The event, which is run by Women in Travel CIC and dedicated to empowering women through employability and entrepreneurship in the travel industry, will take place 10-15 May.
Senior leaders and up-and-coming female talent from across the travel sector will come together to share, learn and challenge issues around gender diversity and inclusion.
The forum will feature five main themes over five afternoons and one optional experiential day:
- Day 1 – Monday 10 May: Taking stock of where we are and getting ready for recovery
- Day 2 – Tuesday 11 May: Building a better future for all in travel and tourism
- Day 3 – Wednesday 12 May: Talent through a gender and inclusion lens
- Day 4 – Thursday 13 May: How do we build an inclusive travel and tourism industry?
- Day 5 – Friday 14 May: Using mentoring to empower yourself and your career
- Day 6 – Saturday 15 May: Experience one of three female-led London day tours
Speakers include Laura Storm, founder of Regenerators and co-author of Regenerative Leadership and WEF young global leader, who will deliver a keynote address on regenerative leadership.
Storm will be joined by Natalia Bayona, director of innovation, education and investments at UNWTO; Martinique Lewis, Diversity in Travel consultant and president of the Black Travel Alliance; and John Bevan, chief executive of dnata Travel Europe.
Sessions will be live and also available on-demand. Ticket prices range from £10-£60 with Early Bird rates available at www.womenintravelcic.com until 12 April, or from £15-£100 afterwards.
Intrepid Travel, which helped launch the inaugural IWTTF last year, remains a key partner of the event in 2021, while support also comes from organisations including Google, Tui and the University of Surrey.
Alessandra Alonso, founder of Women in Travel CIC, said: “The 2021 International Women in Travel & Tourism Forum is more relevant than ever due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has impacted the travel and tourism sector globally.
“By holding this forum in May, we hope to contribute to the travel and tourism industry’s recovery and longer-term success by providing a space for women and like-minded men to come together to share ways to build back better, and accelerate diversity and inclusion in the sector.”
Zina Bencheikh, managing director EMEA at Intrepid and chair of the International Women in Travel & Tourism Forum 2021, added: “Women in Travel CIC shares many of our values at Intrepid Travel, particularly our belief that we cannot have a sustainable travel industry without female empowerment.
“Following the most challenging of years, this year’s digital International Women in Travel & Tourism Forum is more important than ever as we examine the impact of the pandemic on women in our industry and look ahead to the future.”
