Webinar Series #RebuildingTourism: Debate on the benefits and risks of the Health Passport
Skål International Webinar Series: Rebuilding Tourism
We continue our series of webinars aimed at providing quality information on hot topics related to the recovery of global tourism.
On this occasion, the session focused on the Health Passport, with the collaboration of the European Travel Commission and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
The Health Passport is a hot topic at the moment and highly relevant, especially for our tourism industry. Therefore we at Skål International have promoted this insightful webinar to provide first-hand information to all our members. Access to the recorded session below.
Skål International Webinar Series #RebuildingTourism: Debate on the benefits and risks of the Health Passport
Date: 18 March 2021.
Time: 09:00h Madrid time (CET).
Conducted by: Daniela Otero, CEO of Skål International.
Guest speakers: Eduardo Santander, Executive Director at European Travel Commission and Mario Hardy, Chief Executive Officer at Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
The webinar was conducted in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish.
Eduardo Santander, Executive Director at European Travel Commission
Eduardo Santander is the Executive Director of the European Travel Commission (ETC), an association of National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) created in 1948 to promote Europe as a tourism destination. In this role, Mr. Santander steers ETC’s activities to build the value of tourism for the countries of Europe through cooperation in sharing best practices, market intelligence, and promotion.
Under his leadership, ETC has extended its membership to private organisations and academia with the launch of the Associate Membership Programme and developed a long-term strategic partnership with the European Commission to promote Destination Europe in long-haul markets.
Mr. Santander has over 15 years of experience in tourism marketing, brand development, business consulting, advocacy, and public affairs gained in diverse private companies and public institutions from the tourism and hospitality sector. Educated in Spain, the U.S.A, and Austria, he holds a Ph.D. in Sport Sciences, and an MBA degree focused on Hospitality and Recreation Industry Management.
Mr. Santander is a passionate advocate of freedom to travel, smart connectivity, and sustainability in tourism and beyond.
Mario Hardy, Chief Executive Officer at Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
Dr. Hardy is the Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association since 2014. He has over 30 years of experience of corporate development and investment in technology, coupled with several leadership roles with non-profit organisations. He is also the Managing Director of Private Family Office MAP2 | Ventures, an investment fund with a broad portfolio of technology-centric businesses in FinTech, Artificial Intelligence, and GreenTech.
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Capilano University in 2016 for his philanthropic work in Cambodia, where he helped develop a school for underprivileged children and his support in developing a Community Based Tourism project in Vietnam. In 2017, Dr. Hardy graduated from the Executive Program of Singularity University in Exponential Technologies and was honored as a “Global Ambassador of Peace Through Tourism” by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism.
Dr. Hardy also holds several board advisory roles with Vynn Capital, Cirium (Aviation), Global Chamber of Business Leaders, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
