The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) will host an online tourism summit on Tuesday March 9.
The purpose of the event is to bring tourism businesses together in a virtual environment to discuss factors that are likely to influence consumers' mind-sets and how businesses will tailor their offerings post-COVID-19 pandemic.
The event will be chaired by journalist Mark Simpson, and delegates will be welcomed by Northern Ireland economy minister Diane Dodds.
Speakers at the event will include Ulster University Economic Policy Centre director Gareth Hetherington, Tourism Ireland head of strategy and insights Neil Aulton, Tourism NI director of marketing Naomi Waite, STR director of client relationships Sarah Duignan, TripAdvisor director of destination marketing (EMEA) Justin Reid, Cork-based hotelier Frankie Whelehan and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration professor Robert Kwortnik.
NIHF President Statement
The Irish News quotes NIHF president Stephen Meldrum as saying, "The summit is open to all businesses operating within the tourism sector and presents a varied programme which will look at the effects of the pandemic, discuss measures that may be required to support the industry and explore the potential that reopening brings.
"The programme highlights a range of matters that underpin the hospitality and tourism sectors. The lockdowns have been hugely challenging but the stoic nature of the industry has come to the fore.
"Hotels are at the centre of the tourism economy, but in order for them to realise their potential the wider economy must also unlock and consumer confidence must be restored."
Additional information about the event can be found at www.nihf.co.uk.
© 2021 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
