For the Responsible Tourism Events at ITB Asia this year, we continue to bring you the best and most relevant speakers that can inspire and change the way you think about travel. Responsible Tourism is not just a label, it is essentially the way we do business and the way we experience the world. Our speakers have been handpicked because of their leadership, experience, knowledge and passion to make the world a better place via tourism. And we are proud to introduce you to them…
2016 Responsible Tourism Event Speakers
Event Facilitator: Deborah Chan, Responsible Tourism Associate Specialist, Wild Asia
A storyteller at heart, Deborah’s deep incessant passion for travel had her stumbling into the world of sustainable tourism by chance. As an associate specialist with Wild Asia, she has assessed more than 80 sustainable tourism award applications, visited over 40 sustainable tourism operators across Asia and provided advisory support and trained numerous tourism establishments. Her personal and professional experience in community development in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia has afforded her priceless lessons in strategic development and people management. Her varied skills allows for great versatility in understanding sustainability issues and adapting to different industries, destinations and people groups.
She believes that the only way tourism can become sustainable is if operators assume the responsibility of being leaders in their own destinations; sharing lessons learnt and providing support from within the industry. This is the reason why she continues to facilitate these responsible tourism events, since 2010.
Valérie Sfeir, International Coordinator, ChildSafe Movement
Based in Friends-International’s Cambodia HQ, Valérie leads the implementation of the award-winning ChildSafe Movement internationally, promoting sustainable tourism among all stakeholders whilst simultaneously building networks and supportive structures. Following 9 years in the luxury and private banking industries, considering socially responsible investments, Valérie now work with a global portfolio ranging from governmental tourism programs, tourism industry leaders and innovators, businesses and travelers on developing and implementing multiple child protection campaigns, trainings and processes. This aims at raising awareness and changing actors’ behaviors positively towards protecting children across all situations, and creating protective environments for children where they can thrive.
Sarah Michelle Randall: Regional MICE Manager. Buffalo Tours
Sarah is British national with over 16 years’ experience in sales & event management for multiple companies in the UK, EMEA and Asia as both a freelance live events manager for international companies such as Morgan Stanley, The Fat Duck Group, and First Protocol. Her area of specialty is in the Finance Sector, Aero Defense and IT Software running multiple projects from Annual Investor Meetings, high profile conferences, major conventions, BOD & VIP meetings, high-end receptions and gala dinners.
Sarah moved to Asia in 2014 and joined Centara Hotels & Resorts with a focus on driving MICE Services throughout the business in conjunction with sales and marketing. Thus deepening her understanding of the effects of cultural, geographical and economic factors of the region she has successfully managed to bridge the gap between western and eastern ideologies and to help her clients achieve their goals. In 2016 Sarah was appointed the role of Regional MICE Manager at Buffalo Tours. Her focus is to build upon two areas she is most passionate about 1) event management and 2) Showcasing the best Asia product and 3) responsible events that provides a positive impact on the destination she is working in.
Jens Thraenhart, Executive Director, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
Jens Thraenhart was appointed by the tourism ministries of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and China (Yunnan and Guanxi) to head the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) as its Executive Director. The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) is an inter-governmental body to promote the Mekong region as a single tourism destination, and foster responsible tourism development in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Jens Thraenhart is founder & president of Digital Innovation Asia (DIA). In 2009, he co-founded China Travel Trends, as well as award-winning China digital marketing and social media agency Dragon Trail, and has led marketing and Internet strategy teams with the Canadian Tourism Commission and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. He has consulted for many global companies, including recently Prestige Cruise Holdings (now Norwegian Cruise Lines), Swire Hotels, Dusit International, Shinta Mani Hotel Cambodia, and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Educated at Cornell University with a Masters of Management in Hospitality, Mr. Thraenhart was recognized as one of the travel industry’s top 100 rising stars by Travel Agent Magazine in 2003, was listed as one of HSMAI’s 25 Most Extraordinary Sales and Marketing Minds in Hospitality and Travel in 2004 and 2005, and named as one of the Top 20 Extraordinary Minds in European Travel and Hospitality in 2014. A UNWTO Affiliate Member, and past Chair of PATA China, he founded the Annual China Responsible Tourism Forum & Awards in 2011.
Katie Malloy, Senior Marketing Manager, Ock Pop Tok
A journalist turned communications expert, Katie joined Ock Pop Tok, an award-winning social enterprise in Laos, in 2015. With a background in television, PR and marketing, she loves to find new ways to tell compelling stories. She worked in New York and Washington, D.C. for ABC News before moving into communications and PR roles in both nonprofit and business sectors. A love for Southeast Asia and a strong belief in the company’s mission drew her to Ock Pop Tok.
Dr Marc van Loo, CEO, Loola Adventure Resort
Dr Marc van Loo is the founding CEO of LooLa Adventure Resort, winner of a number of global sustainability awards. With a PhD in theoretical physics and having taught in schools and universities for over a decade, Marc is a strong advocate of education and open source. Being Dutch means he’s strongly committed to win-win solutions that benefit all stakeholders. As such, his resort is operated exclusively by local staff and it acts as a testbed for open source eco solutions.
