Bio
Hans holds a MBA from Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Until 2008 Hans hold various marketing and sales roles in Fast Moving Consumer Goods companies. In 2008, Hans combined his love for adventure travel and his expertise in marketing when he became Managing Director of Sawadee Reizen in The Netherlands. In 2010, Hans moved to Toronto and became president of Quark Expeditions, the leader in polar travel. In 2015 he took over responsibility for all adventure brands within TUI Travel, a business that was sold to KKR in 2017. In 2018 Hans became CEO and President of boutique luxury cruise start-up Victory Cruise Lines, while he is also a trustee of the Safer Tourism Foundation in the UK.
Lecture title
Tourism Safety and Security, A Customer Perspective - and Joint Responsibility
Abstract
The Safer Tourism Foundation is a charity that aims to reduce the numbers of preventable deaths, injuries and illnesses occurring to people travelling abroad. This summer we will be able to share results from a customer study into perceived risks and safety concerns during holidays, and a factual data study of accidents with British tourists abroad. Tourism safety and security is a join responsibility of all stakeholders, with travel companies identifying risk, managing risks, and setting clear standards. At the same time, customer awareness of security & safety risks that they may face during holidays must be improved. Hans will give practical examples from his experience operating in the most challenging adventure travel environments in the world, and recently from operating cruises in hurricane crushed and political hot topic Cuba with Victory Cruise Lines.