Alongside panel discussions designed to address the latest developments across the markets, individual perspectives were studied from the viewpoint of industry sectors, all under the auspices of 'Making Money'. Here's some of the insights and observations with full coverage of the panel sessions from the event at the at the Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, to the south of Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland.
Addressing the corporate and business travel markets more effectively
Moderator: Sixt Rent a Car, Managing Director, Growth, Lisa Akeroyd
Panel: Air China, Vice President & General Manager, North America, Zhihang Chi; American Express, Vice President, Travel Strategy & Partnerships, Johnny Thorsen; CTM, Global COO, Laura Ruffles; Microsoft, Global Employee Experience Lead, Julia Fidler
Improving the stickiness of the airline product through innovation
Moderator: On Point Loyalty, Managing Director, Evert de Boer
Panel: Amadeus, Senior Manager, Solution Management, Luca Balbiani; Amazon Web Services, Head, AWS Travel, Massimo Morin; Lufthansa Group, Manager Passenger Experience Design, Ole Lindner; Saudia, VP Sales, Richard Nuttall; Volantio, CEO, Azim Barodawala
Innovation in generating ancillary revenues
Moderator: APEX, CEO, Dr. Joe Leader
Panel: CellPoint Mobile, SVP, Head of Global Sales, Airline and Hospitality, Noel Connolly; easyJet, Head of Proposition, Kim McDonnell; PROS., Principal, Travel Division, Surain Adyanthaya; Ryanair, CMO, Kenny Jacobs; Sabre, VP & Regional General Manager, Alessandro Ciancimino
The role of the airline conglomerate - making it a foundation for durability
Moderator: John Byerly, Consultant, John Byerly
Panel: AAPA, Director General, Andrew Herdman; Croon Callaghan Aviation Consulting, Partner, Jim Callaghan; European Aviation Club, Chairman, Rigas Doganis
Developing more productive relationships with airports and other partners
Moderator: Skylight Aviation, Senior Advisor and former easyJet Group Strategy & Network Director, Cath Lynn
Panel: Gatwick Airport, Head of Airline Relations, Stephen King; Ryanair, COO, Peter Bellew; Travelport, Global Head of Air, Travel Partners, Damian Hickey; UATP, Commercial Director, Europe, Gabrielle Hoffman
Accelerating investment in innovation and technology
Moderator: Travelport, Global Head of New Distribution, Ian Heywood
Panel: IATA, Director Industry Distribution Programs, Yanik Hoyles; Farelogix, CEO, Jim Davidson; OpenJaw Technologies, CCO, Bryan Porter; SkyTeam, VP Customer Experience & Commercial, Mauro Oretti
Working with lessors and OEMs to find mutually beneficial compromises
Moderator: CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Chief Financial Analyst, Jonathan Wober
Panel: Aircastle, EVP Porfolio Management, Paul O'Callaghan; BOC Aviation, CCO, Steven Townend; Embraer, SVP - Global Leasing & Strategy, Ron Baur
Working with unions to achieve optimal outcomes
Moderator: John Byerly, Consultant, Consultant, John Byerly
Panel: ALPA, First Vice President, Bob Fox; CityJet, CEO, Pat Byrne; European Commission, Director for Aviation, Filip Cornelis
Airline partnerships, immunised JVs, Open Skies and the role of competition bodies
Moderator: Baker McKenzie, Partner, Kenneth Quinn
Panel: ERA, Director General, Montserrat Barriga; European Commission, Director for Aviation, Filip Cornelis; Star Alliance, CEO, Jeffrey Goh; US Department of Transportation, Director, Brian Hedberg