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TTG Media is thrilled to announce the second TTG LGBT conference, which this year will be held at Etc Venues, St Paul’s 200 Aldersgate on July 20.
The event will educate those wanting to start selling and marketing to the lucrative LGBT market.
Sessions will focus on new data from LGBT customers – including average spend and preferred holiday types; case studies from businesses that have diversified with specialist offerings for the LGBT market, and top LGBT-friendly destinations.
There will also be unique sessions on how to market effectively to the LGBT sector, including the dos and don’ts, and lessons that can be learned from other industries.
Speakers already confirmed include:
New speakers will be announced in the coming weeks here and in TTG magazine.
8.45am - Delegates arrive for networking and breakfast
9.20 – 9.30am - Opening address
9.30 – 10am - In the wake of Brexit - why the LGBT market remains key in uncertain times
10.05 – 10.25 – CASE STUDY: Putting the spotlight on LGBT travel expertise
10.30 – 10.50 – CASE STUDY: Launching an LGBT tailor-made travel agency
10.50 – 11.05 – Q&A moderated by Daniel Pearce with Helen Roberts, Carrie Grant and Darren Burn
11.05 – 11.25 – Break
11.25 – 11.45 – Is anywhere off limits for LGBT holidaymakers?
11.50 – 12pm – How Malta is leading the way as an LGBT-tolerant country
12.05 – 12.30pm – A welcoming region, a discerning destination: The Caribbean’s approach to the LGBT market
12.30 – 12.45pm – Q&A with Carol Hay - moderated by Sophie Griffiths
12.45pm – 2pm – Lunch
2pm – 2.05pm – Welcome back
2.05 – 2.20pm – What’s Next? Leveraging LGBT marketing trends for success
2.25 – 2.50pm – Business leaders getting it right…
2.55 – 3.05pm …And how you can get it right
3.05 – 3.20pm – Break
3.20 – 3.40pm – Activity
3.45pm – 4pm – Group winners
4pm – 4.50pm – Keynote speaker and Q&A
4.50 – 5pm – Conference close
Start time: 9am
Finish time: 5pm
Full address:
Etc Venues
St Paul’s 200 Aldersgate
EC1A 4HD
Kellie Maloney, formerly known as Frank Maloney, came to prominence as a flamboyant boxing manager and promoter, who steered several of this country’s greatest boxers to glory during a long and successful career in the fight game. Kellie recently took the brave decision to reveal that she is now living as a woman and has already taken great strides in promoting a greater awareness and understanding of transgender issues.
Frank’s greatest achievement in boxing came in 1992 when he guided Lennox Lewis to the WBC World Heavyweight title. He went on to manage him throughout the high points of his career until 2001 and remains the only Briton to have managed a British World Heavyweight Champion.
Managing director
Hoseasons
Hoseasons is one of the UK’s largest self-catering holiday companies. Joining the business in 2005, prior to its acquisition by Wyndham Worldwide in 2010, his responsibilities include the ongoing growth of the UK portfolio, travel agent relationships, contact centre operations and marketing. He specialises in new product development and is the visionary behind luxury sub-brands, including Autograph Lodge Holidays and Starboard. Simon sits on Wyndham Worldwide’s Global Diversity Council and was recently included in the Financial Times’ list of top 100 LGBT Senior Executives. He is a champion of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and last month secured a strategic marketing partnership with global LGBT news and lifestyle website Gay Star News, resulting in Hoseasons’ sponsorship of the site’s dedicated family section.
Founder
Darren Burn is the founder of OutOfOffice.com, a revolutionary tailor-made travel company that offers bespoke travel experiences worldwide. Launched in January 2016, the company has already hit record targets and has a heavy focus on providing LGBT friendly travel, ensuring that all the suppliers it uses are versed in what is important to LGBT travellers as well as ensuring that they receive a warm welcome in even difficult destinations.
A former ITV News journalist, Darren set up the company following a number of poor experiences travelling with other companies and having secured investment from the team behind YourGolfTravel.com and SpaBreaks.com. The business continues to grow rapidly with destinations as far flung as the Galapagos, the Maldives, Australia, South Africa and the Caribbean.
Chief executive
Out Now
Ian Johnson, chief executive of Out Now has been one of the world's foremost authorities on marketing to LGBT customers for over 25 years. Named one of the 'Top 10 Diversity Consultants' in the world by the Global Diversity List, supported by The Economist, Ian has since been appointed to The Economist’s global LGBT Thought Leadership Panel. Out Now's corporate mantra is 'LGBT spells people', recognising what matters to LGBT people is not marketing, research or PR; but understanding and solutions to help LGBT people live better lives - with equal respect - all over the world. Out Now http://outnowconsulting.com provides integrated LGBT travel marketing solutions for clients like Marriott Hotels, Hard Rock Hotels, Lufthansa, German National Tourist Office, VisitBritain, Turespaña and VisitMexico.
Sales director
Kuoni
Helen was appointed Sales Director for Kuoni in April this year after an 11-year career with the award-winning worldwide travel company, which is now part of the DER Touristik group.
