THE World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced that Lisbon, Portugal would be the host of the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit, taking place from May 10 to 12, 2007.
This year’s event was held for the first time in Washington DC and a large number of senior officials from the US government, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, addressed a crowd of some 700 leaders and shared their views on the issues and challenges facing the industry today and in the future.
Jean-Claude Baumgarten, WTTC President, said: “We are delighted to accept the invitation from the Secretary State of Tourism for Portugal to host the Summit in Lisbon in 2007. The Global Travel & Tourism Summit has been held on three previous occasions in Vilamoura, in 1997, 2000 and 2003 and we are honoured to work once again with Portugal to ensure that the Summit builds on its success. Lisbon will provide the ideal platform to encourage global leaders to broadcast a message of strength and unity for the Travel & Tourism industry.”
The proposed Host Committee in Portugal has already obtained strong support from the Portuguese Prime Minister, José Socrates and the Mayor of Lisbon, Antonio Carmona Rodrigues.
Manuel Fernando Espírito Santo, Chairman Espírito Santo Tourism said: “As a long standing board Member of WTTC, I look forward to welcoming the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit to Lisbon. Travel & Tourism is one of the most important contributors to the Portuguese economy expected to account in 2006 for 6.4 per cent of GDP and 17.7 per cent of total employment. Both public and private companies are committed to making this event a huge success by providing their generous sponsorship and vital organizational skills.”
Fernando Pinto, TAP Portugal CEO added: “As a major European city, Lisbon is an ideal location to host this event and is easily accessible from any point in the world. TAP Portugal is committed to offering all delegates a high level of service and to making their visit to Portugal an easy and pleasurable experience.”
Unlike the majority of commercial and political conferences that are effectively a procession of speeches, with little time built in for questions, the summit will revolve around a series of highly interactive discussions, moderated by business leaders, journalists and TV presenters.