Conference – Friday, 31 May 2019

Morning Sessions – Venue: RIU Helios Paradise

08:30 – 09:30: Conference Registration

 

 

09:30 – 10:00: Opening Ceremony

 

Welcome remarks

 

Mr. Rajan Datar, Broadcaster and Journalist, BBC

 

Introduction to Investing Sustainably in Bulgaria and Southeast Europe

 

H.E. Mrs. Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism, Bulgaria

 

10:00 – 10:15: Keynote Address

 

Dr. Taleb Rifai, Former Secretary-General of UNWTO and Chairman of ITIC Advisory Board

 

Video Message

 

Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas of Jordan

 

10:15 – 11:15: Ministerial Presentations: Southeast Europe and Mediterranean Tourism

 

Moderator: Mr. Rajan Datar, Broadcaster and Journalist, BBC

 

Participants:

 

• H.E. Mrs. Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism, Bulgaria

 

• Mr. Adrian Kamenica, Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Albania

 

• H.E. Mr. Abdelkader Benmessaoud, Minister of Tourism and Handicraft, Algeria

 

• H.E. Mr. Mirko Šarović, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

• H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Tourism, Egypt

 

• H.E. Mr. Michael Christides, Secretary General of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)

 

• Mr. Armend Milla, General Director for Monitoring Tourist Flows and Tourism Income, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Montenegro

 

11:15 – 11:30: Family Photo

 

11:30 – 11:45: Coffe Break

 

11:45 – 12:15: A Conversation with Mr. Rajan Datar: Global Tourism Trends and Market Conditions

 

Speakers:

 

• Mr. Christopher Rodriguez, CBE – Chairman Port of London Authority, Chairman British Council and former Chairman of Visit Britain

 

• Mr. Andreas Beikos, Head, European Investment Bank Group – Bulgaria

 

• Ms. Silvija Lovreta, Director Development Southeast Europe, Marriott

 

• Mr. James Hogan, Executive Chairman of Knighthood Capital

 

• Mr. Marcus Lee, Chairman, Association of SME Business Owners of China

 

12:15 – 12:45: Investment opportunities in Bulgaria

 

 

Moderator: Mr. Rajan Datar, Broadcaster and Journalist, BBC

 

Speakers:

 

• H.E. Mrs. Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism, Bulgaria

 

• Mr. Simeon Peshov, President of Glavbolgarstroy Holding

 

• Mr. Radosvet Radev, Chairman, Bulgarian Industrial Association

 

• Mr. Krasimir Gergov, Chairman of the Management Board, National Board of Tourism – Bulgaria

 

• Mr. Konstantin Boyadzhiev, CEO, Galaxy Investment Group

 

• Mr. Milcho Bliznakov, St. St. Constantine and Helena Holding

 

• Mr. Tsanko Ivanov, Chairman, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Burgas

 

 

12:45 – 13:15: Panel Discussion: Case Studies of Successful Investments in Tourism

 

Moderator: Mr. Gerald Lawless – Non-executive Director: Expo2020, Dubai;Temes Group, Greece; Advisory Board Ras al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; Ambassador WTTC; Founding former CEO Jumeirah Group Dubai

 

Panelists:

 

• H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Tourism, Egypt

 

• Mr. Christopher Rodriguez, CBE – Chairman Port of London Authority, Chairman British Council and former Chairman of Visit Britain

 

• Mr. Stephen D’Alfonso, Group Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Thomas Cook Group

 

• Mr. George Papadakis, Director of Strategic Finance – Development, TEMES S.A., Greece

 

• Ms. Sneshka Richter, Business Founder of Greenheart Consulting, UK

 

• Mr. Marcus Lee, Chairman, Association of SME Business Owners, China

 

 

LUNCH & AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Venue: Royal Palace Helena Sands
(Address: Sunny Beach 8240)

 

13:15 – 14:30: Networking Lunch Break

 

14:30 – 16:30: Investing in Sustainable Tourism – Breakout sessions

 

Each Session should address social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainable investment in tourism developments.

