Richard Quest is CNN's foremost international business correspondent and anchor of Quest Means Business, the definitive word on how we earn and spend our money. Based in New York, he is one of the most instantly recognisable members of the CNN team. Quest hosts CNN International's signature monthly feature program, Quest's World of Wonder, an immersive travel series that finds him exploring a new destination each month and meeting fascinating people who reveal the heart of that city. Quest’s dynamic and distinctive style have made him a unique figure in business broadcasting. Quest Means Business destroys the myth that business is boring, bridging the gap between hard economics and entertaining television. Guests of the show have included world leaders such as David Cameron and Petr Necas of the Czech Republic; Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase and Robert Zoellick, the former President of the World Bank; European policymakers including IMF boss Christine Lagarde, EC President Jose Manuel Barroso, and former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn; and some of the most influential names in corporate America including DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and Ford CEO Alan Mulally. Quest also serves as CNN Business editor-at-large and often hosts the digital live financial show "Markets Now" live streamed from the floor of the NYSE at CNNBusiness.com. He regularly reports from G20 meetings and attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, each year. Quest has covered every major stock market and financial crisis since Black Monday in 1987 and has reported from key financial centres globally, including Wall Street, London, Sao Paolo, Tokyo and Hong Kong. In addition, Quest is CNN's established airline and aviation correspondent, where he presents the monthly CNN Business Traveller show, the definitive authority on making the most of doing business on the road - moving from A to B on company time. As a business travel specialist, Quest has become a voice of authority on subjects like the launch of the Airbus A380. He has interviewed all the major airline executives, including current Delta CEO Ed Bastian, AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes and President of Emirates Sir Timothy Charles Clark. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) awarded Quest the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for his reporting on the travel business. Quest extensively covered the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 across CNN/US and CNNI. He travelled to Kuala Lumpur, where he landed a television exclusive interview with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. His book 'The Vanishing of Flight MH370: The True Story of the Hunt for the Missing Malaysian Plane' details his unique perspective on covering MH370 for CNN. Quest's coverage of breaking news, which has spanned more than three decades, has seen him report on a range of stories, from the death of Yasser Arafat and the Lockerbie Pan Am 103 crash to the death of Michael Jackson. Quest is more than just business; few journalists have had guests as varied, from His Holiness, The Dalai Lama to actress Joan Collins to the founder of Playboy Magazine, Hugh Hefner. In 2014, Quest fronted the CNN Freedom Project documentary Cocoa-nomics, which explored how the chocolate industry is trying to eradicate slavery from its supply chains. Joined by an executive vice president at Nestle, Quest visited cocoa plantations in Ivory Coast to see if any progress had been made in the fight against child labour. Prior to joining CNN, he worked at the BBC, where he was the North America business correspondent based on Wall Street for 12 years. Quest is British, holds an LLB (Hons) degree in Law from Leeds University, and was called to the Bar.

Sarah Allard is a seasoned digital media professional and digital director at Condé Nast Traveller UK, leading the strategy and editorial direction for the brand’s digital content. With 15 years’ experience in digital publishing and nearly a decade in senior editorial roles, Sarah has become a recognised voice in travel journalism, shaping content that informs and inspires. Sarah built her editorial expertise across several prominent lifestyle and consumer media brands. She began her career in editorial production and wellbeing content at GoodtoKnow, rising to digital editor before moving to Hitched as editor, where she drove audience growth and engagement with creative, user-centred content while maintaining a strong commitment to inclusivity in storytelling. Since joining Condé Nast Traveller in December 2021, Sarah has overseen digital content that spans travel trends, destination guides and reported features – blending insightful journalism with a keen eye for cultural nuance and reader engagement. Sarah’s industry presence has led to regular commentary for broadcast and print outlets on travel and lifestyle news and trends, from Evening Standard, Sky News and The Independent, to Stylist and BBC. She also makes regular panel and podcast appearances, chatting about anything from the pitching process to the latest travel trends. Based in East London, Sarah spends her weekends eating at the city’s newest dining spots (all in the name of research for Traveller's best new restaurants in London list, of course), most likely with a martini close by. She loves to travel, and foodie city breaks are her favourite. This year’s bucket list includes Milan, Iceland, New York and Japan.

After starting her journalism career at consumer travel and lifestyle magazine Coast over a decade ago, Madeleine has since racked up nine years of B2B experience at TTG, the UK and Ireland’s most trusted source of information for travel agents since 1953. Now primarily managing a commercial content team, she carves out time to explore the world and create editorial articles and videos that have seen her win seven awards. Madeleine strives to build a smarter, better, fairer travel industry by featuring more sustainable holiday choices and positive-impact experiences where she can, often focusing on adventure and off-the-beaten-track destinations.

