PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2015 “Explore Beyond Tourism” -- Celebrate Happiness-February 4-6, Royal Banquet Hall, Thimphu, Bhutan Programme as January 20 Wednesday 4 February0900-1700

Delegate arrival/registration Venue: Foyer, Royal Banquet Hall

1400-1700

Complimentary half day tour – A Journey Through the Eyes of the Local Bhutanese

1830

Welcome Reception hosted by Tourism Council of Bhutan Venue: Terma Linca

Thursday 5 February 0900-0940

Opening Session Venue: Main Conference Room, Royal Banquet Hall Master of Ceremonies: Mr Damcho Rinzin, Marketing and Promotion Division, Tourism Council of Bhutan

0900-0910 Traditional Welcome Ceremony 0910-0915

Welcome Speech by Chhimmy Pem, Director, Tourism Council of Bhutan

0915-0920 0920-0940

Welcome Speech by Mario Hardy, PATA CEO Keynote Address Celebrate Happiness: Linking National Philosophy to Tourism Hon'ble Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan

0940-0955

Coffee Break hosted by Taj Tashi Thimphu

0955-1055

Plenary Session 1 Master of Ceremonies: Mr Paul Pruangkarn, Communications Manager, PATA

The Traditionalists vs The Disruptors Moderator:

Neil Geddes, Founder, Loka Travel, Australia

Traditionalists:

Mandip Singh Soin, Founder & Managing Director, Ibex Expeditions Pvt Ltd., India Willem Niemeijer, Founder & CEO Khiri Travel Group, Thailand Page 1 of 5

Disruptor:

Hai Ho, Founder, Triip.me, Vietnam Mike Beunder, CEO, WithLocals, Netherlands

Synopsis: The opening plenary session analyses three archetypes of travel and tourism operators in the context of new markets emerging and existing markets changing and adapting: the traditionalist, transformer and disruptor. With tourism becoming one of the fastest growing industries in the world, we will explore the archetypes of the traditionalist: the travel operator that serves and operates within the traditional parameters of tourism; the transformer: the operator that evolves and improves products and services alongside changing travel needs and wants; and the disruptor: the innovator of revolutionary and disruptive thinking, which has significantly impacted the industry with a focus on consumers. 1055-1100

Intervals

1100-1230

Concurrent Breakout Sessions Breakout I: Engaging with Today’s Millennial Traveller Venue: Break Away Room 1, Royal Banquet Hall Moderator:

Greg Lowe, Correspondent, TTG Asia, Thailand

Speakers:

Alvin Tang, Sales Team Manager, Acquisition – APAC, TripAdvisor, Singapore Ian Ord, Founder - Travel Guru, Where Sidewalks End Travel Inc., Thailand Simon Monk, Founder, World Nomads, Australia

Synopsis:

The youth traveller of today is often referred to as the ‘Millennial’ traveller or the ‘now’ generation, who travel frequently, demand real time information, are tech-savvy and connected continuously, while simultaneously seeking local experiences with the hope to contribute to the community in a socially responsible manner. Experts from leading travel and tourism operators will seek to highlight how they have observed the trends and adapted to the changing nature of this generation. Breakout II: Adventure Tomorrow: Future Trends of Adventure Travel Venue: Main Conference Room, Royal Banquet Hall Moderator:

Neil Geddes, Founder, Loka Travel, Australia

Speakers:

Kelly Tompkins, CEO & Founder, AdventureLink Travel Inc., USA Adam Knight, Senior Business Manager, Lonely Planet, Australia Karma Lotey, CEO, Yangphel Adventure Travel, Bhutan Page 2 of 5

Synopsis: Adventure Travel has recently emerged as the new face of responsible tourism, with the shift towards more experience-based, low-impact environmentally and culturally sustainable travel. This panel will explore the future trends of adventure travel and the adaptations necessary to continue to meet and exceed consumer demands. 1230-1400

