Travel trade professionals from across the world gathered online today (June 1) for the first day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Virtual, a newly-launched three-day event for the region’s tourism community. 

 

The debut event, which runs from June 1-3, places a focus on emerging trends, opportunities, and the challenges which are directly impacting the travel and tourism industry amid the Covid-19 global health pandemic.

 

Over the course of three days, ATM Virtual will feature comprehensive webinars, live conference sessions, roundtables, speed networking events, and one-to-one meetings, as well as facilitating new connections and offering a wide range of online business opportunities. 

 

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), said: “Our debut event not only underscores ATM’s mission to support and guide the region’s vast travel and tourism industry during and beyond Covid-19, but it also demonstrates our commitment to delivering positive business and networking opportunities to the entire community, during even the most challenging times.

 

“With up to four live high-level sessions each day, industry experts will address a range of topics including a road map to recovery, tourism strategies for the future, the hotel landscape in a post-Covid-19 world, and the resilience of the travel industry, as well as exploring the ‘new normal’ that lies ahead, emerging travel technology and sustainability trends.”

 

Kicking off proceedings, the opening session ‘A Conversation with Sir Tim Clark’ will took place from 11:00am – 12:00pm GST (8.00am – 9.00am BST) on June 1. The President of Emirates Airline spoke to John Strickland about his time at the airline, its response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its plans for the future, as well as unveiling Emirates strategy, including planned fleet and network changes.

 

Another key event taking place on the first day is ‘OTAs & Distribution for Tours & Attractions post-Covid’. Run by Arival, the global research authority on the tours, activities and attractions sector, this session will focus on the rise of online travel agencies, the re-opening of operations, and what this means for tour and attraction operators across the Middle East.

 

To view the full agenda, visit the ATM Virtual portal.

 

Meanwhile, other highlights from day one include ‘Communicating and Building Confidence Now’ and ‘The Hotel Landscape in a post-Covid-19 World’ sessions.

 

A series of independently moderated, pre-recorded on-demand roundtables have been designed to discuss emerging hot topics such as domestic travel, luxury travel trends, corporate travel, the challenges faced by travel providers and agencies and tourism recovery plans.

 

And, one-to-one pre-scheduled 30-minute meetings between editors, exhibitors, and buyers will also take place, while live video sessions will include Q&As and polls which will be run alongside the presentations to enable audience interaction.

 

As well as addressing the impact the global health pandemic has had on the hospitality industry, the debut ATM Virtual will provide travel professionals with a wealth of information, advice and support to cope with the current crisis and planning for the future.

 

ATM Virtual takes place from June 1 to 3. To register for the event as a visitor, please log on to: atmvirtual.eventnetworking.com/register/ . 

 

For media registrations, please go to: atmvirtual.eventnetworking.com/register/media . - TradeArabia News Service