Speakers

JENNIFER BLANKE
Director, Lead Economist, and Head of the Global Competitiveness Network at the World Economic Forum

Jennifer Blanke is Director, Lead Economist, and Head of the Global Competitiveness Network at the World Economic Forum. Since joining the team in 2002, she has written and lectured extensively on issues related to national competitiveness and has edited a number of competitiveness reports, with a particular regional focus on Western Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. From 1998 to 2002, she was Senior Programme Manager responsible for developing the business, management, and technology section of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos. Before joining the Forum, Dr Blanke worked for a number of years as a management consultant for Eurogroup, Mazars Group in Paris, France, where she specialized in banking and financial market organization. Dr Blanke obtained B.A. in International Relations from Hamilton College, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and an MA and a PhD in International Economics from the Graduate Institute of International Studies (Geneva).

THEA CHIESA
Associate Director and Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism at the World Economic Forum

Thea Chiesa is Associate Director and Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism at the World Economic Forum. She has a background in business development and strategic planning in the aerospace/telecom industry, having spent nine years working with Telespazio both as part of Telecom Italia and Finmeccanica. She was part of the founding team of TVFiles SpA, an Italian telecommunication startup offering satellite broadband services to the media, pharmaceutical, and 3G industries, where she held the role of business development and was responsible for the relations with the European Union and the European Space Agency. At the Forum, she has developed an expertise in the Travel & Tourism industry, having headed the community for nine years. Coupled with her background in advanced communications systems, Ms Chiesa has developed a passion for the Travel & Tourism industry. She is currently working with key government and industry leaders in developing strategies and implementing innovative projects in the fields of T&T competitiveness and climate change, future of manufacturing, global supply chain and Transportation risk as well as having experience in analysing consumer trends . Ms Chiesa has a BSc in Management from Boston College and a Master in International Relations from Boston University. She is an alumna of the World Economic Forum’s Global Leadership Fellows Programme.

SEBASTIÁN ESCARRER JAUME
Vice Chairman of Sol Meliá

After graduating from ICADE, Mr. Escarrer held several positions in multinational companies including the Coca-Cola Corporation (Boston), the First Boston Corporation (New York and London), IBM Corporation (New York), Hyatt International (London) and the Mac Gemini Group (Madrid). In 1993 he obtained an MBA from The Wharton School of Business with three majors: Business Strategy, Finance and Multinational Management. Mr. Escarrer joined Sol Meliá in 1993 as Deputy Vice Chairman, became Chief Executive Officer in 1994 and Vice Chairman in 1997. Sebastián Escarrer is scheduled to succeed his father and assume the non-executive chairmanship of the Company. Always focused on Excellence and Social and Environmental Responsibility, since 2009 he assumed the leadership of the Institutional Office and Corporate Diplomacy, dealing with Sol Meliá’s Social Corporate Responsibility, Institutional Relationships, Corporate Communication and Stakeholders’ dialogue issue.

Mr. Escarrer’s achievements and reputation have earned several awards in the travel and finance industries, including his selection in 1997 as one of the 100 leading businessmen for the 21st Century by the World Economic Forum as well as several other recognitions in Europe and Latin America for his expertise in financial and hotel management strategy. As an influential figure in the global travel industry, Sebastián Escarrer is Chairman of Exceltur, the Spanish travel industry lobbying group representing the 30 largest companies in the Spanish travel industry, and he is Chairman of Wharton Executive Board for EMEA(Europe, Middle East an Africa) since March 2009, a position from which he aims to enhance the leadership of the Business School and encourage a return to the values of hard work, ethics and responsibility amongst a new generation of business and political leaders.

At the same time Mr. Escarrer is a member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), he is a member of the International Advisory Board of Eurohypo, a leading European mortgage bank, a member of the Advisory Board of the Premium Brands Fund of the Swiss Bank Pictet and a member of the Spanish Executive Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce. As Chairman for the Progress in Management Association in the Balearic Islands and Vice Chairman for the Mediterranean region for the same organisation, Mr. Escarrer is also very involved in the dissemination of values and best practices to Spanish business leaders. 

Mr. Escarrer is highly committed to Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability and has engaged Sol Meliá as an active member of a number of Foundations committed to these principles including, the “Seres Foundation”, “Empresa y Crecimiento Foundation” and most recently, “Principe de Girona Foundation” which promote Community Involvement, Social and Childhood Development as well as the “Entorno Foundation”, which is focused on Environmental Sustainability. Mr. Escarrer’s background and achievements, together with other activities and memberships involving Progress in Leadership and Management and Corporate Responsibility, earned him the honour of being named the Spanish business leader that generates the greatest confidence by the Barometer of Corporate Confidence survey for 2009.

Sol Meliá has always placed great emphasis on the diversification of its hotel products and services within the framework of its 8 major brands: Gran Meliá, Meliá, ME, Innside, Tryp, Sol, Paradisus and Sol Meliá Vacation Club.
The company is also highly committed to Sustainable Tourism, of which Sebastian Escarrer is a devoted ambassador. The most recent achievement in this area was company certification as the first “Biosphere Hotel Company” in the world through the Responsible Tourism Institute.

MAX FOSTER
Anchor and correspondent for CNN International



Foster joined the network in 2005 and one of his first assignments was hosting special coverage around the failing health of Pope John Paul II. He went on to become permanent co-anchor of CNN Today where he covered a long list of major events including the outbreak of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, the failed London bombings and the Saddam Hussein trial. He was the first to report the collapse of levees around New Orleans and he has fronted special coverage around British politics and the 2008 Mumbai bombings.

