EVENT PROGRAM - Brand USA Global Marketplace
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EVENT PROGRAM
TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021 MARKET OVERVIEW DAY
12:00 PM -2:00 PM EDT
BRAND USA WELCOME
CHRIS THOMPSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, BRAND USA
THE “DOWN UNDER” PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE
MICHELE LEVINE, CEO, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH
JO PALMER, DIRECTOR OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, BRAND USA
THE FUTURE OF THE AUSSIE AND KIWI TRAVELER
MODERATOR: BRUCE PIPER, MANAGING EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, TRAVEL DAILY
BRETT JARDINE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA TOUR OPERATORS
TOM MANWARING, CHAIRMAN OF AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF TRAVEL AGENTS AND CEO OF EXPRESS
TRAVEL GROUP
BRENT THOMAS, PRESIDENT OF TRAVEL AGENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND AND COO OF HOUSE
OF TRAVEL
TARGETING AUSSIE AND KIWI TRAVELERS FOR RECOVERY
BRENDAN WATMORE, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, TOURIST TRACKA
THE AVIATION OUTLOOK “DOWN UNDER”
JULIE REID, DIRECTOR FOR AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND TAHITI SALES, UNITED AIRLINES
TOMMY LINDBLAD, MARKETING MANAGER FOR AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, TAHITI AND SOUTHEAST
ASIA, UNITED AIRLINES
KATHRYN ROBERTSON, GROUP GENERAL MANAGER SALES, AIR NEW ZEALAND
HOW ARE MEDIA PREPARING FOR THE RETURN OF U.S. TRAVEL?
MODERATOR: ROB MCFARLAND, AUSTRALIAN FREELANCE TRAVEL WRITER
BEN GROUNDWATER, AUSTRALIAN FREELANCE TRAVEL WRITER
STEPHANIE HOLMES, TRAVEL EDITOR, NEW ZEALAND HERALD
CLOSING REMARKS
CHRIS THOMPSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, BRAND USA
2
SPEAKER BIOS
LISTED IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
CHRIS THOMPSON
PRESIDENT AND CEO,
BRAND USA
Chris is president and CEO of Brand USA, the USA’s public-private partnership dedicated to increasing
international visitation to the United States through marketing and promotional efforts. Chris is
responsible for accelerating the organization’s efforts to build and execute effective marketing
strategies to increase U.S. travel exports, create jobs, strengthen the economy, and help enhance the
image of the United States internationally. Under Chris’ leadership, Brand USA has nearly tripled its
partnership network and more than doubled its partner contributions and program offerings.
Chris has more than 30 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. Before joining Brand
USA, Chris was president and CEO of Visit Florida. Under his leadership, Florida realized record
growth in international visitation. Throughout his career, Chris has been honored with a number of
industry awards and recognized for numerous accomplishments. He was the first recipient of Skål
International’s USA National Tourism Leadership Award in 2018 in recognition of his “very meaningful
contribution to the growth and success of tourism in the United States,” and in 2015, Chris received
the National Tour Association’s Pioneer Award for his accomplishments in producing significant changes
in the travel industry.
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THE “DOWN UNDER” PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE
MICHELE LEVINE
CEO,
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH
Michele was born with a passion for people and what makes them tick, social justice, and an insatiable
curiosity about life. With more than 30 years of experience as a researcher, Michele has been responsible
for thousands of surveys – including many of Australia’s largest research projects – which continue to
play a critically important part in shaping society today.
With a fundamental belief in the empowering value of information, Michele was instrumental in developing
and refining the Roy Morgan Single Source, the world’s leading consumer study (based on over 50,000
interviews a year) and, in 2010, the introduction of the Roy Morgan Business Survey.
Michele was ahead of her time in foreseeing the exponential growth of Big Data and, consequently, the
need for software such as ASTEROID that can manage and order massive volumes of data as well as
the need for highly trained analysts who can help make sense of the data.