Jonny Bentwood leads 120 data scientists at Golin to provide outcome-based measurement and insights, including pioneering approaches to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to help brands maximise visibility across AI platforms. An executive board member, Jonny has transformed PR measurement. His team has won AMEC Communications Research & Measurement Team for the past seven consecutive years, alongside Gold Cannes Lions for Creative Effectiveness, Grands Prix Platinum for Measurement, and the Sabre Platinum Measurement Award. His approach connects communications directly to business outcomes, proving that data-driven insights combined with creative storytelling deliver winning programmes. He provides strategic counsel to PepsiCo, ASICS, Specsavers, Walmart, McDonald’s, The World Economic Forum, and Meta. His MTV innovation was named Time's top Twitter moment of the year, with work featured on CNN, Sky News, Fox, the New York Times, and the BBC. A sought-after speaker on data-driven communications and AI visibility strategies, Jonny has presented at the Royal Society, Stanford University, Oxford University, Temple, and Social Media Week.

Greg Dickinson is an award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience in travel writing. He has presented dozens of short-form documentaries and hosted two Telegraph podcast series (Edgelands and Postcards). Before joining the Telegraph, he edited and researched guidebooks for Rough Guides, DK Eyewitness and Bradt Travel Guides.

After 15 years as Editor of The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Ed now splits his week between editing the travel pages at Radio Times (the UK’s highest-selling quality publication) and freelance travel writing for The Times, Telegraph, Mail and others. His stories have seen him overnight everywhere from King Charles’s house to a Nepali yak pen, and try his hand at everything from flying a plane to pleasuring a rhino. He has won five ‘Editor of the Year’ awards, and eleven ‘Writer of the Year’ gongs – including TravMedia Travel Writer of the Year in 2023 – but still always picks the wrong queue at airports.

Henry’s an entrepreneur with over 40 years’ experience, his first day in travel PR dating back to June 1984. Following seven years as a travel writer he created travel PR company Rooster, which has since evolved into a successful multi-sector agency. Henry launched TravMedia UK in 2003, as a joint venture with the site’s CEO and founder Nick Wayland, helping establish a leading UK and global community for travel journalists and PR professionals. Following that he launched News4Media and its sites Property4Media and Homes4Media. In 2013, TravMedia UK launched IMM, which quickly became the premier global annual event for the travel industry to meet the media. In 2024 Henry sold his interests in TravMedia UK and News4Media to Nick Wayland, but remains a consultant for the companies. Henry lives in East Sussex, is a photographer, non-exec director, nature lover and ardent Beatles and postpunk fan.

A self-proclaimed aviation geek who reaped the benefits of his sister’s former BA Cabin Crew role, Nicky flew all over the world for next to nothing. During this time Nicky discovered the world of air miles and points and began to explore how he could maintain his globetrotting lifestyle worldwide. Following his undergraduate law degree at the University of Birmingham, Nicky qualified as a solicitor with a US based law firm in the capital. Not content with the corporate solicitor life, Nicky switched up his career, following his passion, becoming a music lawyer for the UK’s biggest record label Virgin EMI under the Universal Music Group umbrella. All the while, Nicky travelled globally, continuing to dispense airmiles and aviation advice, running and hosting a series of masterclasses across London and teaching attendees on how they too could ‘Fly First Class for (Almost!) Free’, under the guise of Miles Mogul. Nicky is also an award-winning photographer, published in NatGeo, Vice, The Times, Independent, Guardian, Tatler, Vogue and more. With professional skills he developed on the job working as a photojournalist for a news agency in Israel, he turned his craft to photographing both planes, his true love, and musicians, initially connected to the record label he worked for. Today, Nicky is Senior Director and Principal Spokesperson at global travel website The Points Guy, after being noticed for his repeated social media snaps in first class, alongside shooting international music stars such as Justin Bieber. An expert in the art of luxury travel on a budget and mastering the world of miles and points in the UK and across the globe, Nicky was instantly recognised by the leading travel content website, being hired as The Head of The Points Guy UK before the UK arm of the business was merged with the US, creating a global travel platform. An aviation geek to the core, Nicky has been obsessed with aircraft, airports, and the romance of travel for as long as he can remember! Follow him on social media: Instagram: @nickykelvin TikTok:  @nickyjkelvin

Dominique is an award-winning travel expert and advocate dedicated to bridging the gap between aspirational discovery and the practicalities of modern exploration. With a passport spanning 40+ countries, she has built an international reputation for documenting authentic "life on the road" through a lens that is both high-impact and accessible. Recognised for her strategic influence in the digital space, Dominique has spearheaded high-profile partnerships with global industry leaders including Google, Meta, Apple TV, and Skyscanner. As a proud representative of the Black and LGBTQ+ communities, Dominique focuses on cultural immersion and safety, working to ensure the future of travel is inclusive, accessible, and representative of all voices. Greg Dickinson, Senior Travel Writer, the Telegraph Greg Dickinson is an award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience in travel writing. He has presented dozens of short-form documentaries and hosted two Telegraph podcast series (Edgelands and Postcards). Before joining the Telegraph, he edited and researched guidebooks for Rough Guides, DK Eyewitness and Bradt Travel Guides.

