Cinnamon Future of Tourism Summit: Changing landscapes, role of brands and delivering authentic expe

Have you ever stopped to think of better ways to market your destination and awaken the travel bug in your potential traveller? How can the travel and hospitality industry deliver an authentic experience to their consumers? This 26 September most of these questions will be addressed at the Future of Tourism Summit 2017. Featuring 11 key industry leaders, the summit returns for its second instalment in Sri Lanka this year and will take place at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

Dilip Rajakarier – CEO of Minor Hotels Group Ltd. 

Sri Lankan born industry specialist Dilip Rajakarier has been instrumental in expanding hotel portfolios across Asia, Australasia, the Indian Ocean, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and South America. He currently serves as the CEO of Minor Hotels Group Ltd. and is the Acting CEO of Oaks Hotels & Resorts Ltd. 

Rajakarier is tasked with growing a specific brand to 190 hotels and expanding the home-grown brands, in addition to strategic acquisitions that will enhance the group’s portfolio. His strategic vision and deep knowledge of the hotel industry will ensure a solid foundation to his topic of discussion at the tourism summit in Colombo. 

Coming from a strong hotel and finance background, Rajakarier has been a key figure in acquisitions and strategic partnership for the hospitality brands he works with. During the Future of Tourism Summit 2017 Rajakarier will talk about the ‘Role of brand in future hospitality marketing’.

Jeroen Gulickx – Hotel Sales and Marketing Strategist of Mocinno International

A well-travelled hospitality professional with 20+ years’ experience in the Hotel & Spa segment Jeroen Gulickx’s expertise ranges from streamlining of cost and operational models, strategy, yielding, business development, and marketing to digital marketing. Gulickx has excellent business development and operational skills developed through several key positions in blue chip companies including Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Millennium Hotels & Resorts as well as small Boutique companies and hotels. 

Starting Mocinno International, a hospitality consulting company in 2006 that now has offices and representation in seven countries in Europe, USA and the Middle East, Gulickx and his team is focused on delivering incremental revenues for hotels and spas. He also develops and strategises hotel supplies, using the Six Sigma methodology. During the Future of Tourism Summit 2017 he will share his expertise with the Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry leaders on ‘Changing the future hospitality landscape to make your hotel profitable.’

Brekke Fletcher – Executive Editor CNN Travel 

As the Executive Editor for the world-renowned CNN Networks Travel segment, for Brekke Fletcher ‘Understanding Tomorrows Traveller’ is a piece of cake. Fletcher oversees CNN’s worldwide coverage of travel, managing a network of more than 800 travel contributors and insiders around the globe, and a dedicated international team.

She has worked at various publications, starting with the launch of Lucky Magazine in 1999 and later taking on Managing Editor roles at publications such as Jane Magazine, Men’s Journal, Newsweek and the WSJ Magazine.

Log on to www.futureoftourism.co to book your seat at the most anticipated Future of Tourism Summit that explores the theme of Technology, Innovation and Authenticity. 

The Cinnamon Future of Tourism Summit Colombo is endorsed by PATA, and international media partner CNN Travel. The destination partner for the conference is the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, official airline partner SriLankan Airlines, mobile partner Mobitel, digital partner Xiteb and national media partners Daily FT, Daily Mirror, and Sunday Times. The Summit is also supported by STR Global.