Manfredi Lefebvre is Chairman of Heritage Group a diversified conglomerate that invests in tourism and other industries. Heritage Group is active in the travel industry, in real estate and financial investments, and in February 2019 it acquired the majority of the luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent. Silversea was founded by the Lefebvre family in the early ‘90s. Manfredi Lefebvre held the position of Executive Chairman of Silversea Cruises Group from 2001 to 2020.
“Becoming a Founding Partner of Together in Travel was a natural decision for me because SMEs are the backbone of the travel and tourism industry. They drive innovation, create jobs, sustain local economies, and foster cultural connections by linking communities around the world. Supporting Together in Travel reflects my deep commitment to empowering SMEs, recognizing their vital role in shaping a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive global travel ecosystem. I would like to extend my gratitude to Matthew Upchurch for his vision and leadership in championing this important initiative, which brings us all together to support the heart of our industry ”
Sébastien Bazin began his career in the finance sector in 1985 in the USA. In 1997, he joined Colony Capital to install and develop the European branch of the private investment firm. Within 15 years, he managed and participated in a number of investments in the hotel sector. A member of AccorHotels’ board since 2005, he was appointed as Chairman and CEO of the Group in August 2013. Administrator of Théâtre du Châtelet since 2013, Sébastien Bazin took over the presidency of this board on 26 March 2015. He is also Vice Chairman of the supervisory board of the Gustave Roussy Foundation.
Gerard “Jerry” Inzerillo is a globally celebrated Forbes-cover visionary in the hospitality and tourism industry, with a deep aptitude for positioning strategies and iconic developments. In 2018, Inzerillo was appointed by HRH The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be the first CEO of the newly created Diriyah Gate Development Authority, (DGDA), a USD $20 Billion-plus giga-project aimed at restoring and reimagining the ancestral home of the original Saudi state. Inzerillo also serves as Vice Chairman of the Forbes Travel Guide.
With over 38 years in the travel industry my experience has been unbelievably varied. From checking people in at Terminal 1, to being a tri-star stewardess, to experience in sales, marketing and PR, my 10 years at BA gave me the foundations for the remainder of my career in travel and tourism PR and Marketing. I learned my trade not just from professional PR qualifications but through experiencing real life in so many departments. And since then, having grown the Brighter business from 2 people to 22 and survived many financial downturns and clients in crisis, there probably isn’t any area of travel PR and marketing I haven’t had a hand in!
"In today’s travel landscape, SMEs have a huge opportunity to thrive as travellers move beyond the traditional ‘fly and flop’ model, seeking unique experiences. But marketing remains a challenge, with limited resources forcing teams to juggle roles. Therefore, AI has emerged as a game-changer, making personalisation and customer reach more accessible, ensuring maximum impact with minimal effort. Also, as larger players evolve, they seek SME products that are innovative and easy to integrate. Together in Travel provides a window into best practices, helping small businesses refine offerings and align with market needs."
Christopher Nassetta is President and CEO for Hilton. He joined the company in 2007. Previously, Mr. Nassetta was President and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a position he held since 2000. He joined Host in 1995 as Executive Vice President and was elected Chief Operating Officer in 1997. Before joining Host, Mr. Nassetta co-founded Bailey Capital Corporation in 1991, where he was responsible for the operations of the real estate investment and advisory firm. Prior to founding Bailey Capital Corporation, he spent seven years at The Oliver Carr Company, ultimately serving as Chief Development Officer. In this role, he was responsible for all development and related activities for one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Nassetta graduated from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce with a degree in finance. He currently serves on McIntire’s Advisory Board.
Hailing from the UK, James began his career in asset management before making a career change to join Intrepid Travel. Over the past 18 years James has held a variety of senior roles at Intrepid. Appointed as CEO in March 2017, James has been instrumental in the growth of Intrepid, focusing on the dual objectives of growing the market for sustainable experience-rich travel and operating a company that balances purpose and profit. Under his leadership, Intrepid achieved B Corporation certification and recorded four consecutive years of record top and bottom line growth between 2015 and 2019. In 2018 James was named Hospitality and Tourism Executive of the Year in the CEO Magazine Awards.