Lisa has amassed four decades of media experience, specialising in travel, travel news and reviews. She leads the Digital and Print teams at The Sun that won the National Newspaper Tabloid Travel Section of the Year title in the TravMedia Awards 2025. Lisa edits the pages that appear in The Sun's print edition on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Over 26 years she has covered major seismic events that have impacted the travel industry including the failures of Thomas Cook, Monarch and XL Leisure as well as the Covid pandemic. She regularly appears on national TV news stations including BBC, ITV, Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, Sky, Channel 4 and Channel 5 commenting on live travel news stories. She has appeared as an expert on a host of TV documentaries including Holidaying In The 1970s - Wish You Were Here  When Cruising Goes Horribly Wrong and When Luxury Holidays Go Horribly Wrong. Lisa also appears regularly on national and local radio stations.

Barry Neild is the Global Editor for CNN Travel, supervising all travel-related content across CNN’s digital products. Based in London, he helms a team of staff reporters and international freelancers, working closely with CNN Travel’s teams in New York, Atlanta, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Neild joined CNN in 2006, working for its digital news operations before switching to its Travel team in 2015. Prior to working at CNN he worked as a correspondent for the AFP news agency, reporting headline news stories from destinations including Afghanistan, Indonesia, China and Iraq.

Bonnie Rakhit is an award-winning fashion and travel authority, presenter and digital creator with over 20 years at the forefront of the industry. Former Fashion Editor of British ELLE magazine, she has also written for Vogue, Grazia and The Sunday Times, shaping trends and championing global luxury experiences. Bonnie is a familiar face on TV, with appearances on ITV This Morning, Channel 5’s World’s Greatest Hotels and Around the World in First Class Travel, BBC Breakfast and Sky News. Recognised as one of the Evening Standard’s Top 25 Influencers in the UK, she is known for her polished storytelling, trusted voice and powerful audience connection. Bonnie is based in London. @bonnierakhit on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, You Tube, Threads, X @thestyletraveller on the blog, pinterest.

Tom Robbins has been the FT's Travel Editor since 2010 and was named Travel Journalist of the Year at the 2023 and 2019 British Press Awards, and 2022 TravMedia Awards. He started his career as an investigative news reporter at the Sunday Times, then helped launch its Driving section, becoming the paper's youngest section editor at the time. He then moved to the Observer, later  becoming travel editor. A keen skier, he is the author of the book White Weekends (Bantam). ft.com/travel; Instagram: @tomrobbinstravel

Carmen Roberts is an award-winning travel TV presenter, content creator and speaker with over 25 years’ experience working in international broadcast media. She spent much of her career with BBC World News, reporting on travel, business and technology from nearly 90 countries around the world.

Carmen lived and worked in Japan for eight years and spent over a decade reporting across Asia, giving her deep, on-the-ground insight into the region. Her work has taken her behind the scenes of Japan’s world-leading high-speed rail network, inside some of the travel industry’s most advanced systems, and into some of the world’s most challenging destinations, including reporting from North Korea.

Today, Carmen works at the intersection of travel media, content creation and brand storytelling, moderating industry conversations, delivering keynote talks, and training professionals in media, messaging and on-camera performance. She brings a rare perspective to discussions around influence, combining broadcast-level rigour with a clear understanding of how travel content now delivers value for brands.

Ben began writing about travel in 2001, becoming Travel Editor of The Independent newspaper in 2007 and Head of Travel for the Independent and Independent on Sunday in 2011. He joined the Telegraph Media Group in 2014 and is responsible for all of the Telegraph's travel content.

Nick founded TravMedia in 1999, following ten years as travel editor of Courier Newspapers in Australia. His knowledge and contributions to the travel industry are extensive. Nick is a proud supporter of the SATW, an active member of the ASTW, and annually supports both the British Guild of Travel Writers Awards and ASTW Awards. Nick created IMM 13 years ago, The TravMedia Summit eight years ago, and last year marked the first IMM LUX in Las Vegas. TravMedia also powers the online event marketplaces for U.S. Travel Association’s IPW.

Wendy Wu is one of the most powerful and influential figures in global travel - a founder, visionary and industry trailblazer whose name has become synonymous with ambition, resilience and world-class storytelling. As Founder and CEO of Wendy Wu Tours, Wendy turned a bold idea into a multi award-winning global brand, transforming how millions experience the world and redefining what specialist travel looks like in the modern era. Today, her company operates across six international offices and more than 44 countries and has been crowned Best Specialist Tour Operator of the Year at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards for a record-breaking 16th consecutive year. Widely recognised as one of the Most Influential Women in Travel, Wendy is also the youngest female inductee into the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame, sitting alongside icons such as Sir Richard Branson — a testament to the scale of her impact on the industry. Beyond commercial success, Wendy is celebrated for her fearless leadership through periods of profound change. From navigating the global shutdown of travel during the pandemic to rebuilding international confidence and demand, she has placed media, PR and storytelling at the heart of her growth strategy — using communications not just to promote travel, but to build trust, inspire audiences and lead from the front. In 2025, Wendy’s influence was recognised once again when she was awarded Female Trailblazer of the Year at the Business Leader Growth 500 Awards, honouring the UK’s most ambitious and fastest-growing companies. A compelling speaker, natural storyteller and unapologetic champion of bold ideas, Wendy Wu brings warmth, humour and honesty to every conversation — offering rare insight into how media relationships, resilience and vision can shape not just a brand, but an entire industry.

