The 2017 Tourism Summit will address the transformation and disruption of the global tourism industry, and how to lead in this new environment.  Sponsored by the University of Florida (UF), this 2-day Summit will be held April 26-27, 2017 at the BoardWalk Inn at Walt Disney World®.

 The opening speaker London-based Rohit Talwar, will give a global economic view, expert panels will discuss crises & security, economics and politics, technology and innovation and in-between will be data, discussion and discovery for the media and attendees. 

 “This conference will be unusual by design and information-rich. The format will be lively, animated, a detour from the normal conference. It will engage attendees and provide unique business networking opportunities,” said Dean Mike Reid, who oversees the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute at UF.

 The Summit is open to the tourism industry as well as to businesses that rely on tourism. Registration is $895 which includes an opening event with fireworks at Epcot, breakfast, lunch, a full day of speakers, a VIP reception, and the Gala Dinner.  www.UFTourismSummit.com.  

 Topics to be addressed at the Summit by 20 + speakers in an information-rich and lively format include:

• Identifying and maximizing changing markets
• Turning sustainable tourism in a new direction
• How data, technology and innovation are transformative
• Managing through a crisis and security predictions

 What's Different About This Summit?

• Fireworks at Epcot open the Summit on a private island
• Early morning net-walking around the boardwalk
• Chocolate cake on the breakfast buffet
• Appearances by Mickey and Minnie mouse
•  “Who Is That Elusive Profitable Traveler and Where In The World Is She?”  Sarah Quinlan, Senior Vice President and Group Head of Market Insights for Mastercard joins the lineup of global speakers at the Summit and will give her surprising answer to that question. 

 Providing macro-to-micro economic trends related to consumer spending and retail sales, Sarah advises executives across industries, including retail, banking, capital markets and government agencies. She and her team analyze and predict spending patterns, based on the billions of anonymous purchases Mastercard processes every year, to create solutions that help clients make better business decisions.

 Prior to joining Mastercard in 2013, Sarah spent 28 years in the capital markets as an investment banker, portfolio manager and hedge fund manager.

 “It's Kind of Fun To Do The Impossible” will be presented by Gary Daniels, Vice President, Digital Experience, Disney Parks & Resorts.  Daniels leads teams that create end-to-end, digital-plus-physical experiences for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Globally. 

 Daniels has been with Disney for 19 years and played a leading role in a number of large-scale initiatives totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, most notably the development, implementation and now evolution of the MyMagic+ and MagicBand.

 Summit attendees will be given MagicBands as they check into the host hotel Disney's BoardWalk Inn.

 “What The Economy Is Telling Us About Travel Prospects”, is the topic Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company will cover.  Sachs was recently quoted in the New York Times article assessing the potential impact on tourism at home and abroad under the Trump presidency.

Over the past 20 years, Adam has worked with hundreds of destinations, industry associations and companies around the world in the areas of opportunity and risk assessments, policy analysis and economic impact.

 He is an authority on measuring the economic impact of visitor activity and has analyzed the impacts of cruising, gaming, timeshare, hotels, new attractions and destination marketing.

For additional information, sponsorship information and registration, please visit http://www.UFTourismSummit.com.