29th May 2012 - 00:00
Abstract
The British Hospitality Association is bringing together industry leaders for the first-ever Tourism and Hospitality Summit at the InterContinenmtal London Park Lane on June 1.
Leaders of the sector, which supports over 2.5 million jobs and contributes over £34bn to the UK Exchequer, will discuss strategies to realise the full potential of hospitality and tourism as a source of growth and job creation. Top celebrities such as Dame Kelly Holmes, Matt Dawson, Gavin Hastings and Raymond Blanc will join leading international voices on tourism such as Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, UN World Tourism Organisation, for a Gala Dinner following the Summit. Ufi Ibrahim, Chief Executive, BHA said: "The tourism and hospitality is a key UK industry and we are proud to be stepping forward to devise strategies to drive growth and employment. Tourism is the UK's third largest export, and provides accessible employment at a time when one in five young people is unemployed. "The Summit focuses on powering links between major events, sports, tourism and hospitality and will provide a platform to showcase the industry's importance to the UK economy."