ATM 201 1

Luxury Travel Forum

Welcome to theLuxury Travel Forumwith ttgmena luxury

in association with Reed Travel Exhibitions

ATM 2011MAy 2

14:00 To 15:00

ChAiR: Alexandra North, Chief Editor, TTG MENA

PANELLisTs: Luca Deplano, Banyan Tree Group

Michael Marshall, Millennium Hotels & ResortsThorsten Ries, Onyx Hospitality Group

helen Beck, Royal Caribbean International

Following hot on the heels of the launch of ttgmena luxury, we now welcome you to the Luxury Travel Forum at Arabian Travel Market, 2011.

What twists and turns has luxury travel encountered along its journey of evolution? In today’s fast-paced climate, what does luxury travel actually mean? Indeed, where is it heading? How can the industry satisfy current demands from this high-yield sector? A stellar line-up of panellists bring their extensive insight and experience to the stage to help us find the answers.

While we don’t possess a crystal ball, collectively, we will glimpse into the future to see what shape and form luxury travel might take for the next generation of high-end travellers, who are becoming increasingly savvy and demanding by nature.

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the world of luxury travel?

TodayTomorrow

Yesterday

Luca Deplano was appointed to the post of vice president, marketing, at Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts in December 2010. Based at Banyan Tree’s corporate office in Singa-pore, Luca is responsible for reinforcing the brand position as the Group embarks on an aggressive global growth strategy to double its number of properties by 2013.

His main area of focus is on growing Banyan Tree’s e-business and aligning the marketing strategy to be customer centric.

Luca has amassed over 14 years of experi-ence in business development as well as

strategic planning in the sales and market-ing of premium brands such as American Express, Prada, Furla and Cerruti 1881, in both Asia and Europe. His most recent position prior to joining the Group was as marketing director, Premium Cards, Ameri-can Express, based in Hong Kong.

Luca holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Columbia Business School, and a Degree in Business Adminis-tration from Bologna University, Italy. He is married with no children, and besides hav-ing a passion for Asian studies, he enjoys swimming, tennis and photography.

LucA DepLAnoVice president, Market ing

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts

Michael Marshall currently holds the esteemed position of vice president, sales and marketing for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels – Middle East and North Africa, currently operating 11 hotels, with some 40 confirmed projects in the pipeline.

Michael, renowned in the industry as a progressive and dynamic experienced professional, boasts an extensive array of knowledge of the corporate, regional and operational marketing, sales, product and brand initiatives within the hospitality industry throughout both Europe and the Middle East.

Immediately prior to joining Millennium & Copthorne Hotels in 2010, Michael held the position of corporate vice president, sales and marketing for Rotana Hotels.

Holding a post graduate marketing diploma from the Institute of Marketing and a BA in Business Studies and Marketing, Michael has garnered a number of coveted awards throughout his career, including the HSMAI Silver Award for US inbound ‘Europe for Less Campaign’; Top Sales and Market-ing Award InterContinental Hotels, Europe (1996, 2002) and Duke of Edinburgh Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards.

MicHAeL MARsHALLVice president, sales and Marketing

Mi l lennium & copthorne HotelsMiddle east and north Afr ica

Thorsten Ries, executive vice president and chief operations officer of ONYX Hospitality Group, has a broad range of expertise in the operations field with an emphasis on implementing strong corpo-rate growth strategies.

His colourful career path, which stretches over more than 20 years, includes numer-ous executive positions at some of the world’s leading multi-national hospital-ity organisations. Currently, Thorsten is responsible for driving ONYX’s corporate strategy and ensuring its alignment with the company’s core philosophy.

Along his professional journey, Thorsten has held key leadership positions, including those of general manager, area manager, and vice president for Ritz-Carlton Eastern Europe, Four Seasons and Marriott Hotels in Europe, America and the Middle East. He was also area vice president and general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin, and was responsible for Moscow, Istanbul, and Wolfsburg.

In addition to implementing a leaner busi-ness structure, Thorsten will drive ONYX’s strategic business initiatives across the company’s brand portfolio.

THoRsTen Riesexecutive Vice president

and chief operat ions off iceronYX Hospital i ty Group

Helen Beck joined Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises as regional sales direc-tor, international representatives, EMEA in September 2000 and has seen this region grow from 11 to 18 countries in that time. Currently, Helen oversees the sales, marketing and operational activities within these diverse markets.

Helen is a travel industry veteran who was born into the hospitality trade, starting her career in travel in 1983. She spent several years working for British tour operators throughout Europe before becoming a product executive contracting hotels and

producing brochures. Helen briefly worked with a marketing and incentive company specialising in inbound and outbound events before joining Millennium & Cop-thorne Hotels as its International Sales Manager. In this role, she was responsible for introducing and promoting the chain’s US, Asia-Pacific and European hotels to the UK travel trade.

Helen was educated in England and speaks French, German and Spanish fluently. Additionally, she is a Neuro Linguistic Pro-gramming Practitioner and enjoys watching all sports, skiing and socialising.

HeLen BeckRegional sales Director

international Representat ives - eMeARoyal car ibbean international , celebr ity and Azamara cruises

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