Graham Lovelace is a leading strategist and writer on the impacts of generative AI on human-made media. In a career spanning 40 years, Graham has been a journalist, editor, consultant, producer and entrepreneur with a keen interest in the future of media. He was a member of the team that launched Teletext Limited in the UK, going on to become editor-in-chief of the biggest and commercially most successful information service of its kind in the world. He was a founding director of Associated New Media that went on to launch Mail Online. He was the founder of media intelligence provider Lovelacemedia, sold to the Press Association in 2004 when he became PA’s head of marketing and strategy. He’s worked as a journalist at the BBC, Visnews, BSB News, ITN, Channel 4 and PA, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. In addition to studying and writing about the impacts of generative AI in his widely acclaimed Substack newsletter Charting Gen AI, Graham advises media firms on their strategies and produces their corporate events.

Laura is Vice President, Communications at Virgin Atlantic, where she’s responsible for corporate comms, consumer PR, events, internal communications, people engagement, thought leadership and crisis response globally. She led the comms response to the pandemic, including lobbying efforts for aviation, ensuring a path to re-opening the skies, with the reopening of the transatlantic corridor marked on 8 November 2021 with a unique Virgin Atlantic-British Airways dual take-off. Laura has masterminded inaugural route launches with Sir Richard Branson, including Tel Aviv, Austin and Tampa; product launches for the airline’s state of the art aircraft; the airline’s 40th birthday celebrations and high profile DE&I initiatives. In November 2023, she led communications for Flight100, the world’s first flight across the Atlantic on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Laura joined Virgin Atlantic in 2018 and previously spent 15 years heading up communications in leading UK newsrooms, spanning BBC Global News, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and ITV News at ITN. Laura studied at the University of Edinburgh, lives in London and is a board member of the Women of the Year Foundation and Awards.

Graeme leads communications for ABTA, the UK’s leading travel association, which in 2026 marks its 75th anniversary. Directing ABTA’s comms strategy for around 1,200 members – who between them have 4,300 travel brands – Graeme is a regular speaker at travel industry events and in national, trade and regional media. He joined ABTA in 2020 having previously headed communications at Waitrose, and has 30 years’ communications experience.

With over nine years of experience in TUI’s UK communications team, Amy has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s reputation, leading brand-building campaigns, and generating proactive media coverage. She also spearheaded the development of communications measurement initiatives. As Head of UK Communications at the global leisure and travel company, Amy oversees internal and external communications and is part of the international communications leadership team. She is a key leader in crisis management and brand reputation, having successfully guided the business through the challenges of COVID, a critical period for the travel industry. Earlier in her career, Amy honed her PR skills at Vauxhall’s press office, supporting the launch of key vehicles including the Ampera, the brand's first electric car, and the Vauxhall Adam. Before joining TUI, Amy travelled extensively in Australia and Asia, and held brand-focused roles at Goodyear Dunlop and Park Resorts.

Charlie has worked in research for over 25 years, with a background in quantitative and mixed method research. His work is focused on helping companies identify and engage audiences, driving returns across all channels. He has worked with clients ranging from media owners through to sports rights holders, regulatory bodies and consultancies, with complex problems including NPD, trade-off analysis and scenario development, as well as brand tracking, audience understanding and a whole range of studies in between. In recent years he has been putting that expertise to use helping clients use Kantar Media’s suite of TGI planning tools in a range of applications. These include proprietary segmentations, custom analyses and audience mapping, with a particular focus on the travel industry where he has worked with a variety of clients to help them maximise the impact of their communications.”

Sophie Griffiths joined Travel Trade Gazette in March 2010 as a news reporter before working her way up to the position of editor in January 2017. She is also the founder of TTG LGBT - a network for LGBT people and allies within the travel industry - which  champions diversity within the sector. Sophie was named Editor of the Year at the PPA Independent Publisher Awards in 2018, 2019 and 2022. In January 2022 Sophie was named TTG’s first Chief Purpose Officer, helping TTG it mission to drive a smarter, better, fairer travel industry. She returned to work in September 2024 after a year’s maternity leave.  

