‘Protecting Your Margin’ and ‘Strategic Thought and Change’ will be subjects addressed by speakers Liam Lonergan and Stephen McKenna respectively at this year’s ITAA Annual Conference, Embracing the Future, which will take place in Jerez in Andalucia, Spain, from 1st – 4th October 2015.
Up to 150 travel professionals are expected to attend the conference, where a range of speakers will discuss past and future trends, business successes, planning for the future and the all-important work life balance.
Jerez is a city that is equally as famous for its fine horses as its Flamenco music and dance. The Irish Travel Agents Association has created an itinerary for conference attendees to showcase these attractions and provide a full experience of the sights, sounds and tastes Jerez has to offer.
To accommodate those attending, Aer Lingus has scheduled a return private charter from Dublin to Jerez for the ITAA conference. Post conference tours are also available for delegates booking scheduled flights to Malaga.
Business Session: Embracing the Future
09.00 – 10.00 Registration
10.00 – 10.30 Official Opening
10.30 – 10.55 Stephen McKenna – Strategic Thought and Change. Stephen will discuss the future requirements of the travel business to challenge existing models and the skill sets or considerations in making this change. Stephen is Chief Executive of the Atlas Travel Group and GoHop.ie with its associated leisure brand portfolio.
10.55 – 11.20 Juan Cullen – Technology, Marketing and Validating Your Next Idea. An eCommerce and Digital Marketing expert, Juan successfully founded and operated niche travel sites Latedeals.ie, Travel55, VisitSanta.ie and Italy.ie before selling on the business last year.
11.20 – 11.45 Coffee
11.45 – 12.30 Sheila O’Malley – Work Life Balance. Sheila O’Malley, a dynamic, engaging Professional Trainer in the area of workplace wellbeing, delivers material in a relaxed and enjoyable manner that is well received.
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 13.45 Aer Lingus
13.45 – 14.30 Liam Lonergan – Protecting Your Margin. Liam Lonergan, Managing Director of Club Travel, Ireland’s largest travel agency, will address the essential factors in running a travel business.
14.30 – 15.15 Alan O’Neill – Succession Management. An expert Retail Change Consultant with considerable business experience, having facilitated multi-million euro businesses to achieve superior results, Alan O’Neill knows what it takes to drive change right through a business, from top to bottom.
15.15 – 15.30 ITAA Update and Close
