Conference Programme – VAC – Thursday 16th October
QEII Centre, London
08.45 Registration & Coffee
09.30 Welcome by Conference Chairman
Paul Kelly, Chief Executive, BALPPA, the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers & Attractions
09.35 Dealing with constant change – the Visitor Economy
Bernard Donoghue OBE, CEO & Director, ALVA, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
10.00 The Big Interview
Sarah Roots, EVP, Warner Bros Worldwide Studio Tours & Retail
Liz Terry, Managing Editor, Attractions Management
10.30 VAC Market Insights Briefings
Speaker 1: Richard Nicholls, Head of Research & Forecasting, VisitBritain
Speaker 2: Sally Mimnagh, Director, BVA BDRC
Speaker 3 David Reece, Chief Strategy Officer, Baker Richards
11.05 Tea & Coffee Break, Networking & Exhibition
11.40 International Update from VisitBritain
Patricia Yates, CEO, VisitBritain/VisitEngland
12.00 Improving the bottom line – monetising your attraction further
Chair: Bernard Donoghue, CEO, ALVA
Speaker 1: Kate Logan, Operations, Experience & Engagement Director, English Heritage
Speaker 2: Sarah McLeod OBE, Chief Executive, Wentworth Woodhouse
Speaker 3: Jane Richardson, Chief Executive, Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museums Wales
12.45 England’s Tourism Experience of the Year – Cow Cuddling!
Fiona Wilson, Director, Dumble Farm, East Yorkshire (interview by Janet Uttley, Head of Industry
Development, VisitBritain/VisitEngland)
13.00 Lunch, Networking & Exhibition
14.00 – Seminars
VAC Seminar 1: Accessibility – Priced for Inclusion: Rethinking Disability Concessions
Chair: Hannah Lowe, Business Support & Accessibility Manager, VisitEngland
Speaker 1: Martin Austin MBE, Managing Director, The Access Card
Speaker 2: Liz Barber, Farm Park Operations Manager, Bocketts Farm Park – Leatherhead
Speaker 3:Anna Hickman, Audience Insight Analyst, ZSL London Zoo
Speaker 4: Jack King, Park Operations Manager, Dreamland
VAC Seminar 2: Digital Marketing
Chair: Bernard Donoghue, CEO, ALVA
Speaker 1: Neil Lewin, Managing Director, Semantic
Speaker 2: Danielle Nicholls, Brand Manager, Twycross Zoo
VAC Seminar 3: Electrifying: The importance of EV Charging for Visitor Experience
Chair: Janet Uttley, Head of Industry Development, VisitBritain/VisitEngland
Speaker 1: Jason Simpson, CEO, Raw Charging
Speaker 2: Stuart Jauncey, Head of Renewable Energy, Merlin Entertainments
VAC Seminar 4: Retail: It’s more than a gift shop at the exit!
Chair: Graham Speak, Managing Director, Speak Consulting
Speaker 1: Russ Gaines, Leisure & Hospitality Commercial Leader
Speaker 2: Caroline Reid, Director of Commercial Enterprises, National Trust for Scotland
14.55 Crisis, what Crisis?
Chair: Paul Kelly, Chief Executive, BALPPA
Panellist 1: Dominic Hare, CEO, Blenheim
Panellist 2: Suzy Griffiths, VP – Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Panellist 3: Marc Miller, Managing Director, Stockvale/Adventure Island
15.30 Tea & Coffee Break, Networking & Exhibition
16.00 Tourism Alliance Policy Update
Eddy Leviten, Executive Director – The Tourism Alliance, Executive Director, Tourism Alliance
16.20 New Attractions: The Big & The Beautiful
Speaker 1: Sharon Ament, Director, London Museum
Speaker 2: David Nouaille, Development Director, Puy du Foy
16.50 AI and the Future of Marketing
Ian Miller, Chief Executive, Crafted
17.10 Closing Remarks & Conference Reception – all are welcome
