James Hogan is a global veteran of the aviation, travel and hospitality industries with more than four decades of senior executive leadership experience. During his career he has played a definitive role in driving excellence and innovation in global aviation, and leveraging strong airline infrastructure and performance to drive national and international tourism and economic benefit. He is the Chairman of Knighthood Global Limited which he set up in 2017 to offer business advisory, capital structuring and investment services in aerospace, aviation, travel and tourism. James formerly served as President and Chief Executive of Etihad Aviation Group from September 2006 to July 2017 overseeing its development from a three year-old airline into a strong and diversified travel and aviation business valued at more than USD 20 billion. He is a Director of the Sanad Services Group (Mubadala Company) and is also a guest lecturer for the EMBA Program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. His strategic leadership has received global recognition and numerous awards, amongst others, the Executive Award from Airline Strategy, the Aviation Executive of the Year from CAPA, and the ATW Airline of the Year Award. In 2017, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for ‘distinguished services to the aviation transport industry, to the development of tourism and trade linkages between Australia and the Gulf states, and to international airline associations’. He was ranked in 2015 among the Top 25 Most Influential Executives in the business travel industry by Business Travel News. Having started his career at Ansett Airlines, he subsequently held senior positions with British Midland International (BMI), Hertz, Forte Hotels and Gulf Air. James previously served as Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and was a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors. In 2010 James was the Chairman of Aviation, Travel and Tourism Community Governors of the World Economic Forum. He is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Bruce Poon Tip is the founder of G Adventures, the world’s largest small-group adventure travel company, and a trailblazer in sustainable tourism and social entrepreneurship. From humble beginnings—launching his business with two credit cards—Bruce built a global brand that redefines how travel can change lives and uplift communities. A New York Times bestselling author (Looptail) and UN speaker, Bruce is known for challenging business norms and inspiring action. His powerful talks at TED, the UN, and global summits have captivated audiences worldwide with a clear message: profit and purpose can coexist. At the TDM Global Summit, Bruce will share how travel brands can lead with impact, connect with conscious consumers, and thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. If you’re ready to transform your thinking and learn from a visionary who's changing the world—one trip at a time—this is a session you can’t afford to miss.

Born in Malaysia and raised in Australia, Suyin is a true global citizen who has dedicated her career to driving positive change in the travel and tourism industry. Suyin began her career in travel with Flight Center Travel Group in 2002, cutting her teeth in senior finance roles before her astute people management and development skills saw her transition into senior leadership roles in Asia and finally to the position of CEO of Discova, an Asian destination specialist in 2017. Highly motivated by the need to keep growing and innovating, Suyin's inspiring leadership and direction has seen Discova initiatives build strong, sustainable relationships with local communities, rethinking what it means to create growth that benefits both businesses and the communities they serve. A self-confessed growth junkie, Suyin thrives on building or transforming businesses and developing strong leaders across different geographies and is passionate about supporting local economies and education in emerging markets.

Paul Gorman joined Luxury Escapes in September 2013 and leads the company’s commercial relationships with the Owners and Investment stakeholders in Hotles and Resorts globally. He brings more than three decades of leadership experience in the travel and tourism sector to Luxury Escapes. Paul spent 12 years in various sales and marketing roles at The Travel Corporation (TTC) representing brands including Contiki, Creative Holidays and Trafalgar. This was followed by a further six years as General Manager of Business Development at Orient Express Travel Group. Paul’s depth of knowledge and trusted relationships across the travel and tourism sectors has helped establish Luxury Escapes as Australia’s fastest growing travel company with more than eight million members.

Olivier currently oversees all aspects of the franchised and managed properties for BWH Hotels in the APAC region, including the brand development of their eighteen brands. Olivier started his career in Asia back in 1993, as a management trainee with Nikko Hotels in Japan. He joined Accor in 1994 and was subsequently assigned to China, with the Novotel Brand. He stayed with Accor until 2008 and held various positions across Asia, ranging from pre-opening, running properties and re-brandings, mainly with the Novotel and Sofitel brands. In 2008, Wyndham presented him an opportunity of holding a cluster role in Dubai, which he held for two years, before moving back to Thailand to open the first “Ramada Encore” in the region. Olivier returned to Accor in 2014 before being appointed to his current regional role at BWH in March 2015. Early 2021 and following the acquisition of WorldHotels Collection, Olivier was internally transferred to Managing Director APAC. He was promoted in 2022 to Vice-President APAC for BWH Hotels.