As well as looking after third party travel agent partnerships and developing the company’s own retail network, Helen is also instrumental in championing The Kuoni Way – the company’s exceptional approach to customer service.
Developing the knowledge, expertise and service values of all those who sell Kuoni holidays continues to be Helen’s focus in her current role. Last year Kuoni introduced a team of LGBT travel advisors as part of its Expert Finder service, a move which has been welcomed by same-sex couples.
A big fan of South America, Helen cites Trekking to Machu Picchu in Peru and the trails around Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and the lesser-known Roraima, which straddles the border of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil ,as some of her most awe-inspiring moments.
Tris Reid-Smith
Co-founder of Gay Star News
Tris Reid-Smith co-founded Gay Star News with Scott Nunn in 2011. In just three years, the site has grown to be one of the world’s biggest LGBTI news providers, reaching 5million different people a month in 238 countries. Gay Star Travel is a market-leading online travel magazine. Tris is a regular commentator on LGBTI issues on TV, radio and at events.
Jean Reddan
Lloyds Bank Reyail & Wealth Marketing Communications
Jean has been at the forefront of the recent Lloyds Bank 250th anniversary campaign, featuring the iconic black horse, and Susie the disabled rider in TV. More recently she has been responsible for the launch of the new “for your next step” marketing and TV advertising campaign for Lloyds Bank - a refresh of the Lloyds Bank brand, which builds on the success of the 250th anniversary campaign. It features a same-sex proposal in a new TV ad as well as in cinemas, print ads and outdoor billboards. Diversity and Inclusion remain a key cornerstone of the Lloyds Banking Group – and a key focus for management is to build an inclusive bank that reflects the diversity of modern Britain.
Michelle Toft
Coregeo
With nearly 20 years of marketing experience, Coregeo® Chief Marketing Officer, Michelle Toft has a passion for creating and developing successful fresh produce brands, including Pink Lady®, the UK’s largest fresh produce brand, and Tenderstem® , the natural Chinese kale and broccoli cross.
In her role as the CMO of Coregeo®, Michelle is responsible for setting the direction and management of all aspects of brand strategy and marketing, as well as new business development. She joined Coregeo® in 2011 having lived and worked in Australia for 14 years, the last five of which she worked for Horticulture Australia as Marketing Manager, developing and managing strategic marketing domestic and export campaigns for Australian apples, pears, grapes, pineapple and melon. She is a member of the Committee of the Food, Drink & Agricultural Group of the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing, a Judge for the Quality Food Awards and recently co- wrote a branding guidebook for Horticulture Wales.
Carol Hay
director of marketing for UK and Europe at Caribbean Tourism Organisation
Carol Hay has over 25 years in the tourism sector, her primary areas of expertise include marketing, destination branding, product development, sustainable tourism development, public relations, crisis management and social media. Carol is currently Director of Marketing UK & Europe for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, a positon she has held for the past 7 years. Previously she was the Director of Tourism UK & Europe for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.
Carol has also held senior positions with The Jamaica Tourist Board, BWIA International Airways and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation. She is an accomplished speaker and has addressed audiences across the globe on female leadership, destination branding and competitiveness.
She holds a Masters in Marketing, Bachelors in Business Administration and numerous professional qualifications including Cultural Diplomacy, Public Relations, Human Resources Development, Coaching, Mentoring and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).
In her spare time Carol coaches and mentors professional women and young people, and also volunteers to support young people preparing for work. She loves to travel, cook, meet new people and generally make the most of life!
Peter Vella
director UK and Ireland at Malta Tourist Office
Peter is a Maltese and UK dual national, who has lived in the UK for most of his life.
His early career was spent in sales and marketing roles with Mars Confectionery, Kraft Foods and Bowater Scott. He then moved into the travel industry in senior marketing roles with Horizon Holidays (the third largest tour operator in the UK), First Choice Holidays and Lunn Poly (TUI’s travel agency business). In 1997 he was appointed as Business Development Director for Birmingham Airport and stayed in this role until 2009. He was also a non - executive director of Marketing Birmingham and a member of the Airports Council International (ACI) Economics and Commercial committee during this period.
In 2009 he changed industry to work for Interserve plc, operating as CEO for three construction companies operating in Leeds, Sandwell and St Helens. In this role he completed contracts to build schools to the value of around £500m. Alongside this, in 2014 he founded and became CEO of a charity which sponsors and runs academy schools in England.
He left Interserve to join the Malta Tourism Authority in September 2015 and was appointed as Director for the UK and Ireland, based in London.
Peter holds an honours degree in Business Studies and the Institute of Marketing Diploma. He has been a member of the Institute of Travel and Tourism since 2001 becoming a fellow member in 2007.
Auston Matta
Founder & Director, Outfluential
Auston runs Two Bad Tourists - an online blog and travel resource featuring international gay-friendly destinations, gay city guides, festivals and events. He recently founded the company Outfluential where he uses his expertise to help brands, destinations and travel industry professionals promote their offering to the LGBT community. He grew up in Arizona and in 2012 sold his belongings and embarked on a round-the-world trip with his husband.