Claire Irvin leads the award-winning travel team at The Times and The Sunday Times. Claire is a respected journalist and experienced digital operator, and took up her post after six years in the role of Head of Travel at The Telegraph. She has a weekly travel slot on Sky News, and makes frequent appearances on TV and radio including on Times Radio, BBC, ITV and LBC. She is also an experienced magazine editor, previously editor-in-chief of SHE magazine, editor at large of Grazia, acting editor of Company, and editor of teen magazines Sugar and ElleGirl.

Adrian Phillips runs Bradt Guides – the world’s largest independent guidebook publisher, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024 – as well as writing/broadcasting for outlets including The Telegraph, The Times, National Geographic Traveller, the BBC and ITV. He is five-time winner of Travel Writer of the Year awards.

Dominic Ponsford is the editor in chief of Press Gazette and has more than 20 years of experience in journalism. A former Paul Foot Awards finalist and PPA Editor of the Year nominee (2022).

Press Gazette is the world's leading website dedicated to covering the world of news publishing. Its mission is to fight for the future of quality content in the digital age.

Tim Riley is Managing Director of The True Traveller, who in partnership with AXA are probably best known for covering adventure travellers and backpackers. He is also Chair of the Association of Travel Insurance Intermediaries, the industry body, which represents 80% of UK travel insurers. Tim started in the travel industry working for Trailfinders in the 1980s and stayed in the tailor-made part of the travel industry until 2010, where he was Operations Director of TUI Travel Specialist Division, looking after the Austravel, Travelmood and Trips Worldwide brands. Tim still thinks of himself as a “travel man” rather than a travel insurance person, but he has the advantage of having worked in senior roles in tour operation and now, travel insurance.

Eulanda Shead Osagiede is an award-winning food culture and travel TV presenter, content creator, and co-founder of “Hey! Dip Your Toes In,” a platform exploring global tastes and stories. Eulanda has been recognised by WTM London as one of the top BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) high flyers in the travel industry. She has been featured in National Geographic, Ebony, Forbes, The Washington Post, and has collaborated with brands like Hyundai, Expedia, Google, Coca-Cola, Intrepid Travel, and others. A passionate advocate for DEI in travel, Eulanda serves as Director of Operations for Black Travel Alliance. She has spoken at major events for brands like TEDx, Facebook, Hotelympia, Sky Media, and WTM London. On TV, she appears as a guest presenter in the award-winning series The Three Drinkers, showcasing her love for food and drink.

Amy's journey in the travel industry began with a passion for exploration and a keen eye for storytelling. Before she was in her teens, Amy was the child presenter of BBC Radio 4’s flagship travel programme Breakaway and reported across the globe, from Paris to New York on what made these destinations worth visiting for kids. And so, the seed was sown for a lifelong love of travel and the never-ending search for ‘the story’. Starting as an intern at bgb nearly 20 years ago, Amy moved on from franking the post and spray-mounting coverage to becoming Managing Partner of FINN’s Travel PR team in the UK and was recently included in the 2024 PRWeek Power Book. Amy has worked in every job in a travel PR agency from news story sell ins to celebrity activations; with countless crises, proposals, awards and press trips under her belt – you name it, she has done it and is known for her frank approach and insightful adaptability. She ensures that the stories of every destination and brand the FINN team touch are told with passion, creativity, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world of travel.

Phoebe is an adventurer and an award-winning travel writer, photographer, presenter and broadcaster (specialising in adventure, sustainable travel, walking, family adventure, solo travel and wildlife conservation). She hosts the multi-award-winning Wander Woman Travel Podcast, files reports for BBC Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent, and has presented segments on TV for BBC Countryfile, BBC Breakfast, C5 Saturday Live and ITV’s Britain’s Best Walks. She is Sleep Storyteller-in-Residence at Calm where her stories have been listened to over 30 million times and been narrated by Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Cillian Murphy, Jerome Flynn, Bindi Irwin and Danai Gurira to name a few. She is also the author of 11 books including the best-selling Extreme Sleeps and Wayfarer: Love, Loss and Life on Britain’s Pilgrim Paths which is shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year 2026. Phoebe is the co-founder of the #WeTwo Foundation, a charity that empowers underprivileged young people through carbon negative expeditions.

Eliot Stein is a senior journalist and editor at BBC Travel and the author of the new book Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, Wired, The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, The Independent, and elsewhere.

James Stewart has been a freelance travel journalist for over 20 years, writing regularly for the Times and Sunday Times, the Financial Times and Telegraph, and for magazines including National Geographic Traveller. He was named Freelance Writer of the Year in 2024 and 2020, and Travel Writer of the Year in 2021.

