Converge > Connect > Change
The UK’s first Wildlife Safari & Conservation Summit is fast approaching on 11 October. It comes at a time when the travel industry, the country and the rest of the world are waking up to some of the challenges and issues caused by humans in the natural world.
The Wildlife Safari and Conservation Summit brings together relevant buyers and sellers in a marketplace event and discussion hubs, informative talks, engaging panel debates, keynote speakers and conference sessions at the Royal Hall, Harrogate.
Leading figures in the industry will come together to connect and discuss issues affecting the travel industry, wildlife tourism and conservation for a full-day summit, ending with a networking reception.
"By bringing leading experts and speakers together, the organisers are aiming to encourage travel companies, NGOs, charities and conservationists to come together to drive positive change"
Converge
Come together at this cutting edge world summit to discuss common issues affecting the world of wildlife tourism and conservation.
Connect
Join leading figures from the travel industry and conservationists, make new commercial partnerships and join round-table discussions and conference talks on key issues.
Change
Make positive change for good by coming together and work towards common goals.
In the words of Jim Sano, Vice President of WWF Travel, Tourism and Conservation, ‘It’s time to be agnostic about conservation’. Too many organisations build walls and barriers to co-operation and often work in silos as if competing with one another. Through this summit we aim to drive change by bringing people together.
The conference will include several 'Discussion Hubs' including:
Animal Welfare in Tourism Savvy travellers are becoming more aware of animal welfare in tourism, with research now showing discerning consumers are more likely to book with travel providers who operate responsible animal welfare tours. It’s a hot topic, recently a couple of high-profile holiday companies have announced their decision to stop sales and promotion of captive animal attractions. Attend this round table discussion to learn more about the topic, so you are informed and have the inside knowledge when talking to your customers.
Discover the five simple steps designed to help travel companies to minimise their impact on animals and the natural environment.
This table discussion is facilitated by Daniel Turner, Director of animal welfare in tourism specialists Animondial
Travel Without Plastic
Sponsored by Water-to-Go It’s a big problem, the planet is covered in plastic with wildlife and the natural environment at risk. But there are practical, cost effective solutions to reducing single-use plastic without compromising the guest experience. Discover top tips on working with travel partners to reduce and eliminate single use plastic.
This table discussion is facilitated by Rachel McCafferty, Travel Without Plastic
We want to encourage sustainable practices and responsible tourism by drawing awareness to the growing problem of plastic pollution. Water-to-Go is the sustainable solution to this problem and we want to work with organisations and businesses that share our values, aims and goals. By encouraging you and your clients to buy a Water-to-Go bottle, we can help reduce your carbon footprint as we aim to save the planet from plastic pollution.
Online Marketing, PR and Social Media. The Latest Thinking on Engaging with Existing and New Customers. Sponsored by Mr Zen Technology is playing an increasingly important part in wildlife tourism marketing. Gather around this table if you are looking for answers and interesting ideas to help your company to engage with your target audience. Find out what’s new, what is working and what is not! Is traditional advertising dead or still relevant? Is it worth developing a travel App? Do media influencers work? How do you convert social media engagement into sales?
This table discussion is facilitated by Anneka Roberts, Associate Vice President of Digital, The Brighter Group – Finn Partners
We know travel. We were contracting travel services and managing tour leaders in the late nineties. Since then we’ve clocked up experience with Travel IT and eCommerce second to none.
At Mr Zen use this experience to solve problems for our clients and try to deliver the best possible solutions for our clients’ budgets. Our range of products and services are specifically tailored to the Travel Industry and our fundamental goal is to increase client bookings and reduced admin.
Cruising On The Wild Side. Sponsored by ABTOT Small-ship adventure and expedition cruising can offer the best ways to see some of the world’s most beautiful wildlife in remote settings, often only accessible by boat.
With more new expedition cruise vessels being launched, there is more choice than event for travellers. Join this session to learn about the opportunities in the exciting and fast-growing cruise sector.
ABTOT is recognised by the Travel Industry as a practical and efficient way of complying with the regulations and offering customers holiday protection.
We are here to offer you a guiding hand as we know you’ll want to focus your energies on making a success of your business. We have the experience and expertise to lead you through the regulatory maze.
Social responsibility and conservation…can the travel trade do more?
Partnered by SAA
Tourism, social responsibility and conservation are working hard together on several projects, trying to find good practice. However there is a lot more to be done. So what can we do to help wider social, environmental and wildlife issues that really matter to the planet and our consumers
This table discussion is facilitated by Kate Studholme, Founder & CEO, Tail 2 Tale
South African Airways offers daily overnight flights from London to Johannesburg on board the new Airbus A330-300, with easy onward connections to over 30 destinations across Southern Africa.