JO PALMER
DIRECTOR OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND,
BRAND USA
Jo founded tourism marketing agency Gate 7 in 1998. She’s been the driving force behind the organization
as it grew and evolved to represent and market blue chip tourism destinations and products in the
Australia and New Zealand market. Since 2013, Gate 7 has represented Brand USA in Australia and
New Zealand, and Jo has been instrumental in developing and guiding the strategy for promoting the
USA Down Under.
4
THE FUTURE OF THE AUSSIE AND KIWI TRAVELER
MODERATOR: BRUCE PIPER
MANAGING EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
TRAVEL DAILY
Bruce is the publisher of Australia and New Zealand’s leading travel trade publications, including
newsletters Travel Daily, Cruise Weekly, Business Events News and the monthly travelBulletin magazine.
His company also publishes the consumer-facing Travel & Cruise Weekly and an inspirational weekly
e-magazine called Keep Dreaming. In operation for more than 25 years, the business is the travel
industry’s go-to source for deep insight, commentary, trends and inside information.
BRETT JARDINE
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN TOUR OPERATORS
Brett is the managing director of the Council of Australian Tour Operators. He joined CATO in March
2018 with nearly 30 years of experience across segments in the travel industry that included wholesale,
touring and cruise. From 2007 to 2017, Brett helmed the Australasian office of Cruise Lines International
Association in a high-profile role that was an integral part of the global cruise sector.
At CATO, Brett led the transformation of the 21-year-old industry body that is the voice of the land-
supply sector representing members that are predominantly Australian-based tour operators and
wholesalers. From the development and implementation of member systems, services and government
representation, the profile of CATO and the value being delivered to its members has grown significantly
under Brett’s leadership.
5
TOM MANWARING
CHAIRMAN, AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF TRAVEL AGENTS
CEO, EXPRESS TRAVEL GROUP
Tom has extensive experience in the airline and wider travel industries in Australia and abroad. He is
currently CEO and co-owner of Express Travel Group, managing director of Creative Cruising, chairman
of First Travel Group and chairman of Australian Federation of Travel Agents.
ETG is now the largest fully independent multibranded aggregation and distribution travel business in
Australia. It offers national representation for over 700 member travel agencies identified through the
Independent Travel Group and Select Travel Group membership brands, as well as the italktravel &
cruise and Independent Travel Advisors retail brands.
BRENT THOMAS
PRESIDENT, TRAVEL AGENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND
COO, HOUSE OF TRAVEL
Brent started his career with what is now Ernst & Young before moving overseas to work in London and
the Cayman Islands with Bank of America’s Mutual Funds division. The call of home brought him back to
New Zealand, where he was drawn to the tourism industry at Tourism Holdings Limited before moving
to House of Travel as the chief financial officer in 1998. Since then, Brent has held three subsequent
roles at House of Travel: retail director, commercial director and chief operating officer. Brent is also
the president of Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand, the self-regulating trade organization
representing the travel agent, travel broker and tour operator distribution system in New Zealand.
6
TARGETING AUSSIE AND KIWI TRAVELERS FOR RECOVERY
BRENDAN WATMORE
CO-FOUNDER AND CEO,
TOURIST TRACKA
Brendan’s career spans 20 years in marketing and technology. An experienced executive with a track
record in generating value from digital and data assets, he helps tourism destinations and businesses
know their visitors and find new visitors for the future. For the past 10 years, he has focused on the
power of data to improve understanding of customers for businesses. Brendan is the CEO and co-
founder of Tourist Tracka, based in Sydney, Australia. His previous experience includes mobile data
consultant for Qantas, co-founder of Content Connect and commercial director for InMobi.
7
THE AVIATION OUTLOOK “DOWN UNDER”
JULIE REID
DIRECTOR AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND TAHITI SALES,
UNITED AIRLINES
Julie is the director for Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti for United Airlines and is responsible for all
commercial activity. Julie has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years in Australia, Hong Kong
and the U.K. with experience spanning hotel management, travel management and airlines. Julie is
passionate about promoting Australia throughout the USA. Pre-COVID-19, United Airlines flew three
daily flights from Sydney to the USA and two daily flights from Melbourne to the USA. United Airlines is
the only airline that flew continuously from North America to Australia throughout the pandemic.
