Day 1
Friday 16 February 2024

 

08:00 – 09:00 Registration

 

09:00 – 10:00 Opening Ceremony

 

Speakers:

 

• Welcome – Prof. Lloyd Waller, Executive Director, GTRCMC
• Greetings from the Main Sponsor – Dr. Stacy Kennedy, Regional Manager for the Caribbean, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
• Entertainment
• Special Presentation – Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica and Founder/Co-Chair, GTRCMC
• Keynote Address – HE. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UNWTO | UNWTO.

 

10:00 – 10:30Coffee Break

 

10:30 – 11:45 Panel 1: Building Tourism ‘Digital’ Resilience’

Building Tourism’s Digital Resilience” is an interactive panel discussion aimed at examining the changing environment of the tourist sector after the fast-paced progress in technology. The purpose of this workshop is to provide insight into the ways in which digital innovation is transforming the industry, including advancements in technology and innovative business models. The panel has a roster of proficient experts who will thoroughly examine present patterns, providing helpful perspectives on effectively maneuvering and adjusting to forthcoming digital transformations.

 

Moderator: Mr. Ative Ennis, Senior Research Fellow, GTRCMC

 

Speakers:

 

• Min. The Hon. Dr. Dana Morrison-Dixon, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister Responsibility: Skills and Digital Transformation
• Mr. Devon Bryan, Chief Information Officer, Carnival Corporation
• Cordel Green, Executive Director, Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica
• Dushyant Savadia, Founder and CEO, Amber Group
• Eric Sutfin, Founder & CMSO – ZEAL (Remote)
• Dr Luz Longsworth, Senior Corporate Director, Sandals Corporate University
• Dr. Cary Wallace, Executive Director, Tourism Enhancement Fund

 

11:50 – 13:00 Panel 2: Building Tourism ‘Infrastructure’ Resilience

 

Building Tourism ‘Infrastructure’ Resilience will have a specialized session called “Enhancing Resilience in Tourism Infrastructure”. The panel will analyze the resilience of key industries such as cruise lines, airlift services, hotels, attractions, airports, land, and ports. Industry experts will convene to deliberate on the strategies for each sector, focusing on key areas like efficiency, sustainability, and safety. The objective of this session is to examine advanced technology, effective management techniques, and collaborations between public and private sectors that are necessary for the establishment of sustainable tourism infrastructure. This panel is ideal for professionals and individuals involved in the tourism industry as it offers the chance to get valuable insights on the development of tourist infrastructures that are resilient to future challenges.

 

Moderator: Dr. Omar Robinson

 

Speakers:

 

• Mr. Wade Mars, Executive Director, The Tourism Product Development Company Limited
• Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
• John Byles, Managing Partner at Chukka Caribbean Adventures and Executive Director, Chukka Cove
• Nicola Madden-Greig, President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
• Joy Roberts, Executive Director, Jamaica Vacations Limited
• Shane Munroe, Chief Executive Officer, Montego Bay Jamaica Airports Limited

 

13:00 – 14:00Lunch Break

 

14:00 – 15:15 Panel 3: Women in Tourism Resilience

Women in tourism Resilience is a thought-provoking panel discussion that highlights the vital role of women in the development of the tourist sector. The panel is organized around three main topics: Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Leadership, and Networking and Collaboration. The event will exhibit the remarkable accomplishments of women as inventors and entrepreneurs, emphasizing their ability to pioneer and use technology to transform the tourist industry. The conversation will thereafter shift towards the empowerment and guidance of women, examining methods to overcome obstacles in the sector, cultivate inclusive settings, and motivate a fresh cohort of female leaders.

 

Moderator: Aradhana Khowala – CEO & Founder, Aptamind Partners

 

Speakers:

 

• Ms. Jennifer A. Griffith, CD, JP, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jamaica
• Gloria Fluxà, Vice-Chair and Chair of its Sustainability Committee, The World Travel & Tourism Council
• Sheila Johnson, Co-founder of BET, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts
• Shakira Maxwell, Senior Research Fellow, Gender, Policy and Tourism Resilience Strategies, GTRCMC
• Lisa Indar, Director, Surveillance Disease Prevention and Control Division at Caribbean Public Health Agency

 

15:20 – 16:30 Panel 4: Funding Tourism Resilience

‘The conference panel ” Funding in Tourism Resilience” is crucial to tourism resilience’s future. This workshop examines how international organizations create and execute tourist resilience financing strategies. Senior experts from international organisations will discuss mobilizing tourist resilience resources in this session. The discussion will include identifying international organization financing options, understanding the criteria and methods for acquiring them, and implementing them in varied tourist settings. International financing has improved tourist resilience in case studies, which the panelists will discuss best practices and lessons learned. Tourism professionals, politicians, and stakeholders seeking international financial guidance will benefit from this presentation.

 

Moderator: Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, UNWTO

 

Speakers:

 

• Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism for Jamaica and Founder/Co-Chair, GTRCMC
• Oscar Avalle, Country Representative, El Salvador and Northern Caribbean, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
• Nataliya Mylenko, Lead Economist for the Caribbean, World Bank
• Nicola Madden-Greig, President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
• Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO, ITIC Ltd & Invest Tourism Ltd – Virtual
• Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism for Cayman, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)
• Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean

 

16:30 Plenary and Conference Summary

 

17:00 Wrap-up Session