New Deal Europe Forum and Destination Presentations 2025

Director of Insight and Business Improvement, ETOA

Rachel works with a range of partners to provide and comment on tourism data and statistics. She runs the ETOA Insight Hub, a one-stop centre for industry insight and thought leadership. Prior to European tourism association, she worked in consumer analytics and educational travel.

Project Manager Research, 

European Travel Commission

Menno van IJssel is currently Project Manager in the research department of the European Travel Commission (ETC), a non-profit organisation responsible for the promotion of Europe as a tourist destination in third markets. In that capacity, Menno works on various research projects identifying key trends and opportunities for European tourism. Projects range from the monitoring of the short-term rental market across Europe, to sustainable tourism indicators, to assisting in the development of ETC’s Quarterly Reports. His passion lies in understanding how people travel, where they go, and for what reasons.

Managing Director of Travel Experiences, 

The Travel Corporation

Claire Hanney is the Managing Director of Travel Experiences at The Travel Corporation, where she oversees the creation of unforgettable, sustainable travel adventures for iconic brands like Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Contiki, Luxury Gold, and Costsaver. With nearly two decades of experience across the globe, Claire's passion lies in blending authentic experiences with responsible tourism. Whether it's connecting travellers with local communities or finding innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact of guided holidays, she believes travel should enrich both people and the planet. Claire’s energy and enthusiasm inspire her teams to think big and deliver even bigger, making her a key voice in the future of tourism.

Director of Incoming, 

Kompas DMC

Viljam Kvalič is a professional in the travel and tourism industry, specialising in destination management, business development, and sales strategy. As the Director of Incoming at Kompas, he plays a key role in shaping the company’s MICE and luxury travel services across Europe.

His career includes leadership roles at Happy Tours & DMO Soča Valley, and his beginnings at the now world-renowned Hiša Franko. With a strong ability to develop strategic partnerships and create seamless travel experiences, he has successfully led teams and designed programmes for discerning clients worldwide.

Passionate about authentic experiences and innovative event solutions, Viljam continues to drive excellence in the tourism industry, ensuring every journey is memorable and impactful.

Travel Consultant, 

The Travel Collaborative

Tim has an illustrious career as a travel consultant having worked in Boston, Massachusetts with the The Tzell Travel Group since 1998. He joined the Travel Collaborative a division of Tzell in 2011. 

The Travel Collaborative is a 60 million dollar company consisting of seventeen Owner/Partners as well as twenty-four independent Travel Managers. It provides complete travel services to both corporate and leisure clients. 

Tim’s clients are upscale Americans and Tim is known for delivering an exceptional level of service – covering planning the trip, during the trip, and after the trip 24 x 7. 

 Jennifer Tombaugh is President of Tauck, the family-owned US-based tour operator serving all seven continents with more than 170 guided travel experiences and events for culturally curious travelers on land, small ship and river cruises. Jennifer oversees Tauck’s Worldwide Operations, Brand Management, Reservations, Guest Relations, Global Sales, and Digital & Direct Marketing teams.  

More info.

 Andrea Godfrey has worked for Regent Holidays for a total of 22 years starting in sales after graduation, and after a break working in Ukraine, returned to a General Manager role. In recent years, her role has involved mostly product and contracting in a wide variety of destinations from Iceland to Russia, including Ukraine and the Balkans.

More info. 

Dominic Burke, Managing Director of Travel Centres has 40 years' experience in the travel agency sector in Ireland.. Travel Centres is Ireland's largest grouping of independently-owned and managed professional travel agents. 

More info. 

Antonia Urlic is the Executive Director of Croatian upscale hotel brand, Stories Luxury Hotels. She has previously held senior marketing and promotions roles at Valamar Hotels and Croatian Airlines and was the director of the tourism sector at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.

More info. 

 Alp Ozaman is an accomplished airline executive with 18 years of travel industry experience and has been the Regional Marketing Manager for Turkish Airlines in New York for the last 11 years.  His role also encompasses tour operations and corporate sales. In addition Alp is a lecturer in the Hospitality Department at the School of Professional Studies, New York University. More info. 

 Lee Hayhurst has been one of the leading figures in British travel trade journalism over the last 14 years. As the Editor and Executive Director of Travolution, he is at the forefront of the technology and digital revolution in travel. Lee is a regular contributor to the UK’s leading trade magazine Travel Weekly and has covered various travel sectors including cruise, travel agents and tour operators. He regularly moderates both Travolution and partner events and conferences.  

More info.