Arnfinn Oines, Social and Environmental Conscience, Soneva & Secretary at Soneva Foundation
Arnfinn Oines works as Social & Environmental Conscience for Soneva resorts. He oversees the responsible business practices at Soneva, which have received numerous environmental awards including the prestigious World Travel & Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Award 2015. Arnfinn has been involved in implementing and establishing the Soneva Carbon Calculator, Total Impact Assessment, Clean Water Projects, Soneva Forest Restoration Project, Myanmar Stoves Campaign, the Soneva Foundation, the SLOW LIFE Symposium and the group’s Social & Environmental policy and procedures.
Prior Arnfinn oversaw the responsible business practices of Six Senses. He co-founded and opened Earthwalkers Hotel in Cambodia as General Manager. He also worked as Course Director for International Tourism Institute in Spain. Arnfinn holds a BA in Adventure Tourism Management and MBA in Hospitality & Tourism.
Willem Neimeijer, CEO, YAANA Ventures
Willem is the CEO of YAANA Ventures, an owner, partner and operator of entrepreneurial travel and hospitality ventures in Asia. Through YAANA, Willem built brands that share real experiences that are grounded in the cultural richness of Asia. More importantly, Willem drives each venture to champion the triple bottom-line: to nurture the people with whom we work, to sustain the planet we all share, and to pursue profits to expand our mission.
Willem founded Khiri Travel at the end of 1993 with a vision of creating a travel company delivering Thailand and Indochina as “4 countries, 1 destination”. He created Khiri Reach, Khiri Travel’s dedicated foundation, which adopts twelve projects that aid underprivileged communities, promote animal welfare, protect local heritage and steward the environment. In the late 1990s, to compliment his travel business, Willem founded a jungle lodge in a remote and breathtaking location in Southern Laos. Tad Fane Resort has since pioneered the development of tourism in the region. Over the following years, he expanded Khiri Travel into Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Maldives. With Khiri Travel continuing to grow sustainably, Willem turned his eye to transplanting the seeds of success he learned through growing Khiri Travel and Tad Fane Resort to the businesses that today form the core of YAANA Ventures: Anurak Community Lodge, GROUND (sustainable community development through service learning), Khiri Travel, Banteay Chhmar Tents and Grasshopper Adventures.
Pranav Sethaputra, Group Sustainability Consultant, MCI
Pranav is a Group Sustainability Consultant of MCI, the world’s leading provider of strategic engagement and activation solutions in the meetings, events, association and congress industries. As part of MCI’s Sustainability Services team, Pranav provides strategic advisory services to MCI’s clients, working hand-in-hand with corporations, associations, governments, venues and destinations seeking a competitive advantage through a structured sustainability programme. Leveraging on sustainability, Pranav helps MCI’s clients enhance organisational performance, grow globally, energise communities and drive business results.
With core competencies in brand marketing, social research and sustainability consulting, Pranav brings a specialist focus in how businesses can benefit from a structured Sustainability & Communications Strategy. His experience includes working with community, stakeholder engagement and environmental issues for a diverse range of organisations & businesses both in and outside of the events world. His past clients include the likes of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, SAP, BP, Boeing and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). Pranav is also responsible for bringing MCI’s own sustainability commitments to life, guiding MCI’s 100+ Sustainability Champions to develop their local activation strategy in the company’s rapidly expanding 61 offices globally.
Masaru Takayama, Founding Chair, Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN)
Masaru Takayama founded Japan Ecolodge Association (ECOLA), to promote ecotourism and ecolodge uniting responsible tourism and green buildings in Japan. The environmentally-friendly accommodations standard developed by ECOLA is fully recognized by Global Sustainable Tourism Council to bottom up the industry standards in the Japanese marketplace. Working as a global community-based ecotourism consultant, ecolodge advisor, and responsible tour operator ‘Spirit of Japan Travel’ in Kyoto, Masaru serves a number of key positions in the organizations both home and abroad pertinent to ecotourism and protected areas. – Founding Chair, Asian Ecotourism Network. Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2013, 2014, 2015 Judge, World Travel and Tourism Council.
Thabo Brian Dithebe, Chief Executive Officer, Botswana Tourism Organisation
Mr. Thabo Brian Dithebe took up his position as CEO in January 2014. He is responsible for all Botswana Tourism’s operations in Botswana and abroad. Thabo’s illustrious career began in the local authorities as a Town Planner in 1998. He later joined private sector as landuse and environmental consultant before joining Botswana Tourism Organisation where he spent 8 years honing his skills in all aspects of the local and international travel and tourism sector. He worked his way up through Botswana Tourism Organisation, holding numerous key positions along the way including that of Director Projects and Business Operations. With his forward thinking philosophy Mr. Thabo Brian Dithebe has had high impact in the tourism industry through driving high level strategy formulation and projects for tourism development in Botswana. He has Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Botswana and a Master of Science Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of South Australia. His main focus is to stimulate growth in the tourism industry through high impact tourism initiatives and robust destination awareness, branding and marketing.