TOMMY LINDBLAD
MARKETING MANAGER FOR AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND,
TAHITI AND SOUTHEAST ASIA,
UNITED AIRLINES
Tommy is the marketing manager for Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Southeast Asia at United
Airlines. Based in Sydney, he oversees B2C and B2B integrated marketing activities for Australia, New
Zealand, Tahiti and Singapore. Prior to joining United Airlines in 2017, Tommy spent more than a decade
with British Airways before serving as a marketing manager for Norwegian Air Shuttle and marketing
and communications manager for South African Tourism, where he gained extensive experience in
creating and delivering integrated marketing campaigns and sponsorships.
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KATHRYN ROBERTSON
GROUP GENERAL MANAGER SALES,
AIR NEW ZEALAND
Kathryn has worked in the aviation industry for 30 years and recently was appointed to the newly
created role of group general manager sales for Air New Zealand. In this role, she leads and inspires
global sales functions and sets the strategic sales direction to ensure future revenue growth and alliance
sales plans are achieved.
With Air New Zealand, Kathryn has a substantial and successful sales background across a variety
of roles and global markets. She was group manager for U.K./Europe, then became regional general
manager for Australia for the past four years. During that time, she successfully led the region to
achieve significant pre-COVID-19 growth ambitions. Prior to this, Kathryn led Air New Zealand’s sales
and marketing efforts across both the North America and U.K./Europe markets and developed the
commercial strategy for the U.K./Europe region.
Kathryn’s experience in the global aviation sector, her strong relationships and extensive knowledge of
the Air New Zealand business gives her an intrinsic understanding of selling across different markets,
environments and cultures.
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HOW ARE MEDIA PREPARING FOR THE RETURN OF U.S. TRAVEL?
MODERATOR: ROB MCFARLAND
FREELANCE TRAVEL WRITER
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
AND THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Rob is a regular contributor to the travel sections of Australia and New Zealand’s leading newspapers
and magazines, including Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald), Escape (Sunday Telegraph), The New
Zealand Herald, Qantas magazine and MindFood. His work has been published in National Geographic
Traveller, GQ, The Guardian, The Observer, The Daily Mail, The San Francisco Chronicle and The South
China Morning Post. As a travel expert, he has been interviewed on Sky News Business, ABC radio, and
is a regular guest on Traveller’s Flight of Fancy podcast. He is a member of the Australian Society of
Travel Writers and has won six writing awards, including ASTW Travel Writer of the Year.
Rob regularly speaks at travel events and also runs workshops for PRs, tourism boards and operators
on how to pitch to the media.
BEN GROUNDWATER
AUSTRALIAN FREELANCE TRAVEL WRITER
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, THE AGE AND LONELY PLANET
Ben—an award-winning feature writer and author—is one of Australia’s most widely read travel scribes.
He is a columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age’s print and online travel sections, hosts
Australia’s popular travel podcast, Flight of Fancy, and has written three books. Ben was named the
ASTW Travel Writer of the Year in 2014 and 2015, has appeared on TV shows, and is a frequent guest
on radio stations such as ABC, 3AW and Triple J. Previous experience includes being the travel columnist
for the Sun-Herald and sub-editor for Rolling Stone Australia. He has visited more than 100 countries
and still occasionally gets lost.
10STEPHANIE HOLMES
TRAVEL EDITOR,
THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Stephanie is The New Zealand Herald’s travel editor. She has been with the publication since 2016,
first as deputy travel editor and has served as travel editor since November 2019. In May 2019, she
launched the Herald’s podcast, Trip Notes, which features a celebrity guest each episode. Previously,
Stephanie worked for a number of New Zealand outlets, including SKY TV New Zealand and Sunday
Star-Times, among others. After growing up in England, Stephanie arrived in New Zealand as a backpacker
in 2003 for a six-month holiday. She never left.
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