This year’s three-day event is being held at the Le Meridien Lav hotel in the Croatian resort of Split on June 10-12 – and Freudmann thinks the choice of destination is playing a big part in securing early registrations.

“Bookings and registrations are coming in faster than we’ve ever experienced before. That’s very exciting,” said Freudmann.

“Split is proving to be an incredibly popular destination – for a lot of people, it’s a new destination. We’ve capped the numbers at 400 for the conference and we already have more than 200 people signed up – and it’s an impressive list of delegates.”

Freudmann added delegate numbers were also being boosted by a growing list of “heavyweight” speakers at the conference, which includes easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren and British Airways boss Alex Cruz. “The fact we have some significant headline speakers is helping registrations – as it always does,” said Freudmann.

Other speakers will include former Loveholidays chairman Roger Flynn, while Brendan Barber, chair of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) Council, will be leading a session on The Future of Work at the conference.

This session will also feature Diana Holland, assistant general secretary at leading union Unite, who has responsibility for transport, travel and tourism.

This year’s conference will have the theme The Opportunities of Change to reflect the changes that may happen to the industry due to Brexit.

Freudmann is also promising some “big-name politicians” at the conference who will, give their views on the outcome of Brexit and will be announced in “due course”.

“There will be some serious big hitters who will give us the lowdown on whatever happens,” he added.

Delegates to this year’s conference will be able to take part in a series of free excursions, which are being organised by the Croatian National Tourist Board.

Other “extras” at the conference will include a tennis tournament, sponsored by Avis.