"Intrepid’s mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel and as a founding member of Together in Travel, we’re proud to support travel businesses right across the world to thrive. We can only have a strong and resilient industry when communities truly benefit and can create that positive change in the world."
As Executive Chairman, Mr Vago defines MSC Cruises’ strategy and long-term vision from its headquarters in Geneva. In this position, he has spearheaded the launch of an unprecedented investment plan supporting the next phase of MSC Cruises’ growth. It encompasses 12 new next-generation cruise ships coming into service between 2017 and 2026, reflecting an investment of €10.5 billion. Mr Vago entered the MSC Group in 2000, piloting a joint venture between the ferry company SNAV and the Hoverspeed Sea container Group. In 2004 he became MSC Cruises’ CEO, a position from which he led the Company to grow over 800% in 10 years. From 2014 to 2016 Mr Vago held the position of CLIA Europe Chairman. During this time he led the cruise industry association to take a more central role in engaging with all European and national authorities and legislative bodies, with a particular focus on Brussels.
Julie Shainock is Managing Director - Travel, Transport, Logistics & Hospitality (TTLH) and responsible for developing Microsoft's point of view and future strategy for our WW Travel and Transport Industry. She is focused on leading the airlines, hospitality companies, cruise and freight logistics and rail companies to driving innovation that will enhance the customer and employee journey, while driving increased productivity and cost reduction with the use of Microsoft's technology and its ecosystem of TTH solution partners.
Hashil Al Mahrouqi has accumulated experience spanning twenty years in investment management in multiple sectors, such as oil and gas, tourism and logistics. As part of this distinguished career, he worked for a period of 10 years in the management of a range of mixed-use real estate developments and tourism investments.
In his current position as CEO of OMRAN Group, Al Mahrouqi is taking the helm at the Group to enrich the efforts of development, progress and growth in the tourism sector. In addition to enhancing the capabilities of the Group, its subsidiaries and the broad portfolio of tourism assets and investments across the Sultanate, in compliance with the directions of Oman Investment Authority. Aiming at maximizing investment returns and achieving local added value, these efforts will contribute towards delivering some of key objectives of Oman 2040 Vision, through attracting tourism investments, developing pioneering projects and yielding socio-economic returns for the Sultanate.
"Our commitment to supporting the WTTC’s Together in Travel SME platform reflects our belief in the transformative power of small and medium enterprises as key drivers of sustainable tourism. This platform serves as an invaluable tool for SMEs to learn, connect, and grow, equipping them with the resources and network they need to innovate, collaborate, and thrive. At OMRAN, we recognize the vital role SMEs play in showcasing Oman’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and authentic experiences. Together with WTTC, we are proud to empower SMEs and strengthen the resilience of our tourism sector, aligning with Oman’s vision for economic diversification and sustainable development."
Jonathan has worked in the hotel industry for 40 years. He was appointed Managing Director at Red Carnation Hotels in 2000, which at the time comprised four hotels, today he is responsible for 18 hotels across the globe – six in London and others in Dorset, Guernsey, Ireland, Geneva, South Africa, and Botswana, as well as a stand-alone restaurant in London. In 2022, Jonathan received a title change from MD to CEO of Red Carnation Hotels. Our newest jewel 100 Princes Street in Edinburgh, opened in 2024 as Red Carnation’s first hotel in Scotland. Red Carnation Hotels pride themselves on offering outstanding levels of comfort and an exceptional guest experience. In recent years hotels within the collection have received awards from various professional bodies; notably, the company has been recognised for the training it provides achieving Best Companies accreditation and Princess Royal Training Award most recently in 2023. In 2024, Red Carnation Hotels was voted ‘Number 4 Best Hotel Brand in the World’ in Travel + Leisure ‘World’s Best’ Awards. Additionally, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection was delighted to walk home with the award for ‘Hotel Group of the Year’ at the 2024 AA Hotel & Hospitality Awards.
"As a family owned and run hospitality business, Red Carnation Hotels are passionate about working with local suppliers and specialist travel partners, who share our core value and passion for excellence. Many of these businesses are small in revenue terms and in order for them to sustain growth it is important that they have access to the tried and tested strategies, technologies and best practices of successful larger organisations. Red Carnation Hotels is a proud to be a founding member of Together in Travel, a true community that supports SME’s in travel, through a supportive network of businesses and industry professionals.”
