*Programme is subject to change.
08.00 – 09.00
Checking in & coffee
09.00 – 09.15
A New World Of Travel Careers: Opportunities & Possibilities
Technology has opened up a new world of career opportunities in travel, already the world’s largest industry. According to Phocuswright, travel is a $1.3 trillion industry, not including $100b in private accommodation and $100b in tours & activities. Online travel gross bookings in APAC have gone from $4.8b in 2002 to US$137b in 2016 (Phocuswright). And mobile in Asia is leading the transformation. Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder of WIT, kicks off the day.
Yeoh Siew Hoon, Founder & Managing Director, SHY Ventures
09.15 – 10.00
Travel Leaders Share Their Stories: Be Inspired
Want to build your travel career in a changing world but don’t know the possibilities and opportunities? Listen to our panel of travel leaders, spanning e-commerce, hospitality and loyalty marketing, and technology, and get some ideas and inspiration.
Loh Lik Peng, Founder, Unlisted Collection
Greg Schulze, Senior Vice President, Expedia
Timothy Hughes, Vice President, Marketing, Agoda
Louise Daley, Executive Vice President & CFO, Accor Asia Pacific
Robin Yap, President Asia, The Travel Corporation
10.00 – 10.15
The Future of Work: Finding The Meaning
Is there more to work than just work? Does a new generation want more from their travel careers? How do you find the right career that fulfils your personal goal as well? Colin Goh shares his story and talks about the new economy of meaning.
Colin Goh, Founder and CEO, The Rice Academy
10.15 – 10.35
“The Element” Pitch: A Competition To Find Your Element
In his book, “The Element”, renowned educator Ken Robinson argues how finding your passion changes everything. “When people are in their Element, they connect with something fundamental to their sense of identity, purpose and well-being. Being there provides a sense of self-revelation, of defining who they really are and what they´re meant to be doing with their lives,” he says.
In this session, you in the audience get a chance to participate in a competition aimed at helping you identify your Element or the Element you would like to have as you develop your career.
First, we will ask our coaches to make their 1-minute pitch on the one Element that differentiates them and has guided them in their professional life.
Then it will be open to you in the audience. Put up your hands if you want to take part in this Pitch. Make your 1-minute Pitch on your Element or the Element you would like to have (if you haven’t yet identified your Element) and we will match you with a coach, who will prepare you for the Finals at the end of the day.
Our coaches:
Greg Schulze, Senior Vice President Commercial Strategy & Services, Expedia
Sarah Whyte, Coach & Trainer, Sarah Whyte Consulting
Timothy Hughes, Vice President, Marketing, Agoda
Turochas Fuad, Co-founder & CEO, Spacemob
Louise Daley, Executive Vice President & CFO, AccorHotels Asia Pacific
Blanca Menchaca, Co-founder & COO, BeMyGuest
Robin Yap, President Asia, The Travel Corporation
10.35 – 11.05
So You Want To Be A Startup: What Does It Take?
This new world of technology has inspired a lot of entrepreneurs, all wanting to build their own startup. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Often, it’s a 10-year commitment. Always, it takes perseverance and grit. Do you have what it takes? And what will it take to build what you want? Learn from those who’ve done it, their mistakes and failures as much as their successes.
Mouna Aouri-Langendorf, CEO & Founder, Woomentum
Faeez Fadhlillah, CEO & Co-Founder, Tripfez
Winnie Tan, CEO & Co-Founder, TripZilla
Saki Kobayashi, COO & Co-Founder, LCO-Creation
Moderator: Turochas Fuad, CEO & Founder, Spacemob
11.05 – 11.30
Break: “Win A Mentor” Time
During this break, grab the opportunity to network – remember, one quick hello may change your life. Also you can take part in our “Pick Your Mentor” lucky draw – put your name into our “Mentor Boxes” and win hours of mentoring time with our coaches. They’ll pick the winner at the end of the day.
11.30 – 11.45
The Importance of EQ in a Tech World
In an increasingly tech-driven world, it is even more important to apply EQ (Emotional Intelligence) in the workplace. Our coach, Dr Sarah Whyte, who has a degree in psychology, a doctorate in education and a deep knowledge of issues relating to emotional intelligence (EQ),will address on-going and emerging person-related problems in companies because like it or not, tech or no tech, it is people who make or break companies and businesses.
Sarah Whyte, Consultant And Trainer, Sarah Whyte Consulting
11.45 – 12.40
Life in the New Lane: Learning from the Newbies
Learning is two-ways – just as we learn from veterans, we can also pick up lessons from newbies to the industry. This panel of young professionals who’ve just joined the industry will cover the lessons they’ve learnt, what they wished they knew before they joined the industry and their aspirations as they develop their careers in travel.