Tolene van der Merwe is an accomplished leader in the travel and tourism industry, currently serving as the Director for the UK & Ireland at the Malta Tourism Authority since October 2019. In this role, she oversees the marketing and brand strategy, as well as general operations for her unit, ensuring that the enchanting Maltese Islands are effectively promoted to travellers. Based in London, Tolene leads a dedicated team that collaborates closely with the travel trade to inspire and educate potential visitors. With over 27 years of experience in the industry, Tolene has held various senior positions that have shaped her expertise. Prior to joining the Malta Tourism Authority, she was the Hub Head for UK & Ireland at South African Tourism and also served as Director of a hotel representation agency. Her extensive background includes roles such as Product Manager for an outbound tour operator and National Sales Manager for a luxury hotel group. Under Tolene’s leadership, the UK has consistently remained Malta’s largest inbound market. Notably, 2024 has marked a record-breaking year for arrivals, surpassing even the peak year of 2019. This impressive growth reflects the successful marketing strategies implemented by Tolene and her team.

Jessica is a multi-award-winning travel journalist writing for National Geographic Traveller, BBC Travel, Vogue, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveller, and many more. She’s the founding editor of The Best British Travel Writing of the 21st Century––voted best travel book of 2022 by the Independent––and the founder of the Travel Writing Academy, a course and community that helps aspiring travel writers get their stories published.

Entrepreneur, leader, and philanthropist Bruce Poon Tip is the founder of G Adventures, an award-winning small-group adventure travel company and community tourism pioneer. Bridging backpacking and mainstream tourism, G Adventures is now the largest operator of its kind, active in 100 countries and hosting 200,000 travellers annually. In 2003, Bruce established the Planeterra Foundation to leverage tourism for social good, resulting in over 100 global community development projects. A global leader in social entrepreneurship, he has addressed the United Nations and global corporations, delivered keynote speeches at TED events, received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, been honoured as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, 2006 and 2002. He is a New York Times best-selling author, and executive producer of the acclaimed documentary film, The Last Tourist.

Juliet Kinsman has been an editor, journalist and broadcaster for almost three decades. The first Sustainability Editor of Condé Nast Traveller and the driving force behind the Standard's new sustainable-travel channel and six-part podcast, she's written and edited many travel guidebooks, recently The Green Edit: Travel — Easy Tips for the Eco-Friendly Traveller (Ebury) and The Bucket List: Eco Experiences (Rizzoli). Founding editor of Mr & Mrs Smith, in 2015 she felt compelled to amplify sustainability stories from boutique eco hotels; she celebrates her favourites on BoutecoLoves.com. Her purpose-led non-profit consultancy Bouteco has produced the climate podcast series Funny Old World and the documentary, Changing Worlds in the Atlas Mountains about the charity, Education for All, in Morocco.

Andy Owen Jones is Co-Founder and MD of Smartseer and is one of the leading AI visionaries in the travel industry and a pioneer in applying AI to solve travel problems. Smartseer is a provider of AI decisioning approaches, and the company works with leading travel brands in the UK and DACH markets, developing practical measurable ways of using AI to enhance user experience and decision making. Andy’s experience of applying AI in the travel industry stretches beyond a decade and he also cofounded BD4.ai the winner of many awards in AI adoption. Prior to this he was the CEO of Amadeus’ Leisure division and Director of Leisure Strategy at the GDS. He was GM of IT at Virgin Atlantic and has previously worked for Deloitte Consulting, Natwest and British Airways where he introduced the First Class Sleeper Service. He also recently served as Chairman of Peakwork the leading German Leisure technologist. Andy is on the Board of Chain4Travel and the leads the Travolution Advisory Board.

Caroline Moultrie is an award-winning global business leader and a seasoned expert in the travel and tourism industry. With her role as President at MMGY Global EMEA, she is the trusted advisor to some of the world's most prominent tourism destinations and brands. Caroline's clients represent the pinnacle of the global tourism sector, and she leverages her strategic insight, international marketing expertise, and her ability to stay ahead of the latest industry trends to drive their success. Caroline's leadership extends to overseeing the London teams at MMGY Global EMEA, where she deftly guides clients to achieve their goals through a combination of strategic vision and tactical implementation. Her invaluable industry knowledge and extensive network of contacts have been cultivated over a distinguished career that includes significant roles in the airport and airline sector. Her contributions to renowned brands such as Manchester Airport Group and Virgin Atlantic Airways have left an indelible mark on the industry. Before taking on her current role, Caroline Moultrie served as the Executive Vice President for Business Strategy at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Her senior-level experience at both WTTC and throughout her career informs her leadership style and positions her as a true thought leader within the travel and tourism industry. Caroline's dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence continue to shape the future of the global tourism landscape.

Claire Ross is Sustainability Director for DER’s UK group – comprising Kuoni, Carrier, CV Villas, Kirker, Journey Latin America, and Jules Verne - and reports to DER Touristik UK CEO Francis Torrilla. She leads on sustainability topics, supporting with clear actions that are good for our businesses, our customers and our employees. Her whole career has been in travel and her interest in sustainability developed over the years from a belief that creating better business which benefits the planet and people can only create a more positive travel experience for everyone. In her previous role as Kuoni’s Product Director she recently led Kuoni’s carbon reduction programme and, in March last year, joined the board of Travelife for Accommodation. She is also a member of the ABTA sustainability committee and an ambassador for the DER Touristik Foundation. As well as leading on sustainability topics in her professional role, Claire also has a strong personal interest in all aspects of reducing our footprint on the planet.