In 2010, Foster played a central role in reporting the UK general election. He now anchors across CNN International’s flagship programmes, including ‘Connect The World’, compiling special reports.

Foster had a 10-year career at the BBC before joining CNN International. He started as a local radio reporter in the UK before transferring to the BBC World Service as a business reporter and presenter, most notably for ‘Newshour’. He later transferred to BBC Television News where he was best known as a correspondent and presenter on the flagship ‘Breakfast’ programme.

Foster has a BSc (Hons) in Business Administration from Cardiff University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism. He is half Swedish and lives with his young family in the countryside to the west of London.

ANITA MENDIRATT
Lead Consultant at CNN T.A.S.K. Group

Canadian by birth and after having held a series of leadership positions in Fortune 5 companies including IBM, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company, Anita established CACHET CONSULTING, an international strategic consulting firm focused on TOURISM and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Trusted and respected at local, and international levels, Anita’s firm prides itself in providing its global government and private sector Clients with solid solutions for nation building, as well as sharing knowledge and expertise within the global tourism community through speaking at conferences and summits, publishing, and participating in major government panels.

In tandem, Anita is honoured to be lead consultant of the CNN T.A.S.K. (Tourism Advertising Solutions and Knowledge) Group, CNN International’s team of independent tourism professionals dedicated to supporting CNN’s clients across the globe – leaders and professionals of the Tourism sector – in their strategy and communications efforts critical to tourism development.
Anita’s expertise and genuine love for Tourism as a force for positive change to the identity, economy, social fabric, competitiveness and spirit of nations has been recently captured in her book “COME CLOSER: How Tourism is Changing the Future of Nations” released globally in March 2011.

ELIZABETH RANDALL
Managing Director for STR Global Limited

Elizabeth Randall is Managing Director for STR Global Limited and is based out of London, England. Prior to being appointed Managing Director, Elizabeth had been Director of Operations for the company with responsibility for operations and client relationship management. Elizabeth has been active in the industry, speaking at international conferences and participating on panels at various events.

Elizabeth joined STR Global from the financial services industry, having served as Interim President/CEO for Pasadena Federal Credit Union in California after previously serving as Vice President, Member Services for the $120 Million organization.

Elizabeth is a 2007 recipient of the World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) Young Credit Union Professional Award and represented the organization on a Cooperative Learning Tour in Ecuador. In 2006, she was honored with the Callifornia Credit Union League’s Tomorrow’s Star award.

Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

About STR Global
In 2008, STR brought together Deloitte’s HotelBenchmark™ and The Bench to form STR Global. STR Global offers monthly, weekly, and daily STAR benchmarking reports to more than 38,000 hotel clients, representing nearly 5 million rooms worldwide. STR Global and STR are now the world’s foremost sources of hotel performance trends and will offer the definitive global hotel database and development pipeline. STR is headquartered in Hendersonville, TN, and STR Global is based in London, with a satellite office in Singapore. 

TALEB RIFAI
Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Taleb Rifai’s background combines solid political experience and technical knowledge in the field of tourism, as well as experience in the work and functioning of International Organizations. His background also provides him with extensive economic, business and academic experience.

He was elected as Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) at the General Assembly, Astana, Kazakhstan, in October 2009 and begun his four-year term on the 1st January 2010. He assumed the functions of Secretary-General ad interim of the World Tourism Organization since 1st March 2009 and served as Deputy Secretary-General from February 2006 to February 2009.

Prior to assuming his current post, Taleb Rifai was the Assistant Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for three consecutive years. His responsibilities included the overall supervision and implementation of the International Labour Standards, as well as advising on labour markets and employment policies, particularly in the Middle East region.

From 1999 to 2003, he served in several ministerial portfolios in the Government of Jordan, first, as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation in charge of Jordan’s Development Agenda and bilateral and multilateral relationships with donors and agencies. He was subsequently appointed Minister of Information, in which capacity he was spokesman of the Government of Jordan and in charge of communication and public media. During his tenure, he embarked on restructuring public media and in particular the Jordan Television Network. In 2001, his portfolio was expanded to include the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquity.

During his term as Minister of Tourism and Antiquity, Taleb Rifai established Jordan’s first Archaeological Park in the ancient city of Petra in collaboration with UNESCO and the World Bank. He also realized several large projects in Jerash, the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum. As Minister of Tourism, he was the Chairman of the Jordan Tourism Board, President of the Ammon School for Tourism and Hospitality and was elected Chairman of the Executive Council of the UNWTO in 2001.

In the three years preceding his service in the Jordanian Cabinet, he was appointed the CEO of Jordan’s Cement Company, one of the country’s largest public shareholding companies with over 4,000 employees. During his term he successfully led and directed the first large-scale privatization and restructuring scheme in Jordan by bringing in the world famous French cement company Lafarge in 1998 and continued to serve as CEO under the new Lafarge management. 

DAVID P. SCOWSILL
President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council

David Scowsill became president & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) on 15 November 2010.

Prior to joining WTTC, David has been a non-executive director, building an extensive network in private equity and venture capital, whilst working on specific deals in retail, consumer, technology and travel sectors. He has served as chairman of PrivateFly, director of On the Beach Holidays, chairman of Yuuguu.com, non-executive director of ilG Digital, vice-chairman World Hotels AG, and non-executive director Venere.com.

David was CEO of Opodo until 2004 and before that he joined the board of Hilton International in 1997 as senior VP sales, marketing and IT, leading the brand re-unification programme between Hilton Group Plc and Hilton Hotels Corporation.

David worked at British Airways from 1993 to 1997 as director Europe/Middle East.

In 1991, he joined American Airlines as managing director, Europe, Middle East and Africa.