Business Class offers travellers their own ‘living space’ with improved privacy whilst Economy Class boasts newly designed seats with high-resolution screens and individual USB charging ports.
DESTINATION SHOWCASE. Meet Your South Africa. Home to the renowned Big Five, lesser known Little Five and Marine Big Five (with many other species in between), South Africa has an abundance of wildlife found across its reserves, oceans and skies.
Join Alison Towner, White Shark Biologist at Marine Dynamics, and marine expert to learn all about South Africa’s diverse ocean life – from Southern Right whales, African penguins, great white sharks, dolphins to seals. Find out why Alison believes ocean wildlife in South Africa is just as fascinating, if not more, as the terrestrial life!
South Africa is a dynamic, vibrant destination that offers an unrivalled wealth of experiences to the traveller. South African Tourism is the official tourism agency for the country of South Africa, tasked with marketing and promoting South Africa as a preferred tourism destination in the UK and Ireland, driving visitation to the country and showcasing the breadth of tourism experiences available, both supporting large tourism operators and the SMMEs.
How to Create Your Own High-Quality Video Content On a Shoestring. With Patrick Aryee – Television Presenter I Filmmaker I Biologist I Adventurer
From Blue Planet, Dynasties, Our Planet and Serengeti – the success of Natural History Documentaries have the nation talking about wildlife. Join Patrick Aryee as he talks about his life as a wildlife filmmaker and presenter. He’ll also share tips and valuable insight on how you too can shoot, edit and share your wildlife encounters in the field. Marketing professionals – you don’t to miss this session!
Patrick hosts the BBC’s 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter, he has a versatile presenting style which has allowed him a host a variety of other programmes; from the epic Amazing Animal Family franchise, to the expedition show Yellowstone’s: Wildest Winter, the heart-warming Nature’s Miracle Orphans and the fact filled Super Senses.
Disruptive Marketing: Standing Out from the Crowd and Connecting with New Customers. In this session we explore motivated and innovative marketing approaches outside the traditional media channels. Get insight from marketeers on how to amplify your message, from “piggy backing” on the rise in popularity of wildlife television programmes or film releases, to engaging with new clients by joined-up marketing and PR actions that cut through the noise.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Protecting Our Oceans – Marine Conservation, Tourism and Plastics
Our planet is covered by around three quarters of water, yet it’s said we know more about the surface of mars than we know about our oceans. The seas shape our weather systems and provide food, yet 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters our oceans a year, with a massive impact to marine life. For anyone selling holidays, coastal and marine tourism is an important element to our business. Are we doing enough or can we do more? Join our panel to learn more about what they are doing.
Marine Conservation Society, Ocean Ambassador – Tom “The Blowfish” Hird.
South Africa Tourism, Alison Towner, White Shark Biologist at Marine Dynamics.
World Cetacean Alliance (WCA). Elizabeth Cuevas, Oceanographer and Whale Watching Programme Manager.
From The Summit of Everest to the Front Line of Conservation, Meet Holly Budge.
British adventurer, conservationist and motivational speaker, Holly Budge, was quite literally on top of the world when she summited Mount Everest. Her passion for adventure is evident with two world records under her belt so far, including being the first woman to skydive Everest and race semi-wild horses 1000 kms across Mongolia in just nine days.
Holly is not limited to adventure, she is also an acclaimed artist and passionate conservationist. She is the founder of How Many Elephants, an award-winning campaign raising awareness of the plight of elephants in Africa and funds for anti-poaching projects. Recently, Holly immersed herself with the Black Mambas, an all-female front line anti-poaching team in South Africa and documented this on film. She has helped raise over £300k for a diverse range of charities through her adventures and campaign work so far.
Trends, Challenges and Opportunities. The Business of Selling Wildlife, Safari & Conservation Travel
In the final session of the day, we gather with an esteemed panel to discuss the challenges facing all of us, what they are doing to keep up with trends and what opportunities are open to us in order to maximise our potential in the wildlife, safari and conservation arena.
Drinks Networking Reception Until: 19:00
Delegate full day ticket to attend the WSC Summit is only £125, to book your place, please click here now.
Conference Partner:
South African Airways offers daily overnight flights from London to Johannesburg on board the new Airbus A330-300, with easy onward connections to over 30 destinations across Southern Africa.
Business Class offers travellers their own ‘living space’ with improved privacy whilst Economy Class boasts newly designed seats with high-resolution screens and individual USB charging ports.
Supported by:
TTG was established as Travel Trade Gazette in 1953, as the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper. Today, TTG Media continues to deliver authoritative news and educational features in a weekly magazine in the UK & Ireland, and also offers a range of face-to-face training events, a news-led website, a community for luxury travel professionals, an annual travel awards, bespoke marketing campaigns, jobs, and much much more.
For more information please visit here.