Dave Goodger leads Oxford Economics’ work in tourism forecasting and economic impact analysis as Managing Director of Tourism Economics EMEA. He manages the team in forecasting global tourism flows for 185 countries and over 300 cities, based on economic drivers and in reaction to major events including the pandemic and the war in Ukraine as well as major business and sporting events. Recent reports and custom analysis have focussed on the importance of tourism growth in recovery and the evolution of tourism demand within wider consumer spending.

Dona Regis-Prosper is Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).  She is the first woman to assume leadership of the intergovernmental body.

With a distinguished career spanning more than 22 years, Regis-Prosper is the first female leader of the intergovernmental organization, which serves as the Caribbean’s tourism development agency.

Hailing from St. Lucia, Regis-Prosper is an exceptionally dynamic and transformative leader. Her collaborative efforts extend to working closely with regional government officials, tourism stakeholders, and industry experts worldwide.

Her professional journey includes pivotal roles such as Director of Marketing and Product Development at the St. Lucia Air and Seaports Authority; Director of Business Development for Margaritaville Caribbean Group in Jamaica; CEO of the Tortola Pier Park in the British Virgin Islands; and General Manager of the Antigua Cruise Port.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from Durham University Business School and is a Certified Professional Marketer. Her expertise ranges from management, business development, strategy, marketing and communications to customer service and cruise port management.

As the leader of the CTO, she serves as the organization’s chief spokesperson and bears the responsibility of translating its vision into reality, guided by the strategic direction set forth by the Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism and the Board of Directors. 

Her purview extends to ensuring the success of the CTO’s strategic planning, business development, policy formulation and implementation initiatives, and the development and execution of innovative strategies to enhance the competitiveness of the Caribbean tourism product on national, regional, and international stages.  

Dona is a 2023 recipient of the prestigious Leadership award for her work in the Caribbean Tourism Industry.

Hazel McGuire is the General Manager UK & Ireland at Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest travel B Corp and leaders in sustainable and responsible travel. She has 17 years’ experience in senior commercial, marketing and general management roles, predominantly in the travel and transport industries. Hazel previously contributed to significant growth at Flight Centre Travel Group touring brands Topdeck Travel and Back Roads Touring as well as with global hop-on, hop-off sightseeing brand Big Bus Tours, and is now leading Intrepid's continued growth in the UK & Ireland market. She’s responsible for implementing strategic plans, managing day-to-day business, and ensuring the company achieves its goals in balancing purpose and profit.

Julia Simpson is President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council.  She spent 14 years in the aviation sector on the Board of British Airways and Iberia and as Chief of Staff at International Airlines Group. Before joining British Airways, Julia was senior adviser to the UK Prime Minister. She has held a number of key positions in the UK government and public sector, including Director at the Home Office and Department for Education and Employment; Assistant Chief Executive at the London Borough of Camden; and head of communications at the Communication Workers Union. Julia is currently on the Board of the London Chamber of Commerce. Julia believes in the power of travel to transform lives, grow economies, and protect the planet and its people. 

Former BBC News presenter Paul Charles is one of the global travel industry’s foremost leaders and analysts. He is founder and CEO of The PC Agency, a leading luxury travel and tourism consultancy, and is much sought-after by governments, travel and tourism brands for his industry insight.

Paul was at the forefront of the Covid crisis, appearing as a leading commentator and adviser about the travel and tourism sector, offering vital data and insight into global travel decision-making and government policies, including the infamous UK traffic lights policy.

Paul and The PC Agency, which advises C-Group leaders, luxury hotels, airlines, tourism boards, tour operators and cruiselines about their consumer, corporate, crisis and digital reputations, have been named the Most Influential in Travel by PR Week for seven years running in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Paul has been named PR Professional of The Year, three times in his career; by PR Week in 2004 and by TravMedia Awards, two years running, in 2022 and 2023. He also won the “Most Effective Communications During Covid Crisis” Award at the Corp Comms Awards 2020.

Before founding The PC Agency, Paul was Director of Communications for Virgin Atlantic and key adviser to Sir Richard Branson. Prior to joining Virgin Atlantic, Paul was Director of Communications at the high-speed train company Eurostar and was responsible for launching the UK's first high-speed trainline. Before to his time at Eurostar, Paul spent a decade reporting, producing and presenting at the BBC, working on programmes including BBC Television's World Business Report, The Money Programme, BBC1 Breakfast and BBC Radio's Today, MoneyBox, Inside Money and The Financial World Tonight.

Paul lives in London and travels worldwide.