Paul Wilson is an experienced professional with over 25 years in the hospitality and travel industry, specializing in project management, strategic planning, and customer success. Paul now led the APAC commercial team, driving sales growth and ensuring exceptional customer experiences across the Asia-Pacific region. His strategic vision and leadership have significantly enhanced customer satisfaction and achieved notable sales milestones. Previously, Paul served as the Executive Vice President of Cross Hotels and Resorts, overseeing operations and strategic initiatives. He also held roles as the Vice President of Commercial for Centara Hotels and Resorts and the Regional Director of Mantra Hotels, part of Accor’s largest acquisition, where he played a key role in integrating the brand into Accor’s portfolio and enhancing its market competitiveness.

Nicholas Lim is the Asia CEO of The Travel Corporation. A travel industry powerhouse, he commands a diverse portfolio across Asia including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Uniworld, Contiki and more. With more than 20 years of experience, most recently as GM Sales for Norwegian Cruise Line Asia, and two decades prior in leadership roles at TTC, including President (Asia) of Trafalgar. Nicholas has repeatedly broken new ground in market expansion and brand innovation. Nicholas holds a BA in Tourism Marketing from RMIT University and was named Executive of the Year (Travel Category) by Singapore Business Review in 2019.

Monica Pitrelli is the editor of CNBC Travel, where she covers the intersection of travel with world news, fi nanceand geopolitics. She contributes to CNBC’s television and digital platforms and is an established speaker andmoderator at global conferences and events.

Sanghamitra is a senior business executive with experience across Business Travel, Payments and Hospitality. A proven business leader, she has been successful in establishing the vision and strategy needed to grow business relationships across the region. As Vice President Traveler Care APAC and Global Energy Marine and Mining, Sanghamitra leads an organisation of more than 1400 professionals and is responsible for driving customer experience and global client management through a strong and diversified operating model. Sanghamitra has spent more than 20 years in American Express and Global Business Travel, most of which have been in various leadership roles. Prior to her current role, Sanghamitra was Vice President and General Manager for Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand, responsible for growth and operations in these markets. Sanghamitra joined American Express in Commercial Payments. She then moved to American Express Global Business Travel where she led the ASEAN Commercial organisation as well as Global Client Management in Asia Pacific before stepping up into General Management 8 years ago. Prior to joining American Express, she worked in leading hospitality organisations like Taj Hotels, and Intercontinental Hotel Group. She also led a business school program in China, affiliated to James Cooke University, Australia. Sanghamitra holds an MBA and a Mathematics Honours degree from Maharaja Sayajirao University, India. She was awarded the Kim Vismale Global Leadership Excellence Award in recognition of her contribution in developing, mentoring and providing leadership in her various roles in American Express. Sanghamitra is a strong champion of Diversity Equity & Inclusion and led the Global Asian Inclusion Network in American Express Global Business Travel. She is also a passionate Sustainability advocate in the region and has represented American Express Global Business Travel in various regional sustainability forums.

John Flood is the CEO of Archipelago International and has led the company for over a decade, driving its remarkable growth across thirteen core brands. Under his leadership, Archipelago has become SE Asia's largest privately owned hotel management company, with a presence that now spans more than 300 hotels, resorts, and villas across Indonesia and 15 other countries, from Australia to Mexico. John is deeply committed to sustainability, actively encouraging Archipelago hotels to adopt eco-friendly practices and initiatives that support the communities they operate in, ensuring the company’s growth aligns with environmental responsibility.

A visionary and game-changer in global tourism, Phil Hoffmann is the driving force behind one of Australia’s most awarded travel brands. From humble beginnings as a high school teacher, Phil built Phil Hoffmann Travel into a powerhouse, now employing over 160 staff across nine locations. His pioneering spirit transformed how Australians travel and how the industry educates and operates. A former AFTA President and life member, Phil’s leadership has shaped national tourism policy, international travel standards, and education frameworks. Recognised with an Order of Australia and inducted into multiple industry Halls of Fame, he continues to champion integrity, innovation, and mentorship across the sector. With unmatched insight and global perspective, Phil brings energy, authenticity, and depth to every stage he steps on. At the TDM Global Summit, don’t miss the chance to hear from a true legend of travel – a man who turned passion into an industry-shaping legacy.

Areas of Expertise include: Marketing, Sales, Consulting, Management, Travel, Hospitality, and Technology Boon Sian Chai currently serves as Managing Director and Vice President of International Markets at Trip.com Group. Based in Singapore, Chai oversees the entire International Hotel Supply team spearheading the growth of supply partners internationally. Prior to joining Trip.com Group, Chai progressed through the ranks during his more than 14 years in the online travel agency (OTA) space. With an extensive knowledge and in-depth experience of the OTA space, Chai enjoys spending time consulting with hotel partners on their pricing, distribution and marketing strategies. His geographic coverage includes Asia Pacific, having spent time in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and he has extensive networks in these markets. Before moving into the online travel space, Chai was the COO of an IT startup company specialising in online human resource systems and held corporate planning and e-commerce positions with various enterprises working on strategic planning, business development and sales and marketing. Chai holds an MBA from the Chicago Booth School of Business and a BSc with first-class honours from Loughborough University.

