The entrepreneur behind one of the world’s most successful adventure travel companies is to speak at WTM London – the leading global event for the travel industry.
Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, will share his expertise on the industry and share insight into his company’s remarkable success during a keynote speech on day one, Monday November 5.
The appearance of the Canadian entrepreneur — who set up GAP Adventures (later renamed G Adventures) in 1990 at the age of 22 — is part of WTM’s commitment to bring the best speakers to the event, which will offer an unrivalled business ideas for delegates. WTM London is the hotbed of ideas for the travel and tourism industry. It is at WTM London that the ideas that fuel the future of the industry are born.
For 28 years, Poon Tip has been rallying his global workforce, which comes from different backgrounds and cultures, around the unifying purpose of ‘we love changing people’s lives’.
During this keynote speech, Poon Tip will explain how the leading small group adventure operator uses this unified purpose to drive outstanding business results and to transcend travel, creating positive social impact that makes employees feel as though they are part of something greater than themselves.
He will also reveal the results of the first global ‘State of Purpose in the Travel Industry’ survey for travel agents, and provide insights from the company’s learnings as a purpose-driven travel brand, reminding the travel industry why we love working in travel, and the impact we can have.
G Adventures now takes over 200,000 travellers on more than 700 different tours in over 100 different countries and has won global accolades for its workplace and management ethos as well as its commitment to social enterprise and ethical travel.
In 2003, Poon Tip founded Planeterra, an NGO that helps local people develop their communities, conserve their environment, and provide social solutions to local business challenges.
He has presented TED Talks and has been called upon to share his expertise on sustainable development to the World Bank and UNESCO. In addition, Poon Tip is also author of the bestselling book Looptail: How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business.
Bruce Poon Tip believes: “The travel industry has the power, and the responsibility, to change lives and make our world a better place. Reconnecting with our purpose is more important than ever.
“Being part of something bigger than ourselves – part of a movement committed to sustainable travel – is what has united our employees, travellers and partners around the world for more than 28 years.”
WTM London, Senior Director, Simon Press said: “In recent years Bruce Poon Tip has been asked to share his expertise with some of the biggest organisations in the world and we’re thrilled he is taking time out to speak at WTM London.
“G Adventures has led the way in small group travel for over 25 years, enabling people to see the world as well as supporting local communities. Over that time, G Adventures has changed the landscape of adventure travel and continues to innovate.
“The huge growth of G Adventures goes to show that it is possible to make a very successful global business and be socially responsible at the same time. Bruce will offer a number of inspiration ideas that delegates will be able to take back to their businesses.”
Bruce Poon Tip will speak on day one of WTM London, Monday November 5, from 14:00-14:45 on the Global Stage.
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About World Travel Market
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises six leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. The events are:
WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating about £3.1 billion of travel industry contracts. http://london.wtm.com/. Next event: 5-7 November 2018 – London.
Travel Forward is a new travel technology event co-located with WTM London 2018 and part of the WTM portfolio of events. The inaugural Travel Forward conference, exhibition and buyer programme will take place on 5–7 November 2018 at ExCeL London, showcasing next-generation technology for travel and hospitality. http://travelforward.wtm.com/.
WTM Latin America attracts about 9,000 senior executives and generates about US$374 million of new business. Taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this show attracts a global audience to meet and shape the direction of the travel industry. More than 8,000 unique visitors attend the event to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry news. http://latinamerica.wtm.com/. Next event: 2-4 April 2019 – Sao Paulo.
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. Nearly 5,000 travel industry professionals attend Africa’s leading inbound and outbound travel and tourism market. WTM Africa delivers a proven mix of hosted buyers, media, pre-scheduled appointments, on-site networking, evening functions and invited travel trade visitors. http://africa.wtm.com/. Next event: 10-12 April 2019 – Cape Town.
Arabian Travel Market is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2018 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 141 countries over the four days. The 25th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre. To find out more, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarketwtm.com.
Next event: 28th April-1st May 2019 – Dubai.
International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) is the meeting place for the global B2B golf travel community. Taking place annually since 1998, IGTM brings together more than 500 golf tourism suppliers and 400 pre-qualified buyers for four days of unmissable pre-scheduled appointments and exclusive networking opportunities. Showcasing a different golf destination every year, IGTM brings together 1,400 golf tourism professionals from more than 65 countries. http://igtm.wtm.com/. Next event: 15-18 October 2018 – Slovenia.
About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face-to-face through data and digital tools at more than 500 events a year, in more than 43 countries, attracting more than seven million participants. Reed’s events are held in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.
About Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism events organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether they are global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have more than 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.
More information, please contact:
Paul Nelson – WTM Portfolio PR Manager
T: +44 (0)20 8910 7032/ M: +44 (0)79 1955 5510
Natalia Hartmann – WTM Portfolio PR Executive
E: natalia.hartmann@reedexpo.co.uk
T: +44 (0)20 8439 5535/ M: +44 (0)74 0336 7331