Networking Lunch hosted by Hotel Kisa

1400- 1600

Plenary Session 2 Venue: Main Conference Room, Royal Banquet Hall

1400-1430

Cultural Workshops Coordinated by Tourism Council of Bhutan

1430-1450

Impact Tourism Sam McGoun, CEO, Kings Challenge, Bhutan

Synopsis: The King's Challenge creates the world's most meaningful travel experiences - experiences that forever change both the traveller and the countries they visit. This is referred to as ‘Impact Travel’ - a travel-led solution to preserve for future generations, which includes its environment, culture and people. This session will explore the journey of the King’s Challenge; discovering the challenges, solutions and impacts of the historic and unique travel experience. 1450-1600

Public-Private Sector’s Successes and Challenges in Community Based Tourism: Balancing Financial Aspect and Sustainable Development Moderator:

Robert Basiuk, Managing Director, Borneo Adventure, Malaysia

Speakers:

Michael Kwee, Coordinating Director, Banyan Tree Global Foundation, Singapore Stewart Moore, Chief Executive Officer, EC3/ EarthCheck, Australia Willem Niemeijer, Founder & CEO Khiri Travel Group, Thailand Dr Lam Dorji, Executive Director, Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), Bhutan

Synopsis: Community based tourism aims to sustain our communities and their unique attributes, conserve and protect their natural environment and cultural resources, foster knowledge exchange, and promote local socio-economic development, capacity building, empowerment, and poverty reduction. This panel of speakers will discuss methods to ensure products and services are financially selfPage 3 of 5

sufficient and commercially viable, while respecting, celebrating, and contributing to the protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage resources. 1600- 1620

Coffee Break hosted by Taj Tashi Thimphu

1620-1700

Closing Address: Explore Beyond Tourism Ford Cochran, Director of Programming, National Geographic Expeditions, USA

Synopsis: As the event concludes, the closing address will explore The National Geographic story. Since 1888, National Geographic has become one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions in the world, advocating for the promotion of environmental and historical conservation through the network of experts, researchers, National Geographic Traveler magazines, books, maps, film and television divisions. National Geographic Expeditions, launched in 1999, carries on the Society’s 126year tradition of exploration by bringing travelers to the world's most fascinating places to experience authentic, engaging, and meaningful experiences. 1830

Dinner Reception (TBC) Venue: TBA

Friday 6 February0900-0915

Travel Mart Briefing Venue: Main Conference Room, Royal Banquet Hall

0915-0930

Travel Mart Opening Ceremony Venue: Exhibition Area, Royal Banquet Hall

0930-1220

Travel Mart Appointment Sessions Venue: Exhibition Area, Royal Banquet Hall 0930-0945

Appointment 1

0945-1000

Appointment 2

1000-1015

Appointment 3

1015-1030

Appointment 4

1030-1050

Networking (Coffee) Break hosted by Taj Tashi Thimphu

1050-1105

Appointment 5

1105-1120

Appointment 6

1120-1135

Appointment 7

1135-1150

Appointment 8

1150-1205

Appointment 9

1205-1220

Appointment 10

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0945

Media Briefing Venue: Media Briefing Room, Royal Banquet Hall

1230-1400

Delegate Lunch hosted by Hotel Druk

1400-1650

Buyer-Seller Afternoon Appointments Venue: Exhibition Area, Royal Banquet Hall

1830

1400-1415

Appointment 11

1415-1430

Appointment 12

1430-1445

Appointment 13

1445-1500

Appointment 14

1500-1515

Appointment 15

1515-1530

Appointment 16

1530-1550

Networking (Coffee) Break hosted by Taj Tashi Thimphu

1550-1605

Appointment 17

1605-1620

Appointment 18

1620-1635

Appointment 19

1635-1650

Appointment 20

Dinner Reception hosted by the Prime Minister Office, Tourism Council of Bhutan and Royal Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Motithang Venue: Royal Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Motithang

Saturday 7 February– 0700-1230

Complimentary Half Day Tour Departure/ Self-Paying Tours

--- End of Programme--(Information is correct as of January 19, 2015)

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