2024 Programme

In between business appointments, the educational sessions provide up-to-date insights on the state of global youth and student travel, whilst the many opportunities to network offer a relaxed environment in which to get to know better your peers.

Tuesday, 24 September

TimeActivity
09:00 - 12:00Local volunteer project
sponsored by
Impactrip
14:00 - 20:00Registration open,
Hyatt Regency Lisboa Hotel
15:00 - 17:00WYSE Travel Confederation AGM,
Hyatt Regency Lisboa Hotel
Following the AGMInvitation only:
WYSE Members reception
Hyatt Regency Lisboa Hotel
sponsored by
InterExchange
21:30 - 00:00Conference bar,
Hyatt Regency Lisboa Hotel
sponsored by
WISE Foundation

Wednesday, 25 September

TimeLocationActivitySession titleSpeaker(s)
9:00 - 9:30Auditorium 6/7, CCLWelcomeWelcome to WYSTCDavid Chapman,
WYSE Travel Confederation
Sébastien Leitner, Cloudbeds and Chairperson, WYSE Management Board
9:30 - 10:30Auditorium 6/7, CCLKeynoteAI as job security for the industryJennifer Strong,
Independent journalist

Moderator:
Kevin O'Shaughnessy, CityHook
10:30 - 11:00Trade hall, CCLCoffee break
sponsored by
DreamBoks
11:00 - 13:00Trade hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
11:00 - 11:20Workshop area, CCLWorkshop Looking back at looking forwardGreg Richards,
WYSE Travel Confederation
11:20 - 11:40Workshop area, CCLWorkshop The impact of Brexit on youth travelGreg Richards,
WYSE Travel Confederation
11:40 - 12:00Workshop area, CCLWorkshop Solo travellersGreg Richards,
WYSE Travel Confederation
12:00 - 13:00Auditorium 6/7, CCLSeminar Trends shaping the future of toursAdam Armstrong, Contiki
Ari Charlestein, Competitours
Heather Leisman, EF Ultimate Break

Moderator:
Søren Sattrup, The Kilroy Group
12:00 - 13:00Auditorium 8, CCLSeminarBull or buzz? Guessing the future of tech in youth travelKevin O'Shaughnessy, CityHook
Jason Noronha, D3x
12:00 - 13:00Trade Hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
13:00 - 14:00Trade Hall, CCLLunch
sponsored by
InterExchange
14:00 - 14:20Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to use AI to get better candidatesKevin Morgan and Randy LeGrant
Academic Language Solutions – iTEP
14:00 - 15:20Trade Hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
14:20 - 14:40Workshop area, CCLWorkshop How to implement sustainability in youth hostelsLotte van Schaik,
Stayokay
15:00 - 15:20Workshop area, CCLWorkshop How to navigate the Brazilian international education marketAlexandre Argenta,
BELTA
15:20 - 15:50Trade Hall, CCLCoffee break
sponsored by
DreamBoks
15:50 - 16:10Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to make it easy for your travellersGary O'Leary,
WeTravel
15:50 - 17:30Trade Hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
16:30 - 16:50Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to renovate, launch and rebrand in less than 12 months and still keep your sanityRebecca Mayston,
Haka House Hostels
17:10 - 17:30Workshop area , CCLWorkshopHow to automate customer support with AIJason Noronha
D3x
17:30 - 19:00Foyer E, CCLWelcome Reception
sponsored by
CIEE
21:30 - 00:00Hyatt Regency LisboaConference bar
sponsored by
WISE Foundation

* the welcome reception is in the CCL this year.

