TravTalk India Online Magazine
Women can be powerful agents of change. Though benefit of diversity and gender parity in leadership is being increasingly recognised in all spheres, women continue to be vastly under-represented in businesses and communities. TRAVTALK features six dynamic decision-makers from the world of travel.
Julia Simpson, President & CEO, WTTC
Over the past two years, the global travel and tourism sector has suffered tremendous losses. The year 2022 is poised for a strong recovery if governments continue to open up and remove restrictions on travel. Our sector could recover more than 58 million jobs and generate $8.6 trillion, which would boost economic recovery around the world. As people start travelling again, governments must implement simplified rules, including the use of digital solutions. Travel in the future should be contactless while guaranteeing safety.
Petra Hedorfer, Chair of the GNTB’s Executive Board
Accessibility is a central element in the design of high-quality and sustainable tourism. All travellers benefit from the associated service orientation, including people with impairments as well as older people or families with children. Our diverse offer already makes an effective contribution to the socially responsible tourism of the future and strengthens our position among the international competition. Accessible Tourism Day is an excellent platform to share the GNTB’s know-how on the topic of inclusion and to network international experts with partners in German tourism.
Kanika Soni Chief Commercial Officer, Tripadvisor
Despite the new variants of COVID-19, consumers across the globe still want to travel and explore. This is evident in Tripadvisor’s month-over-month search data, which shows a consistent, healthy increase in page views post the holidays. Travellers are quickly adapting to the local public health conditions. The top three most important considerations, across the markets surveyed, in future travel plans to visit a destination were to get immersed by seeing new places, having new experiences and learning about history and culture.
Kelly Craighead, President & CEO, CLIA
The 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report provides an opportunity to reflect on how far our industry has come as CLIA ocean-going cruise lines have welcomed more than six million guests onboard since resuming operations in July 2020. While our focus on health and safety remains absolute, our industry is also leading the way in environmental sustainability. Coastal and maritime tourism is an important economic driver, and we will continue to work in partnership with cruise destinations so that communities thrive from responsible tourism.
Shannon Knapp, President & CEO, The Leading Hotels Of The World
Take an hour a day to discover and focus on your personal business goals and objectives. It’s critical to take this time to read and be inspired so you can come up with new ideas and new ways of approaching challenges to accomplish personal goals. I choose to challenge by continuing to grow a progressive organisation that celebrates individuality, inclusion, and equality. At LHW, generations of intrepid females have paved the way for extraordinary women in hospitality. The company’s first President in 1950, was a woman.
Rathi Murthy, CTO & President, Expedia Services, Expedia Group
As travellers look for more guidance booking their trip, I predict that travel apps will make the move from transactional interactions to a trusted travel companion. From recommendations that shape travel aspirations to seamless transitions between voice, chat, and touch, travel apps will need to adapt to traveller needs moment to moment. Exciting advancements in AI and other technologies will play a critical role in delivering services that will make every traveller feel like the platform is built to serve them.
Inputs by Hazel Jain
