INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL

Rwanda

In her current role, she’s advising on trade and industrialisation sector strategies for Rwanda. As a Strategic Trade and Industrial Development Advisor, her experience has encompassed trade facilitation, industrial cluster mappings, value chain development and investment engagements with both public, private and non-profit sectors in ways that have centred on the enabling of a thriving business climate that underscores sustainable inclusive growth and development.

Germany

Richard Adam is a seasoned international C-level executive and board member in asset management and investment, focus on where visitor experience, frequency and retention is key, in particular destination-, resort-, hospitality-, leisure venue-, public realm, mega sporting events, commercial real estate development…

USA

Jerad Bachar has close to thirty years of tourism and economic development experience in an array of countries and business environments. He has worked in both developed and emerging markets in the areas of destination branding and marketing, economic development and diversification, and workforce development.

Spain

Guy Bigwoody has been delivering award-winning consulting services focused on helping cities, governments, associations and the hospitality industry step up, scale up and speed up their sustainability programmes and operational practices for the last 15 years.

USA

Bob Chambers is a 30 year veteran of the “people gathering” business, as a consultant, designer and producer of custom, high-end, permanent attractions for tourism, entertainment, theme parks, cultural/heritage, and brand visitor centers around the world.

Switzerland

Luca Favetta recently served as Regional Business Director EMEA at PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), one of the world’s largest network of Business Events Strategists, where was responsible for developing PCMA Brand and Educational Services in the Region.

Italy

Valentina Ndou, PhD is Senior Researcher and Aggregate Professor on Management Engineering Department at University of Salento (Italy). Her research specializes in analyzing the innovation management trends and the effectiveness of information systems with particular emphasis on new solutions and approaches for smart tourism,  eBusiness, entrepreneurship education and knowledge management.

Sri Lanka

Talal Rafi is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur and international consultant. After completing his university education in the United Kingdom, Talal returned to Sri Lanka to pursue his journey in entrepreneurship. He co-founded one of Sri Lanka’s first co-working spaces company Hubpoint.

Germany

Prof. Dr. Arlt is the founder and CEO of the Hamburg-based COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute and one of the leading experts on the biggest global outbound tourism source market – China.
He has been connected to China and tourism development since more than 40 years. His first visit to Mainland China took place in 1978 and he worked as a tour operator until 2001, when he became a full-time professor for international tourism management.