About the Event

Leading Italian travel buyers will meet at the five-star Hotel de Russie in Rome to learn from each other and share best practice during two interactive educational sessions. They are:

How to build a better-connected journey
An open-floor panel discussion where leaders in travel will discuss how the industry can collaborate to better service travellers throughout their journey. Moderated by Patricia Simillon, head of strategic marketing for airlines for Amadeus IT Group. The speakers for this talk will be Katia Bigazzi, Outbound Director of Univers DMC, Anna Gricini, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Rocco Forte Hotels and Toby Morris, Sales Director (UK & Ireland) for Adara.

Tackling overtourism
Speakers from Turespaña and Connections will share current findings about this hot topic in travel, before buyers share their views and solutions during peer-to-peer roundtable discussions. In this talk, we will hear from Rose Dykins, freelance travel journalist and content developer for Connections, Mauro Bernardini, All Star Agency, Michela Talatino, Director of BEON Italy and Jorge Rubio, the Director of the Tourist Office of Spain in Rome, Turespaña.

Afterwards, buyers will be invited to take part in a human-to-human networking activity, the Connections way, before a drinks reception at the hotel, sponsored by Turespaña.

When & Where

21 - 21

Rome
Rome

Agenda

Wednesday, 21st November

Welcome and Coffee

Duration: 30 minutes

Location: Hotel de Russie

How to build a better connected journey

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Hotel de Russie

An open-floor panel discussion where leaders in travel will discuss how the industry can collaborate to better service travellers throughout their journey. Moderated by Patricia Simillon, head of strategic marketing for airlines for Amadeus IT Group.

The panel will consist of Anna Gricini, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing, Italy for Rocco Forte Hotels, Katia Bigazzi, Outbound Director of Univers DMC and Toby Morris, Sales Director UK and Ireland for Adara.

Tackling overtourism

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Hotel de Russie

Four speakers will share current findings about overtourism, a hot topic in travel, before buyers share their views and solutions during peer-to-peer roundtable discussions.

The four speakers leading the panel discussion will be; Jorge Rubio Navarro, Head of Turespña Italy, who will share how Spain is tackling overtourism, Mauro Bernardin, Owner and Managing Director of All Star Agency, Michela Talatino, Director of BEON's Italy Office and Rose Dykins, journalist for Connections, who will share the feedback from Connections Luxury in Italy's overtourism session.

After a 25 minute panel discussion, moderated by David Benitez, Head of Business Development MICE for Connections, an interactive roundtable discussion session will take place where buyers will discuss their ideas on how to manage overtourism,

Networking the "Connections Way”

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Location: Hotel de Russie

Buyers will be invited to take part in a human-to-human networking activity, the Connections way, before a drinks reception at the hotel, sponsored by Turespaña.

Speakers

Patricia Simillon

Head of strategic marketing for airlines for Amadeus IT Group.

Head of strategic marketing for airlines for Amadeus IT Group.

Jorge Rubio

Director Tourist Office of Spain in Rome, Turespaña

Director Tourist Office of Spain in Rome, Turespaña

David Benitez

Head of Business Development

Head of Business Development

Dress code

Suits and ties are not required – we all like you to look your best, but suits and ties won’t are not necessary.

Weather: the average temperature in Rome in November is likely to be 17°C.

Connectalk Rome

Leading Italian travel buyers will meet at the five-star Hotel de Russie in Rome to learn from each other and share best practice during two interactive educational sessions. They are:

How to build a better connected journey

An open-floor panel discussion where leaders in travel will discuss how the industry can collaborate to better service travellers throughout their journey. Moderated by Patricia Simillon, head of strategic marketing for airlines for Amadeus IT Group. The speakers for this talk will be Stefano Fiori, General Manager of Univers DMC, a representative of Rocco Forte Hotel De Russie and Toby Morris, Sales Director (UK & Ireland) for Adara.

Tackling overtourism

Speakers from Turespaña and Connections will share current findings about this hot topic in travel, before buyers share their views and solutions during peer-to-peer roundtable discussions. In this talk, we will hear from Rose Dykins, freelance travel journalist and content developer for Connections, Mauro Bernardini, All Star Agency and Jorge Rubio, the Director of the Tourist Office of Spain in Rome, Turespaña.

Afterwards, buyers will be invited to take part in a human-to-human networking activity, the Connections way, before a drinks reception at the hotel, sponsored by Turespaña.

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