Thursday, 26 September

TimeLocationActivitySession titleSpeaker(s)
9:10 - 10:30Trade hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
9:10 - 10:10Auditorium 6/7, CCLSeminarTravel tips and tricks: Safety advice for you and your customersRachel Claffey
Taxback Canada
Sarah McNamara
AuPairCare
Absolutely Lucy
Travel Blogger
Moderator: Enda Kelleher,
Sprintax
10:10 - 10:30Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to create lasting impact with sustainable travelLiz Tuck
World Challenge
10:30 - 11:00Trade Hall, CCLCoffee break
sponsored by
DreamBoks
11:00 - 13:00Trade hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
11:00 - 12:00Auditorium 8, CCLSeminarTravel industry trends and insights 2024 Adolfo Reyes
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
Moderator: Sébastien Leitner,
Cloudbeds
11:00 - 12:00Auditorium 6,7, CCLSeminarHow to maximise the impact of cultural exchange: Strategies for navigating political dynamics Panellists:
Indira Alcequiez
Alliance International Recruiting Agency
Crystal Bunts
Alliance Abroad
Agron Kamberi
Discover America
Moderator: Phil Simon
Cenet
12:20 - 12:40Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to engage a young audience with guided visitsJavier García Colomo
Cooltourspain
12:40 - 13:00Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to increase RevPAR with new sleep technologyMartin Holm Mortensen
Copenhagen Downtown Hostel and Nyhvn63 Capsule Hotel
13:00 - 14:00Trade hall, CCLLunch
sponsored by
InterExchange
14:00 - 15:00Auditorium 6/7, CCLKeynoteHow to be a 21st century explorerElla Al-Shamahi
National Geographic Explorer, palaeoanthropologist, evolutionary biologist and stand-up comic
15:00 - 15:30Trade Hall, CCLCoffee break
sponsored by
DreamBoks
15:30 - 17:30Trade hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
15:30 - 15:50Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to maximise the value of influencer partnershipsAbsolutely Lucy
Travel Blogger
15:50 - 16:10Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to use WhatsApp, iMessage and WeChat for personalised campaigns to travellersChris Townsend
What Media
16:10 - 16:30Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to sell working holidays in Japan and South Korea
Chris Engler
WorldUnite!
16:50 - 17:10Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to integrate climate change concerns into promoting international work and travelLiz Hong-Farrell, International Experience Canada
18:00 – 19:00Foyer E, CCLInvitation only:
WYSE members & buyers reception
sponsored by
Hanover
21:30 - 00:00Hyatt Regency LisboaConference bar,
sponsored by
WISE Foundation

Friday, 27 September

TimeLocationActivitySession titleSpeaker(s)
9:20 - 10:20Trade hall, CCLBusiness appointments
9:20 - 9:40Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to leverage technology to enhance J-1 Program complianceChristina Hamilton and Gennady Babankov
J-1 Visa Exchanges,Inc.
10:00 - 10:20Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to survive the US tax filing season - Nonresident edition!Ryan Ludden
Sprintax
10:20 - 10:50Trade hall, CCLCoffee break
sponsored by
DreamBoks
10:50 - 12:30Trade hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
10:50 - 12:10Auditorium 6/7, CCLSeminarUpdate from US Department of StateRebecca Pasini, US DoS
Karen Ward, US DoS
Moderator:
Casey Slamin, InterExchange
12:10 - 12:30Auditorium 6/7, CCLVolunteer awardDr. Taleb Rifai Outstanding Volunteer AwardSponsored by Alliance Strategies
12:30 - 13:30Trade Hall, CCLLunch
sponsored by
InterExchange
13:30 - 14:30Trade hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
13:30 - 14:30Auditorium 6/7, CCLSeminarThe impact of the US election on international exchange and youth travel
Mark Overmann
Alliance for International Exchange
Moderator: David Chapman
WYSE Travel Confederation
13:30 - 14:30Auditorium 8, CCLSeminarAlways in: How to transition from always on to always in by building community-first brandsLeon Suarez
TikTok
Moderator: Diogo Vaz Ferreira
Clink Hostels
14:30 - 15:00Trade hall, CCLCoffee break
sponsored by
DreamBoks
15:00 - 16:00Trade hall, CCLBusiness appointments
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
15:00 - 15:20Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to establish and grow a successful cultural exchange alumni associationFazil Mammadov
StudyZONE International
15:40 - 16:00Workshop area, CCLWorkshopHow to navigate international au pair regulations Patricia Brunner
IAPA, the International Au Pair Association
19:00Hyatt Regency LisboaCoach transfers to the Global Youth Travel Awards*
19:30 - 22:30SUD LisboaGlobal Youth Travel Awards
sponsored by
International Experience Canada
22:30 - 2:00SUD LisboaAfter party
sponsored by
Hans Brinker

* Transfers are available for delegates staying at the Hyatt Regency and Vila Galé only