Jane Sun has held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Trip.com Group, and served on the Board of Directors, since November 2016. She joined the company as Chief Financial Officer in 2005, before being made Chief Operating Officer in 2012, and Co-President in 2015. Ms. Sun is well respected for her extensive experience in the operation and management of online travel businesses, as well as her knowledge of mergers and acquisitions and financial reporting and operations. She has been named one of Fortune's Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business for the past four years. In 2019, she was awarded an Asia Society Asia Game Changer Award, and became a member of the Asia Society Board of Trustees. Forbes named her one of the Emergent 25 Asia's Latest Star Businesswomen in 2018, and one of the Most Influential and Outstanding Businesswomen in China in 2017. She was also listed among Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business in 2017. During her tenure at Trip.com Group, she has won Institutional Investor awards for both Best CEO and Best CFO. Prior to joining Trip.com Group, Ms. Sun worked as the head of the SEC and External Reporting Division of Applied Materials, Inc. Prior to this, she worked with KPMG LLP for five years as an audit manager in Silicon Valley, California. Ms. Sun received her bachelor's degree from the business school at the University of Florida where she achieved high honors. She also obtained her LLM degree from the Peking University Law School.
"As a leading global travel services provider, Trip.com Group has partnered with SMEs around the world for more than two decades, recognising their vital role in the travel industry’s growth. Together in Travel offers a dynamic platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas, fostering connection among SMEs and international partners. This initiative enables participants to access innovative tools and stay ahead of emerging trends. We are honoured to join this impactful initiative, sharing our experience with industry peers to collectively shape a more interconnected and innovative future."
After graduating in commerce from Mumbai University and completing his Business Management studies from Mumbai, Zubin Karkaria joined Orbit Trade Fair Tours in 1989. He then moved to SOTC in 1991 and was with SOTC when it was acquired by Kuoni Group in 1996. He was appointed as the COO of the Kuoni India Tour Operating Division in 1999 and moved on to become the Deputy CEO and Head of Business Development in 2003. He conceptualized and launched VFS Global in 2001, and was appointed as the CEO and Managing Director of Kuoni India and South Asia in 2005, responsible for all units of Kuoni India – Tour Operating, Destination Management, Business Travel, and Kuoni Academy, while concurrently developing the VFS Global business into a global leader in its field (as CEO from 2010 onwards). In 2013, in line with the development of VFS Global as an important Division of Kuoni Group, Zubin Karkaria was appointed on the Executive Board of Kuoni Group. From 2015 till 2017 Zubin Karkaria was Chief Executive Officer of Kuoni Group, in addition to his current role as CEO of VFS Global.
“At VFS Global, we recognize the pivotal role SMEs play in driving innovation, cost-efficient economic growth, and sustainable development within the travel industry. We commend the World Travel & Tourism Council for launching the 'Together in Travel' initiative, a fantastic effort to empower these enterprises. As a Founding Partner, we are committed to leveraging our legacy, competence, and extensive global network, spanning operations in over 150 countries, to support the development of SMEs globally. This partnership reflects our dedication to enabling SMEs to thrive and further enhance their contribution to global socio-economic development.”
Matthew is a travel industry visionary with a lifetime of experience in numerous sectors of the field. He has led Virtuoso (formerly Allied Percival International) since its founding in 1986, and is the innovator behind the industry's foremost retail luxury travel brand and the trend setting relationship-building Virtuoso Travel Week (formerly Travel Mart). Matthew was named to the American Society of Travel Agents Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Cruise Lines International Association Hall of Fame in 2010, and has served as the chairman of the Travel Institute. He is a sought-after expert on luxury travel and speaks regularly around the world on the topic at industry conferences and with major media outlets. Matthew attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, and holds a Certified Travel Counselor accreditation from the Travel Institute.
"Virtuoso was built on the power of SMEs coming together, sharing resources, technology, and talent to achieve more collectively than they could alone. That spirit continues today as we help businesses tackle challenges through collaboration, innovation teams, and shared insights. SMEs will always be vital to the travel sector. That’s why platforms like Together in Travel are so valuable. By fostering connections, providing insights, and offering tailored learning programmes, it empowers SMEs with the knowledge and networks they need to grow. When small businesses thrive, the entire sector moves forward."
