Tourism industry's most prominent figures to head to Qatar in May

Some of the travel industry's most prominent and influential figures will head to Qatar at the beginning of May to discuss fundamental changes in the tourism industry as part of the World Travel and Tourism Council's Fourth Global Travel and Tourism Summit.

The Summit - which is being hosted by Qatar Airways - will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha from May 1-3. The theme of the Summit is Driving Change.

Easyjet's founder Stelio Haji-Ioannou, Tui's Chairman Dr Michael Frenzel, the Intercontinental's Chief Executive Richard North, the BBC's Nik Gowing, McKinsey's Managing Director Ian Davis, IATA's Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Bisignani are among the many tourism leaders that have confirmed to attend the Summit.

"The Global Summit will draw many of the leaders from the world's leading tourism companies to discuss major issues facing the industry," said Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Officer Mr Akbar Al Baker.

"We are expecting up to 700 delegates to descend on Doha, including Government Ministers, Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors - all the influential players within the tourism industry.

"The series of issues that the tourism industry has had to confront in the last few years has meant that the travel industry must create new ways of doing things if it is to sustain growth into the future.

"The Summit is designed to create a forum where the industry's major players can sit together and discuss priorities for change and how these changes should be implemented.

"The agenda will touch on how the media influences consumers, current economic trends in the industry, new management styles, investment opportunities, the 'seamless travel experience', world health issues, new destinations and new markets among others," said Mr Al Baker.