Programme - WYSTC

2024 Programme

In between business appointments, join our educational sessions and hear from leading travel professionals as they discuss topical subjects and trends of relevance to the global youth and student travel industry.

Tuesday, 24 September

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

Wednesday, 25 September

Time	Location	Activity	Session title	Speaker(s)
9:00 - 9:30	Auditorium 6/7, CCL	Welcome	Welcome to WYSTC	David Chapman, WYSE Travel Confederation Sébastien Leitner, Cloudbeds
9:30 - 10:30	Auditorium 6/7, CCL	Keynote	AI as job security for the industry	Jennifer Strong, Independent journalist Moderator: Kevin O'Shaughnessy, CityHook
10:30 - 11:00	Trade hall, CCL	Coffee break sponsored by DreamBoks
11:00 - 13:00	Trade hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
11:00 - 11:20	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	Looking back at looking forward	Greg Richards, WYSE Travel Confederation
11:20 - 11:40	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	The impact of Brexit on youth travel	Greg Richards, WYSE Travel Confederation
11:40 - 12:00	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	Solo travellers	Greg Richards, WYSE Travel Confederation
12:00 - 13:00	Auditorium 6/7, CCL	Seminar	Trends shaping the future of tours	Adam Armstrong, Contiki Ari Charlestein, Competitours Heather Leisman, EF Ultimate Break Moderator: Søren Sattrup, The Kilroy Group
12:00 - 13:00	Auditorium 8, CCL	Seminar	Bull or buzz? Guessing the future of tech in youth travel	Kevin O'Shaughnessy, CityHook Jason Noronha, D3x
12:00 - 13:00	Trade Hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
13:00 - 14:00	Trade Hall, CCL	Lunch sponsored by InterExchange
14:00 - 14:20	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to use AI to get better candidates	Kevin Morgan and Randy LeGrant Academic Language Solutions – iTEP
14:00 - 15:20	Trade Hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
14:20 - 14:40	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to implement sustainability in youth hostels	Lotte van Schaik, Stayokay
15:00 - 15:20	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to navigate the Brazilian international education market	Alexandre Argenta, BELTA
15:20 - 15:50	Trade Hall, CCL	Coffee break sponsored by DreamBoks
15:50 - 16:10	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to make it easy for your travellers	Gary O'Leary, WeTravel
15:50 - 17:30	Trade Hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
16:30 - 16:50	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to renovate, launch and rebrand in less than 12 months and still keep your sanity	Rebecca Mayston, Haka House Hostels
17:10 - 17:30	Workshop area , CCL	Workshop	How to automate customer support with AI	Jason Noronha D3x
17:30 - 19:00	Foyer E, CCL	Welcome Reception sponsored by CIEE
21:30 - 00:00	Hyatt Regency Lisboa	Conference bar sponsored by WISE Foundation

* the welcome reception is in the CCL this year.

Thursday, 26 September

Time	Location	Activity	Session title	Speaker(s)
9:10 - 10:30	Trade hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
9:10 - 10:10	Auditorium 6/7, CCL	Seminar	Travel tips and tricks: Safety advice for you and your customers	Rachel Claffey Taxback Canada Sarah McNamara AuPairCare Absolutely Lucy Travel Blogger Moderator: Enda Kelleher, Sprintax
10:10 - 10:30	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to create lasting impact with sustainable travel	Liz Tuck World Challenge
10:30 - 11:00	Trade Hall, CCL	Coffee break sponsored by DreamBoks
11:00 - 13:00	Trade hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
11:00 - 12:00	Auditorium 8, CCL	Seminar	Travel industry trends and insights 2024	Adolfo Reyes World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Moderator: Sébastien Leitner, Cloudbeds
11:00 - 12:00	Auditorium 6,7, CCL	Seminar	How 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 - 12:40	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to engage a young audience with guided visits	Javier García Colomo Cooltourspain
12:40 - 13:00	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to increase RevPAR with new sleep technology	Martin Holm Mortensen Copenhagen Downtown Hostel and Nyhvn63 Capsule Hotel
13:00 - 14:00	Trade hall, CCL	Lunch sponsored by InterExchange
14:00 - 15:00	Auditorium 6/7, CCL	Keynote	How to be a 21st century explorer	Ella Al-Shamahi National Geographic Explorer, palaeoanthropologist, evolutionary biologist and stand-up comic
15:00 - 15:30	Trade Hall, CCL	Coffee break sponsored by DreamBoks
15:30 - 17:30	Trade hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
15:30 - 15:50	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to maximise the value of influencer partnerships	Absolutely Lucy Travel Blogger
15:50 - 16:10	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to use WhatsApp, iMessage and WeChat for personalised campaigns to travellers	Chris Townsend What Media
16:10 - 16:30	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to sell working holidays in Japan and South Korea	Chris Engler WorldUnite!
16:50 - 17:10	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to integrate climate change concerns into promoting international work and travel	Liz Hong-Farrell, International Experience Canada
18:00 – 19:00	Foyer E, CCL	Invitation only: WYSE members & buyers reception sponsored by Hanover
21:30 - 00:00	Hyatt Regency Lisboa	Conference bar, sponsored by WISE Foundation

Friday, 27 September

Time	Location	Activity	Session title	Speaker(s)
9:20 - 10:20	Trade hall, CCL	Business appointments
9:20 - 9:40	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to leverage technology to enhance J-1 Program compliance	Christina Hamilton and Gennady Babankov J-1 Visa Exchanges,Inc.
10:00 - 10:20	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to survive the US tax filing season - Nonresident edition!	Ryan Ludden Sprintax
10:20 - 10:50	Trade hall, CCL	Coffee break sponsored by DreamBoks
10:50 - 12:30	Trade hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
10:50 - 12:10	Auditorium 6/7, CCL	Seminar	Update from US Department of State	Rebecca Pasini, US DoS Karen Ward, US DoS Moderator: Casey Slamin, InterExchange
12:10 - 12:30	Auditorium 6/7, CCL	Volunteer award	Dr. Taleb Rifai Outstanding Volunteer Award	Sponsored by Alliance Strategies
12:30 - 13:30	Trade Hall, CCL	Lunch sponsored by InterExchange
13:30 - 14:30	Trade hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
13:30 - 14:30	Auditorium 6/7, CCL	Seminar	The 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 - 14:30	Auditorium 8, CCL	Seminar	Always in: How to transition from always on to always in by building community-first brands	Leon Suarez TikTok Moderator: Diogo Vaz Ferreira Clink Hostels
14:30 - 15:00	Trade hall, CCL	Coffee break sponsored by DreamBoks
15:00 - 16:00	Trade hall, CCL	Business appointments sponsored by International Experience Canada
15:00 - 15:20	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to establish and grow a successful cultural exchange alumni association	Fazil Mammadov StudyZONE International
15:40 - 16:00	Workshop area, CCL	Workshop	How to navigate international au pair regulations	Patricia Brunner IAPA, the International Au Pair Association
19:30 - 22:30	SUD Lisboa	Global Youth Travel Awards sponsored by International Experience Canada
22:30 - 2:00	SUD Lisboa	After party sponsored by Hans Brinker

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