Tourism Talks
Tourism Talks: A dynamic series on training, funding, and shaping the future of tourism
The Tourism Talks initiative, on behalf of the Large-Scale Partnership (LSP) aims to facilitate quick knowledge sharing and networking among tourism industry experts.
Short talks on tourism industry themes such as skills intelligence, funding opportunities, education and training will be included at each Tourism Talks session organised by EVBB, RuralTour, AKMI, ITH and Federturismo Confindustria in the framework of the Pacts4all project.
Webinar 26 February 2025 (11:00 – 12:30)
Technological revolution in the tourism industry: Trends and Impacts
Technology continues to reshape how we travel, how businesses operate, and how we experience the world around us.
From artificial intelligence and big data to virtual reality and mobile applications, innovations are revolutionizing every aspect of tourism. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of technology in tourism and explore how it is shaping our experiences and the industry as a whole.
- Current Trends: We’ll examine the latest technological advancements that are influencing the tourism sector, including automation, personalized marketing, and contactless services.
- Impacts on Stakeholders: We’ll discuss how these technologies are affecting various stakeholders, from travellers and service providers to local communities and policy makers.
- Sustainability and Innovation: We’ll also highlight how technology is driving sustainable practices in tourism, enabling us to balance growth with environmental responsibility.
- Future Outlook: Finally, we will look ahead to what the future may hold for technology in tourism, considering both opportunities and challenges.
Agenda
26 February 2025
The times given are those of the Central European Time Zone (CET)
11:00 – 11:20
Moderator
- Silvia Enea, Federturismo Confindustria’s financial manager of EU-funded projects
Keynote speaker
- Mirko Lalli, CEO & Founder Data Appeal
11:20 – 12:20
- Peter Haxton, OECD Senior analyst for tourism policy and analysis
- Giovanni Filippi, Secretary and Coordinator of the activities of the Association Nomadi Digitali
- Juan Uribe-Toril, Professor of Economía Aplicada University of Almería
- Walter Duarte, BAE Ventures Head of Corporate Innovation Programs
- Lucilla Crosta, Smarthink CEO-Co Founder
12:20 – 12:30
- Q&A Session, wrap-up and closing
Agenda
Moderator
Silvia Enea
Financial Manager of EU-Funded Projects, Federturismo Confindustria
Mrs. Enea has extensive experience in project management, successfully leading three EU-funded tourism projects: NTG, Pantour, and Tourism4.0. She led Work Package 7 under NTG-Pantour, helping establish National/Regional Skills Partnerships across Europe and aligning efforts with the European Commission’s Pact for Skills. In PacTS4ALL, she leads Work Package 3, enhancing cooperation through the Knowledge Triangles initiative and expanding partnerships in underrepresented countries. She has also monitored EC-funded projects in developing countries, ensuring results meet key indicators. Her expertise spans strategic planning, stakeholder coordination, and project management in the tourism sector.
Keynote Speaker
Mirko Lalli
CEO & Founder, Data Appeal
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Mr. Lalli served as Director of Corporate Communications of Clouditalia SpA, CEO of AR-tel SpA and Marketing and Communications Director of Fondazione Sistema Toscana (Tuscany Region).
He was a member of the Tourism Innovation Committee of the Ministry of Tourism.
He is the founder and CEO of The Data Appeal Company SpA, acquired in 2022 by Almawave Spa, part of the Almaviva Group. The company’s ultimate goal is to leverage data to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable, fair, and inclusive world.
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Panelists
Peter Haxton
Senior Analyst for Tourism Policy and Analysis, OECD
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Mr Haxton, is a Senior Policy Analyst at the OECD, specializing in tourism policy and analysis since 2010. He leads the OECD’s work with seven EU countries under the EU’s TSI Tourism Flagship project, supporting sustainable, resilient, and digital tourism. He also contributes to G7/OECD policy papers on AI and tourism. Peter has authored key OECD reports on sustainable recovery and digital transformation in tourism. Before joining the OECD, he held senior policy roles in Australia and the UK. He holds a Bachelor of Administration (Hons) from James Cook University and a PhD from UTS Business School, Sydney.
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Giovanni Filippi
Secretary & Coordinator, Nomadi Digitali Association
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Giovanni Filippi is the General Secretary of the Italian Digital Nomads Association, promoting remote work and ethical digital nomadism in Italy. With a background in mechanical engineering and project management, he transitioned to freelancing, gaining expertise in cross-sector collaboration. He envisions an Italy where professionals can work freely while supporting local development. Through the Association, he creates opportunities to connect people, communities, and territories sustainably.
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Juan Uribe-Toril
Professor of Applied Economics, University of Almería
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Juan Uribe-Toril holds a PhD in Economics and multiple degrees in law and business. He has led business incubators and European projects in Andalusia and has been a professor at the University of Almería since 2008. His research focuses on local development, entrepreneurship, and tourism, with publications in top journals. He coordinates RIBERESCO, a network of over 20 universities, and serves on the editorial board of Revista de Ciencias Sociales.
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Walter Duarte
Head of Corporate Innovation Programs, BAE Ventures
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An expert in Corporate Innovation and Venture Building, he designs high-impact programs connecting corporations with startups. As Head of Innovation at BAE Ventures, he developed Corporate Programs to engage companies with emerging technologies. His experience spans travel, hospitality, and tourism, working with agencies, operators, and brands on digital transformation. He also collaborates with FederTurismo on Tourism4.0, bridging SMEs with market needs. Skilled in startup evaluation, digitalization, and business development, he drives strategic growth through collaboration and innovation.
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Lucilla Crosta
CEO & Co-Founder, Smarthink
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Mrs. Crosta is a professional working in field of education since 20 + years. Her expertise range from the social and ethical aspects in the use of AI, to soft and soft digital skills at workplace and to critical and indipendent thinking. Her experience range from teaching adults and workers, to lecturing university adult students to run and manage European e-learning research projects. Currently she in Honorary Recognized Supervisor and Internal Examiner at University of Liverpool (UK) inside the professional doctorate in Education, she is expert consultant part of the Research and Innovation Fora of Lombardy Regione and CEO of Smarthink and Italian SME active in the Edutech sector.”
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