Richard is a writer and videographer specialising in sustainable travel. Since 2009, he has run his own media production company Green Traveller, which shines a light on sustainability, life stories and adventure through writing, photography and film. Previously, he spent 12 years as a sustainable tourism journalist, editor-in-chief of TravelMole, eco travel correspondent for The Guardian, and travel editor for National Geographic Green. He was a consultant to the Travel Channel TV series 'How to Holiday Greener', has co-authored and contributed to books on sustainable travel (Guardian Books, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides), and has written articles for a variety of titles, including Evening Standard, National Geographic, Financial Times, i Paper, Telegraph, The Times and The Sunday Times. Last May, Richard published The Green Traveller book (Pavillion Books) and earlier this year, he founded a new online bi-monthly Green Traveller magazine with Charitable Travel.

Thomas is one of the world’s leading figures in consumer travel publishing. As part of the founding team behind Centurion and Departures Magazines, he has headed up the global editorial team of both titles since their inception in 1999. Centurion and Departures are published quarterly on behalf of American Express in over 70 markets and nine languages. Thomas is responsible for the direction, quality and accuracy of all editorial across the print titles and their websites.

He's also Editor in Chief at NetJets, The Magazine. Since its launch in Winter 2016, the title has inspired and engaged readers while supporting NetJets owners’ global aspirations. NetJets now runs quarterly, with separate editions specifically tailored for the European and U.S. markets; a curated collection of must-read articles, essays, dispatches and portfolios complemented by stand-out imagery and illustrations.

Debbie Flynn has been in the travel industry for over 30 years and was the founder of travel specialist PR and marketing agency Brighter Group after spending the first 10 years of her career at British Airways. After 23 years as one of the UK’s leading tourism PR agencies, she sold her agency to FINN Partners in January 2018. Now in her role leading FINN Partners travel teams globally, Debbie continues to be at the forefront of global travel communication and has once again been listed in the PR Week PowerBook as one of the top 10 content creators in travel PR in the UK. Debbie is also an observer to the board of the Advantage Travel Partnership, on the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council, and an advisory board member to the World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage. Debbie also leads the way in giving back to the industry in her roles as a trustee of travel industry water aid charity Just A Drop, trustee and Chair of the Anglo Jordanian Society, and a pro bono advisor to Tourism Cares.

Mark Palmer is a Fleet Street veteran who has worked variously at the Evening Standard, Sunday Telegraph, Daily Express and is currently Travel & Property Editor at the Daily Mail. He is the author of two books – one about football, the other a history of Clarks shoes. He lives in London and the Scottish Borders. His list of banned words for all journalists and PRs has become legendary.

Liz Edwards works across The Times and Sunday Times’ print and online travel output. The job involves planning, commissioning, editing and writing - and rarely enough travel. Nevertheless, she’s squeezed in articles on everything from postcards to private jets. Liz was appointed commissioning editor in November 2019, joining from the Sunday Times Travel Magazine, where she spent seven years, rising to become associate editor. She’s previously worked on titles including Olive and Wanderlust, with a few freelance stints. Her interests include food, art, walking and swimming. 2022 might be the year she finally tries a cruise. Liz is shortlisted for the Consumer Staff Writer of the Year in the TravMedia Awards.

Sophie Lam oversees the i’s travel content across print and digital platforms. She commissions, edits and writes travel news, destination features, reviews, interviews and commercial projects and works across print and digital. Sophie started her career in travel at The Independent in 2004 where she was appointed Head of Travel across ESI Media (The Independent, The Independent on Sunday, i and London Evening Standard), in 2014. She left ESI to re-join i under its new owners in 2017, during which time she launched i's Staycation Awards.

Amelia Duggan is one of award-winning National Geographic Traveller’s senior commissioning editors and feature writers, and deputy editor since 2019. Formerly a freelance journalist, working abroad in countries including Chile and India, she was awarded Young Travel Writer of the Year and Specialist Travel Writer of the Year (for her work on Latin America) at the 2019 Travel Media Awards. Offering readers 10 issues a year plus numerous supplements, including the quarterly National Geographic Traveller Food, National Geographic Traveller is the UK’s number one consumer travel publication by subscription.

Meera Dattani is a freelance travel and culture journalist, senior editor at Adventure.com, and former Chair and Events Director of the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW), where she also organised and chaired panel discussions/webinars. She has a special interest in positive impact tourism, food heritage stories, and decolonising and modernising travel writing. She has spoken and written widely on diversity in the travel industry, for companies and organisations including Intrepid Travel, Brand USA, Wanderful, Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the BGTW.

Uwern co-founded OutThere, the luxury and experiential travel and lifestyle journal, alongside Creative Director Martin Perry over 10 years ago, with a dream to promote a more diverse media landscape and better representation in the luxury travel industry for his own community of LGBTQ+ travellers and for today’s widely intersectional and diverse luxury audiences, showcasing the voices of those under-represented in mainstream media and the stories of inclusive brands looking to change the status quo. Uwern has been named as one the “50 most influential people in British Luxury” and an “Editorial Leader of the Year.”