2025 Event Schedule

 Agenda Friday 31st October

Enjoy the flexibility of pre-scheduled and open appointments, complemented by a vibrant social programme featuring networking lunches, coffee breaks, and a relaxed drinks reception.
08:00 – 08:50 Registration
08:50 – 09:00 Welcome
09:00 – 17:30 B2B Workshop
17:30 – 20:00 Evening Reception
Agenda Monday 3rd November

GEM 2025 Conference | Keeping tourism competitive

As a key feature of the GEM 2025 programme, the conference on Monday, 3rd November will equip members with practical insights into the most pressing issues shaping the future of inbound European tourism.
09:00 – 09:30

Registration & Welcome Refreshments
09:30 – 10:15

Keynote – Big picture view of developments in AI

Joshua Ryan-Saha, Edinburgh Futures Institute
10:30 – 11:15

Interactive Streams:

1. Travel Transformed: Harnessing AI to Understand and Engage today’s traveller | Dan Taylor, SALT.agency

In this hands-on workshop, discover how AI can help you better understand your audience, create smarter campaigns, and unlock growth in today’s dynamic travel landscape. SEO and AI expert Dan Taylor will guide you through how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing in the travel sector — and how you can harness it today to drive real business impact.

You’ll explore:

• How consumer expectations in travel are evolving — and what that means for your brand
• How travel businesses are responding to this evolution
• How marketing and SEO are being reshaped by AI, with practical tools and approaches
• Real-world AI use cases in travel marketing — from search and content to personalization and automation

You will leave with actionable takeaways, tools, and strategies to implement immediately, regardless of your business size or budget. Whatever sector of travel you’re in, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and skills to stay ahead in a fast-moving industry.

2. Tourism Quick Toolkits – practical updates on key topics to help you stay ahead and informed
11:15 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:30

ETOA Briefing & Insights

 

 

 

 

 

  • Adele Youngs, Live Travel And Tours
  • Tom Jenkins, ETOA
12:30 – 14:00 Destination Lunch
14:00 – 15:00

Will my job exist in 5 years? The changing landscape in tourism careers employment and skills.

Keynote & Panel:

  • The changing landscape in tourism careers, employment and skills
  • Link across social, digital and green skills – will my job exist in 5 years and if so, how will it be different?

Confirmed Speakers:

Corné Dijkmans
 Breda University of Applied Sciences		 Kelly Strong
Strong Recruitment		 Michael Quinn
Fáilte Ireland

15:00 – 15:30

Keeping the Human Touch – social intelligence and skills and in a global digital economy

Adele Youngs

Live Travel And Tours

 Daniele Fanelli 

EF Educational Tours

 Brent Imrie

TourTime NZ

15:30 – 16:00 Networking Break
16:00 – 16:30

Day-to-day green skills needed by all tourism professionals.
16:30 – 17:00

Beyond AI – digital competence gap identification – ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

Bournemouth University Business School

Primary Venue

GEM will take place at the Intercontinental London – The O2. The venue is conveniently located close to the tube station of North Greenwich, so easily reachable by tube.

Conference Venue

GEM Conference will take place the Mermaid Theatre.