Luxperience pushes boundaries at Thought Leaders Forum

The 2024 Luxperience industry showcase has opened with a thought-provoking exploration of the latest trends shaping the future of the luxury travel industry. 

The return of the Luxperience Thought Leaders Forum and the impressive line-up of speakers is a clear demonstration of the value that this leading luxury trade event delivers to the luxury travel community, with over 320 guests attending to gain insight and inspiration. 

Emcee and host of the 2024 Thought Leaders Forum was highly regarded industry veteran, Quentin Long, co-Founder of Australian Traveller Media. 

“I was incredibly excited to be able to dive into the critical issues and opportunities that are redefining how we approach the next generation of our industry,” Long said. 

“Most importantly was the conversation around luxury travel sustainability. The honest conversation addressing the “say-do gap”, how businesses will drive the change through the supply chain and how travel providers and advisors most evolve to be prepared and relevant into the future was a refreshingly direct and honest. Everyone in the room will have a game plan for the future that they may not have had before the Forum.” 

The keynote presentation was delivered by Adele Labine-Romain, Head of Travel & Tourism at Roy Morgan, who shared expert insight into the cutting edge of travel trends and forecasts, particularly focussing on the key factors currently driving changes in the industry and how to plan for success as part of an ever-evolving luxury travel landscape. 

Adele’s deep understanding of the shifting travel landscape has been informed by her leadership positions with Tourism Australia, the Tourism & Transport Forum, and most-recently with Deloitte, where she led the global Travel & Tourism consultancy working with government and private sector clients to guide the future of tourism. 

Two panel discussions followed the keynote address, the first titled Redefining Luxury: Sustainability and the Next Generation of Elite Travellers covering the latest on how luxury travel is evolving to meet the expectations of a more socially aware generation of travellers that are both more affluent and climate conscious.  

With a new generation seeking travel experiences that are more luxurious, experiential and aligned with their values, this panel explores how luxury travel providers can innovate and adapt to meet these evolving expectations, and how sustainability can become the cornerstone of the luxury travel experience. 

The second thought leading discussion panel was designed to break through the existing frontiers of travel with Travel Extremes: The Next Frontier of Luxury Adventures. The expert panel covered the gamut of the travel spectrum extremes from the resurgence of nostalgic slow travel to the epic adventures and remote luxury that only high-end expedition travel can offer the high-net-worth individual that seeks to push the boundaries of adventure and look to the stars for space travel, while others are embracing ‘slow travel’ and returning to simple luxuries, like time and reconnection.  

“Our 2024 Thought Leaders Forum is a tightly packed event, both in terms of content and insightful takeaways for our Luxperience community. We’ll continue to build on this year’s program to deliver exceptional information, business inspiration and quality connections over the four exciting days ahead,” said Luxperience Event Director, Lynn Ormiston. 

“Thank you so much to our expert panellists who are demonstrating their leadership and openly sharing incredible information that will support the entire industry to achieve success and growth.” 

Panel 1 Experts 

Libby Escolme, Director of Marketing at **1 Hotels & Homes Melbourne | SH Hotels & Resorts 

Libby is an experienced marketer with a global footprint, having worked across various industries including hotels, retail, and FMCG. She is passionate about connecting consumers’ motivations with brands and is dedicated to enhancing well-being and sustainability, perfectly aligned with 1 Hotels’ nature-led, luxurious experiences. 

Mike Harlow, General Manager at Scott Dunn 

With a decade of experience in the luxury travel industry, Mike leads Scott Dunn’s Asia office. His career spans luxury travel, from skiing to safaris, and he’s instrumental in driving the company’s growth across Southeast Asia. Mike is passionate about travel and adventure, with a focus on delivering exceptional service and experiences for his clients. 

Mat Woods, Chief Executive at Destination Queenstown  

Mat has a strong background in tourism management and governance. As CEO of Destination Queenstown, he leads tourism strategy for one of New Zealand’s top destinations. Previously, he held leadership roles at Cardrona Alpine Resort and RealNZ, shaping the future of tourism in Queenstown. 

Rosanna Iacono, Co-Founder & CEO at The Growth Activists  

Rosanna is an ESG strategist and former executive at Nike and Levi’s. She leads The Growth Activists, a consultancy that advises luxury and lifestyle brands on sustainability. She is a strategic thinker with a wealth of experience in helping companies build brands with purpose and impact. 

Alison Greer, Founder at GoKinda   

Alison is a travel expert who founded GoKinda, a platform dedicated to eco-conscious stays. Her mission is to provide stylish, sustainable hotel options that don’t compromise on luxury. Alison is passionate about finding responsible travel solutions that are kind to both people and the planet. 

Panel 2 Experts: 

Debra Fox, Managing Director of Abercrombie & Kent Australia   

 Debra brings over 30 years of experience in travel, having held senior roles at Thomas Cook, American Express, and APT Luxury Touring. She is a thought leader in the premium and luxury travel segments, known for her ability to build brands and lead teams to success. 

Megan Bardsley, Business Development Manager Australasia at Golden Eagle Luxury Trains 

Megan is an experienced professional in the luxury rail travel market. She has worked with Golden Eagle since the early 2000s, helping to expand its presence in Australasia. She’s passionate about providing travellers with unique and luxurious rail experiences across the globe. 

Edyta Teper, Vice President, Global Sales at Space Perspective   

With over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, Edyta has held senior sales and leadership roles at companies like Virgin Voyages and Carnival Cruise Lines. At Space Perspective, she’s helping to pioneer the future of space travel, making it more accessible to high-end travellers. 

Aaron Russ, Commercial Director & Expedition Leader at Heritage Expeditions   

Aaron has led over 200 expeditions and continues the legacy of his family business, focusing on authentic expedition cruising. He has a deep passion for nature and provides travellers with immersive experiences in some of the world’s most remote destinations. 

Andrew Cavallaro, Co-Founder & Director at Helm   

Andrew is an expert in global marketing and communications, with a focus on promoting responsible travel and authentic experiences. At Helm, he helps luxury travel brands connect with their audiences by creating values-driven marketing strategies. 

 For more information on the Thought Leaders Forum at Luxperience, click here.