BHA to host first Tourism and Hospitality Summit ahead of bumper British summer
The Summit will focus on growing the hospitality industry, with the theme of ‘Ready, Set, Go.’ Based at the InterContinental hotel on London’s Park Lane, the event will mark the beginning of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, less than a month before the London 2012 Olympics.
“In a year when the UK will play host to visitors from all over world, the Summit provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate the breadth and vitality of the tourism and hospitality industry as well as providing a platform to showcase its importance to the UK economy,” said the BHA.
“All too often we focus merely on expansion and more specifically on increasing volume within existing structures. What if we focused on new partnerships, reaching across conventional boundaries between hospitality, tourism, sport, media, arts and culture? What would we stand to gain?
“This Summit, under the theme ‘Ready, Set, go…’ focuses on all aspects of growth and explores the potential for improved links in one of the world's most diverse industries – hospitality and tourism.”
Change, partnership and collaboration
Keynote speakers at the Summit will include Alan Parker, former chief executive of Whitbread and the current chairman of the BHA; John Penrose MP, minister for tourism and heritage; and Richard Solomons, chief executive of hotel group IHG. A large number of other industry leaders will also speak at the event.
An audience of around 400 people will be made up of attendees from the summit, BHA members and special guests.
Ufi Ibrahim, the BHA’s chief executive, added: “It is hugely important in economic terms, but it also impacts on the country’s culture, its heritage and its social life. The Summit will look to inspire change, partnership and collaboration between industry and government in all these areas.”
The aim will be to drive economic growth and the creation of jobs in the United Kingdom.”
Attendance at the Summit, and the Gala Dinner in the evening, is limited. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Philippa Brady at BHA – cuvyvccn.oenql@oun.bet.hx.
