World Tourism Forum Lucerne Focus on Innovation, Talent & Diversity Management

Lucerne (Switzerland) – March 26, 2019 – (travelindex) – Innovative business models constantly disrupt the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, and ongoing automation leads to profound changes in the working environment. More and more skilled labour in tourism, travel and hospitality requires high-quality training and education. Only agile and successful businesses will be attractive enough to gain and hold the best talents. At the 6th World Tourism Forum Lucerne, the main focus will therefore be on innovation, talent and diversity management within the industry.

Thanks to its long-standing experience and expertise, the World Tourism Forum Lucerne attracts a large number of new business approaches in tourism, travel and hospitality. The best start-ups, providing a huge pool of innovative ideas for the whole industry, will be elected and distinguished at the Forum. A large number of start-ups have been found, fostered and enabled by World Tourism Forum Lucerne, including bidroom, Start-Up Innovation Camp winner 2017. With support and network of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne, bidroom has attracted international investors, grown to over 50 employees and closed partnerships with established companies, such as Visa in as little as two years.

A selection of inspiring speakers will provide the participants with the latest insights, including Karolin Frankenberger (Professor, University of St. Gallen), Michael Ros (COO and co-founder, bidroom), Kate Walsh (Professor, Cornell University), Guy Parmelin (Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research), HE Rania Al Mashat (Minister of Tourism, Arab Republic of Egypt), Puneet Chhatwal (CEO, Indian Hotels), Maud Bailly (Chief Digital and Diversity Officer, Accor Hotels), Brett Tollman (Chief Executive, The Travel Corporation) and Jean-Claude Biver (Chairman Hublot Watches).

Martin Barth, President and CEO, emphasises that the World Tourism Forum Lucerne has developed into a year-round platform with a strong multi-stakeholder community: «At World Tourism Forum Lucerne, we believe that innovation needs to be managed actively in order to face the ongoing disruption in the tourism, travel and hospitality industry. That is why we bring together established businesses, academics and start-ups because we believe that a multi-stakeholder environment is most fruitful for innovation. Now that we are active the whole year round, our community has become even more powerful in this sense».

About World Tourism Forum Lucerne
The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is a unique platform where global leaders in tourism, travel and hospitality meet to shape a more sustainable future of tourism. It provides decision-makers with detailed insight into the key issues of the tourism industry and with a unique global network. The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is the only platform to integrate start-ups, young leaders and students into one programme. Over the past 10 years, it has evolved into a year-round network of leaders and leading thinkers who stimulate positive change in travel, tourism and hospitality. This includes an influential network of business, education, government, finance and community leaders. The 6th World Tourism Forum Lucerne will take place in Lucerne from 2 to 3 May 2019.