions and Rail Travel
Session 4: Decarbonization Through Renewable Energy
The travel industry’s decarbonization efforts were in the spotlight as Lucas Bobes (Amadeus), Africa Abajas (ICF), Inge Huijbrechts (Radisson Hotel Group), and Wassim Daoud (PONANT) discussed the role of renewable energy. Each speaker explored sector-specific strategies for emissions reduction and operational sustainability, sharing case studies on renewable energy integration within travel services.
Session 5: Embracing Rail for Sustainable Travel
Rail travel’s eco-friendly benefits and growing popularity were addressed by Florencia Allo Moreno (Intrepid), Valentine Camusot (Rail Europe), and Claire Hanney (The Travel Corporation). This session emphasized the economic and environmental benefits of rail, as well as its ability to enhance traveler experience, setting a sustainable benchmark for the tourism sector. Ian Taylor, Executive Editor of Travel Weekly, moderated the session, guiding a discussion on rail’s pivotal role in decarbonizing travel.
Session 6: Gen Z’s Vision for Future Travel
Closing Day 1, 16 students from the IEFT (School of Tourism Management) shared their visions for the future of travel, outlining their aspirations for a sustainable tourism industry. Hosted by Christian Delom, this session provided a platform for fresh perspectives, highlighting Gen Z’s enthusiasm for environmental responsibility and inclusivity in travel.
Day 2: Exploring Sustainable Standards, Financial Innovation, and Community-Centric Tourism
Keynote: Sustainable Standards in Major Events
Madame Hamida Rezeg, Vice President of Iles de France Region, delivered an insightful keynote on the sustainability measures implemented during the Paris Olympics. She discussed how the Games have set a standard for large-scale event sustainability, from energy use to waste management, offering valuable lessons for future events and tourism projects.
Spotlight 3: Business Travel in the Climate Era
Catherine Logan, Senior Vice President EMEA and APAC at GBTA, led a session on climate-sensitive business travel. Her insights emphasized the need for corporate travel policies that balance business goals with sustainability objectives, particularly in the evolving post-pandemic landscape.
Session 7: Impact Investing and Sustainable Financing
Financing sustainable tourism initiatives was the focus of this session, featuring Nikolaos Gkolfinopoulos (ICF), Suzanna Chiu (Amadeus Ventures), Julia Sattel (Clearsky Fund), Nico Nicholas (ZEERO), and Bobby Demri (Roch Ventures). The speakers discussed how investment in sustainable tourism can drive innovative solutions and positive economic impact, underscoring the stories and metrics that attract investors’ attention.
Spotlight 4: Every Action Counts in Sustainable Travel
Nico Nicholas, CEO and Founder of ZEERO by Trees for Travel, presented a brief session on actionable steps for sustainable travel. He emphasized the importance of individual and collective actions in making travel more environmentally responsible.
Session 8: The Long Tail of Change
In this session, Jehan de Thé (Europcar Mobility Group), Alastair Crossley (AXA Partners), and Catherine Logan (GBTA) explored the evolving regulatory landscape, focusing on double materiality and EU reporting requirements. They discussed the ways in which regulations drive corporate responsibility and long-term industry transformation.
Session 9: Regenerative Tourism and Community Engagement
The day continued with a session on regenerative travel, featuring Dr. Misa Labarile (EU Commission), Jillian Dickens (The Transformational Travel Council), Anne Lotter (GTTP), and Ola Wright (West Africa Tourism Association). They discussed community-centered approaches that foster deeper, more meaningful connections between travelers and local cultures, ensuring tourism benefits host communities.
Afternoon Wrap-Up: Communication, Positioning, and the Road Ahead
Spotlight 5: Practical Steps Toward Sustainability
Jessica Matthias, Sustainability Director at Sabre Corporation, outlined five practical steps for companies to embed sustainability into their travel business models. Her session provided actionable strategies, demonstrating the importance of integrating environmental goals with business growth.
Session 10: Communicating Your Sustainable Story
The final session on effective communication in sustainable tourism featured Shaon Talukder (Geotourist), Natasha Syed (JC Decaux), and Mary Harris (Bird Global Advisory). Moderated by Rajan Datar, the session emphasized the importance of storytelling and engagement for building lasting value, attracting investors, and engaging travelers. Each speaker shared examples of how effective messaging can highlight a company’s commitment to sustainability and resonate with global audiences.
Closing Remarks
Frederic VanHoute (Eventiz Media) and Christian Delom (A World for Travel) offered closing reflections, underscoring the conference’s role in advancing sustainable practices across the tourism industry. They celebrated the event’s successes and reaffirmed the industry’s dedication to sustainability as an enduring commitment that will shape the future of global tourism.
Conclusion: A Collaborative Vision for Sustainable Tourism
The 2024 A World for Travel Conference concluded with a sense of shared purpose. This gathering demonstrated that by embracing sustainable practices, prioritizing community impact, and fostering