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World Tourism Forum Lucerne - Reto Wittwer becomes Chairman of the Advisory Board

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Category: Appointments

Created on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 14:35

World Tourism Forum Lucerne - Reto Wittwer becomes Chairman of the Advisory Board

A prominent new member joins the World Tourism Forum Lucerne: Reto Wittwer, President and CEO of Kempinski Hotels, and seasoned expert, takes over as Chairman of the Advisory Board. A Swiss citizen, Wittwer has more than 30 years’ international experience in hospitality and joins the Board, which consists of 13 experts of the travel, tourism and hotel sector, with immediate effect. The next Forum will be held from April 17 to 19, 2013.

Martin Barth, World Tourism Forum Lucerne’s General Manager , explains: “I am delighted that Reto Wittwer has accepted the challenge to preside the Advisory Board of the World Tourism Forum. His expertise, worldwide network , and especially his personality are a big win for the further development of the Forum, which aims to become a renowned think-tank in the industry.”

“The appointment as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Forum makes me incredibly proud,” explains Reto Wittwer. “Talent development remains a top priority not only for me at Kempinski, but for the entire industry, since the next generation secures our future,”  says the long serving CEO. "The World Tourism Forum is an excellent platform to be in contact with ambitious and motivated young talents in the hospitality industry.”

As a think-tank, the Forum offers decision-makers from business, government, academia and finance a platform for discussing the strategic challenges facing the tourism industry in the years ahead. It is the only international platform in which leading decision makers and promising young talents have the opportunity to interact as part of a talent management programme.

The Forum relies on the support of an international Advisory Board whose members include:
• Adelbert Bütler (Chairman, Lucerne Tourism)

• Thea Chiesa (Director, Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism Industries, World Economic Forum)

• Prof Kaye Chon (Director, School of Hotel & Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

• James Hyde (Senior Client Partner, Korn/Ferry International)

• Olivier Jankovec (General Manager, Airports Council International, European Region)

• Geoffrey Lipman (President at ICTP International Council of Tourism Partners, Chair of greenearth travel, Advisor to Secretary General UNWTO)

• Sir David Michels (Deputy Chairman of EasyJet, board member of Jumeirah Hotels and President of the British Hospitality Association)

• Jeannine Pilloud (Head of Passenger Division and member of the Management Board, Swiss Federal Railways)

• Vijay Poonoosamy (Vice President International & Public Affairs, Etihad Airways and Chairman, IATA Industry Affairs Committee)

• Samih Sawiris (Chairman, Orascom Development Holding)

• Jürg Schmid (Director, Switzerland Tourism)