Fans of the HospitalityInside Think Tank (HITT) know that this event helps them to think strategically and adapt their own plans. Until now, everyone has "only" been talking about sustainability, but now it's all about nature and biodiversity. Broken biodiversity ruins our basis of life at high speed and sanctions every bureaucratic emissions bill. That is why the title of the 8th HITT: "Nature's Appeal: Can Hospitality be regenerative? Risk, Resilience & Innovation."
Misa Labarile, Policy Officer Tourism, European Commission, Directorate General Internal Market, Industries, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. She will give the keynote speech at the 8th HITT Think Tank: Where is tourism heading? private
Yes, hospitality can. No matter where tourism goes. But where is tourism going? We have invited Dr Misa Labarile to give the keynote speech. She is the EU Commission's Tourism Commissioner in Brussels and works closely with Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the new Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. He will present his tourism strategy for Europe in the first half of 2026.
The linguist and social scientist has been involved in EU affairs for more than 15 years and now knows that tourism respects natural resources and finds solutions through digital and innovative means - also for the benefit of local communities. "But we have to prioritise," she says soberly in conversation with us, "beyond the limits of sustainability." People need to develop new skills, learn for their jobs, and entrepreneurs need to accept their new responsibilities. "We have a new set of challenges."
Before joining the EU as a tourist, Misa Labarile travelled in various industries - she worked in the world of financial services, got to know fintechs and cryptocurrencies and suddenly found herself face to face with young unemployed people. The experience she gained during this time helps her to appreciate the diversity of the tourism and hospitality industry today.
Today's programme already includes 11 more names - take a look! We will introduce all the experts in the coming weeks. / map
Further impulse generators and experts (current status, more to follow):
- Michaela Reitterer, Owner-Operator, Boutiquehotel Stadthalle Vienna
- Siniša Topalović, Managing Director, Horwath HTL Croatia
- Prof Graham Miller, Rodrigo Guimarães Chair & Professor of Sustainable Business, Nova School of Business and Economics Lisbon
- Zaneta Sedilekova, Sustainability Risk Lawyer and Director, Planet Law Lab
- Eelis Rytkönen, Chief Impact Leader, Ylva
- Iis Tussyadiah, Dean of Surrey Business School, University of Surrey
- Mike Rawson, CIO, citizenM
- Carl Oldsberg, CEO eBerry/Strawberry Group
- Michael Struck, CEO Ruby Hotels
- Caroline Tivéus, SVP Director of Sustainable Business, Pandox
- Prof. Dr. Alexander Schmidt, Professor of Technology, Hotelschool The Hague
Moderators: Prof Dr Willy Legrand & Heleri Rande
Click here to go directly to the 2025 program.
Click here to register directly.
The Early Bird rate runs until 17 March 2025.
All information and updates: www.hitt.world
The HITT Sponsors 2025 - Thank you for your sustained support!