 

14:30 – 15:30: Robinson Crusoe Hall Breakout session 1 – Hotels, Integrated Resorts & Wilderness Lodges

 

Moderator: Mr. Gerald Lawless, Non-executive Director: Expo2020, Dubai;Temes Group, Greece; Advisory Board Ras al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; Ambassador WTTC; Founding former CEO Jumeirah Group Dubai

 

Panelists:

 

• Ms. Angela Chen, Vice-president, International Development Dossen Group of Hotels

 

• Mr. Lachezar Todorov, CEO, Terra Tour Service

 

• Ms. Rumyana Gotseva-Yordanova, Member of the Supervisory Board of International Asset Bank

 

• Мrs. Tanya Tsvetanova, Executive Director, GrifidHotels, Bulgaria

 

• Mrs. Denitsa Kuzeva, Project Manager Business Development, Albena AD

 

15:30 – 16:30: Robinson Crusoe Hall Session 2 – Destination Management, Tour Operators, Attractions, Mice, Branding and Marketing

 

Moderator: Mr. Rajan Datar, Broadcaster and Journalist, BBC

 

Panelists:

 

• Dr. Polina Karastoyanova, Executive Director, National Board of Tourism – Bulgaria

 

• Mr. Ben Lock, Director, Edelman

 

• Mrs. Wang Zhuli, CEO, HNA CAISSA Touristic (Group) AG

 

• Mr. Duma Wang, CEO, HiSeas International Travel Group Ltd., China

 

• Ms. Elif Balci Fisunoglu, Regional Director Europe, International Congress and Convention Association

 

• Mrs. Brooke Witt, Head of Digital Diplomacy on the Global Communications & External Affairs team, Beautiful Destinations

 

• Mrs. Hacer Aydın, Event Director, EMITT Turkey

 

• Mrs. Ivelina Kyutchoukova, Head, Programs, realization and international activity, National Palace of Culture

 

 

14:30 – 15:30: Royal Hall Session 3 – Airport Connectivity and Cruising Development in the Southeast Europe Region

 

Moderator: Mr. Phillip Cash, Consultant Airport Operations and Management and Former CEO of Melbourne, Mumbai and Mauritius Airports

 

Panelists:

 

• Mr. Hristo Todorov, CEO, Bulgaria Air

 

• Mr. Ulrich Heppe, CEO, Frapport Bulgaria

 

• Mr. Dian Dimov, Executive Director, Port Burgas

 

• Mr. Andreas Beikos, Head, European Investment Bank Group – Bulgaria

 

• Mr. Jayanth Kolla, Founder & Partner Convergence Catalyst – Blockchain

 

• Mr. Paul Hoskins, Secretary of ITIC Advisory Board and Director ITIC Ltd

 

 

14:30 – 15:30: Paradise Heaven Hall Session 4 – Tourism and Hospitality colleges creating international centres of excellence

 

Moderator: Ass. Professor Peter Varga, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne

 

Panelists:

 

• Mrs. Susanna Saari, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering and Business, Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) – Finland

 

• Mr. Plamen Dimitrov, President, Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria

 

• Prof. Dr. Magdalena Mitkova, Rector, University Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov – Burgas

 

15:30 – 16:30: Paradise Heaven Hall Session 5 – Technologies and Innovations powering growth in tourism

 

Moderator: Mr. Jayanth Kolla, Founder & Partner Convergence Catalyst – Blockchain

 

Panelists:

 

• Mr. David Nagy, Head of CEE Region, UnionPay International

 

• Mr. Dionysis Chatzis, Industry Manager, Google – Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Malta

 

• Prof. Dimitrios Buhalis Director of the eTourism Lab & Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research (UK)via skype

 

• Dr. Martin Zahariev, Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board of National Board of Tourism – Bulgaria

 

• Mr. Ognyan Trayanov, Chairman of the Managing Board, Bulgarian Association of Information Technologies

 

• Mr. Andrey Lilov, CEO of URBO

 

19:30 – 20:00: Pre-dinner Cocktail

 

20:00 – 23:00: Gala Dinner

 

Speed Networking – 1 June 2019

09:00 – 12:00: Networking & Meetings

Technical Visit: Ancient City of Nessebar, UNESCO World Heritage Site – Please, contact the organizers or B2B Meetings at Royal Palace Helena Sands