Q&A:
Jacquelyn Chan, COO & Co-Founder, The Hip and Happening Group
Presentation: Astha Kalbag, Growth Hacker, SkyScanner
Panel:
Cynthia Tan, Manager of Strategic Initiatives & Business Support, President’s Office, Starwood Hotels and Resorts APAC
Lionel Yeo, Manager Hotel Partnerships APAC, TripAdvisor
Kelvin Ong, Assistant Channels Development Manager, Sentosa Development Corporation
Bina Tulsidas, Area Manager Partner Services, Booking.com
Moderator: Shyn Yee Ho-Strangas, Director E-commerce, China, Expedia
12.40 – 13.05
Don’t Get Stuck In The Middle: How To Grow Your Career Midway
Yes, it’s great. You started off young and enthusiastic, full of energy, and then what happens? What else is there? What can you do to reboot and remain relevant throughout your career? Our cast of mid to senior industry professionals share how they got unstuck at critical periods of their career, and took their career to the next level.
Tristan Torres, General Manager, Deliveroo Singapore
Shaw Wun Lim, Senior Manager Industry Relations, Expedia
Jessie Khoo-Gan, Executive Assistant Manager, Sales and Marketing and Rooms, One Farrer Hotel & Spa
Christine Tan, Senior VP of Sales & Marketing, FASTBOOKING
Moderator: Aaron Hung, Director of Partnerships, APAC, TripAdvisor
13:05 – 14.00
Lunch
Time for a break, and remember to catch up with our coaches and speakers so you can continue learning from them.
14.00 – 14.30
Stand Out In The Job Market: How to Get Started and How to Build
What do employees need? What are they looking for? Where is the gap in the industry? HR professionals talk about trends in recruitment and share tips on starting and building your careers.
Zsanett Maizl, Team Lead Recruitment APAC, Booking.com
Graeme Ham, Vice President of Talent & Culture, AccorHotels
Isabella Crocker, Senior Manager of Global Early Talent APAC, Expedia
14.30 – 16.00
Tern Tables: Meet Our Coaches
Call it speed learning but we’ve asked our speakers to host tables during this 90-minute session so that you can choose to sit and learn from the speaker/coach of your choice. This is your opportunity to get close and personal and pick up tips you wouldn’t otherwise. Each round will be around 40 minutes, and you can switch tables after the first round.
Our Table Hosts & Coaches:
Greg Schulze, Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy & Services & Isabella Crocker, Senior Manager of Global Early Talent APAC, Expedia
Aaron Hung, Director of Partnerships & Clara Lim, Partnerships Manager APAC, TripAdvisor
Blanca Menchaca, COO & Co-founder, BeMyGuest & Kei Shibata, CEO, Venture Republic Japan
Timothy Hughes, Vice President, Marketing, Agoda
Turochas Fuad, Founder & CEO, Spacemob
Louise Daley, Executive Vice President & COO, AccorHotels Asia Pacific
Robin Yap, President Asia, The Travel Corporation
Sarah Whyte, Consultant And Trainer, Sarah Whyte Consulting
Luke Clark, Director of Consumer Content, Novus Asia
Mouna Aouri-Langendorf, CEO & Founder, Woomentum
16.00 – 16.30
Break: “Win A Mentor” Time
During this break, grab the opportunity to network – remember, one quick hello may change your life. Also you can take part in our “Pick Your Mentor” lucky draw – put your name into our “Mentor Boxes” and win hours of mentoring time with our coaches. They’ll pick the winner at the end of the day.
16.30 – 17.00
Land of New Opportunities: Hot Growth Areas In Travel
The great thing about travel is how the value chain keeps expanding and evolving as technology revolutionises the entire supply chain. This session will examine the new job opportunities that have come up in the different areas of travel.
Content: Yi Wen Chan, Co-founder, Bolt Media
Tours & Activities: Blanca Menchaca, COO & Co-founder, BeMyGuest
The Co-Working Economy: Turochas Fuad, Founder & CEO, Spacemob
17.00 – 17.30
Food Is The Old and New Love: Building Up Yummy Careers
We’ve always loved our food in Asia but these days, it’s taken new life and new forms and lots of people have built careers around food. What are the ingredients you need to build a career around food? We assemble a cast of personalities whose lives and work revolve around our favourite pastime, eating.
Arrif Ziaudeen, Co-founder and CEO, Chope
Tahnya Butterfield-Gill, Founder, NOSHtrekker
Drew Nocente, Executive Chef, Salted and Hung
Moderator: Marissa Trew, Writer, Web In Travel
17.30 – 17.45
The Element Pitch: Who Is The Winner?
They’ve been coached and now they’re ready to win your hearts and your votes. Our candidates, encouraged by their respective coaches, make their one-minute “My Element” Pitch. Prizes await our winner.
17.45 – 18.00
It’s A Wrap & Lucky Draw!
Time to close, we hope that our one-day event has inspired and enriched you and that like the sunbird, your travel career will take off to new heights. See you again next time!