Summit Registration Closing September 25: www.globaltourismsummithawaii.com
Three areas of focus for tourism’s future – sustainability, global trends and culture – will be addressed by a variety of speakers, panelists and attendees from around the world and within the Hawaiian Islands at Hawaii’s Global Tourism Summit.
Presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the Global Tourism Summit takes place October 1-3 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. The conference theme – Charting the Course – speaks to the ever-present need for destinations and travel suppliers to continuously balance the power of tourism’s popularity globally with its impact locally on residents and communities.
George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO, noted that embracing sustainable tourism, understanding global tourism trends, and honoring cultural tourism are vital components to advancing the economic and socio-political benefits of travel to residents, communities and visitors everywhere.
Szigeti stated, “For tourism to work successfully for everyone’s benefit, everyone needs to make their voice heard and work collectively toward achieving a shared goal of doing what’s best and what’s right for both those who depend on tourism and those affected by its impact on daily lives.
“The Global Tourism Summit is the year’s best opportunity to bring together everyone with a stake or interest in tourism to gain a better understanding about its future and to share their perspective on how its business, practice and policies can be improved.”
The summit features a range of tourism-related topics and forums being covered each day in different formats. For example, on October 1, the student debate, featuring high school teams from Hawaii and internationally, will address the impact of artificial intelligence on the visitor experience.
On the summit’s second day, October 2, concurrent sessions will address the topics of sustainable tourism, global tourism trends and cultural tourism, giving attendees an opportunity to participate in various discussions matching their areas of interest.
On day three, October 3, the morning will begin with an update and look forward on airline and cruise service to the Hawaiian Islands. Later that morning, the session, Crisis Management, Lessons Learned, will feature speakers from Las Vegas and Japan addressing the response to major crisis situations that recently affected those destinations.
Szigeti added, “The summit will be of value to anyone who cares about the future direction tourism takes and the impact it has on economies, cultures and personal lives. I encourage everyone with an interest in tourism to join us at the summit and be part of the discussion about its future.”
Registration to Close for the Global Tourism Summit on September 25
Registration for the Global Tourism Summit is closing on Tuesday, September 25, at 11:55 p.m. Any business or individual interested in tourism’s future – both in Hawaii and around the world – is encouraged to register, network and share their opinions.
Special events at the summit include the Networking Reception on October 1, the Aloha Reception – with cuisine provided by 20 restaurants – on October 2, and the Tourism Legacy
Awards Lunch on October 3, all of which are included in the full summit registration, or when registering for those days.
Participants can register online for the Global Tourism Summit via the dedicated website, www.globaltourismsummithawaii.com, and choose from one of several options below that features savings for groups, students and faculty.
Individuals: Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $425
Group Package (Minimum of 8 people): Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $2,600 total, a savings of $100 per person. Groups can mix and match different attendees during the conference.
Students and Faculty Members: Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $150
Students: 1-Day Summit Registration, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday: $50
Individuals: 2-Day Summit Registration, October 1-2: $315 (Includes attendance to the Networking Reception on October 1 and Aloha Reception on October 2)
Individuals: 2-Day Summit Registration, October 2-3: $295 (Includes attendance to the Aloha Reception on October 2 and Tourism Legacy Awards Lunch on October 3)