Hok Yean is the President for HVS Asia Pacific based in Singapore. As President, Hok Yean is responsible for the business development and overall strategy execution for HVS throughout Asia Pacific region. Hok Yean has over 35 years of experience in Asia Pacific property markets providing real estate investment advisory services to clients that cover a wide spectrum of property assets; hotels, serviced apartments, theme parks, recreational buildings, business parks, office buildings, retail malls, residential properties, places of worship, petrol stations, hospitals, manufacturing plants, car parks as well as power stations and substations. Her forte lies in providing investment advisory on hotels and serviced apartments in the regional markets including brokerage, strategic analyses, operator search, market feasibility studies, valuations, and litigation support. She has completed assignments in more than 30 markets across 24 countries throughout the Asia Pacific region including Australia, Cambodia, China, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. These portfolio valuation and advisory assignments were prepared for major hotel and serviced residence owners and operators, developers, investors, private equity funds and financial institutions.

Dr. Nisha is a distinguished tourism consultant, academic, and corporate trainer with over 25 years of diverse management experience in the Tourism, Hospitality, and MICE industry. Renowned as an international management consultant, she excels in crafting global strategies and roadmaps for establishing robust market positions. Dr. Nisha is a dedicated advocate for sustainability and responsible development. Her expertise includes business sustainability, sustainability in events management, and sustainable tourism development. Through her consultancy and training expertise, she enhances sustainability knowledge, provides strategies for implementing sustainability initiatives, and offers a unique perspective on achieving sustainability goals in the tourism, hospitality and events industry. As the founder of World Women Tourism, and an advocate for women's empowerment and gender equality, Dr. Nisha has spearheaded numerous impactful events to uplift women's socio-economic status. Dr. Nisha is the host of the Women We Watch in Tourism podcast series, the first global podcast featuring women leaders in tourism and hospitality businesses. A globally sought-after keynote speaker and subject matter expert, she regularly shares insights at prestigious organizations including UNWTO, PATA, WTO, and ADB. Her exceptional contributions have earned her several accolades, including "Most Inspiring Woman in Travel (Asia)" by IWTA in 2024, "Most Inspiring Woman Leader - Tourism Consulting" at the Women's Tabloid Awards 2025, and being named one of LinkedIn's "Top 10 Women's Voices in Singapore" for 2024.

An alumna of The Philippine Women's University in Manila, Marga Manlapig began her media career at 17 as copywriter for the Filipino distance learning channel EdTV 36. Since graduating in 1997, she has worked extensively in the Philippine advertising and corporate relations sectors, producing material for the likes of Maybank ATR Kim Eng, the Ayala Group of Companies, and the Metrobank Group. Following over two decades in the field, she shifted to journalism in 2016, joining Tatler Philippines and contributing to the Philippine Star. She joined Travel Daily Media in 2024, covering the Asia, China, and Cruise beats.

Patrick is a seasoned industry expert with over 40 years of experience in the travel and hospitality technology industries. He has in-depth knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region where he spent almost 30 years working for global organizations based out of Hong Kong and Singapore. At Oracle Patrick leads a team responsible for driving the Hotels and the Restaurants teams’ regional revenue, securing new business, and identifying key strategic opportunities to grow the company’s footprint. Prior to joining Oracle Hospitality, he was the Senior Vice President Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa for the Rainmaker Group. He has also held senior management positions with Travelport, Sabre Hospitality Solutions, IATA, Expedia, Micros-Fidelio, and SAP. Patrick has an MBA in International Business from the University of Ottawa, and a bachelor’s degree in Finance from McGill University. He is currently based in Singapore.

Francesco Galli Zugaro founded Aqua Expeditions in 2007 with Peru’s first luxury river vessel on the Amazon River. The company then expanded its operations globally in 2014 with the launch of the Aqua Mekong on the historic Mekong River, and in 2019 with the oceanfaring Aqua Blu, which navigates the forgotten islands of the East Indonesian Archipelago. In 2021, Aqua Expeditions expanded its fleet from three to five vessels with the introduction of its second ship in the Peruvian Amazon, the Aqua Nera, and its latest superyacht, the Aqua Mare, sailing the volcanic Galapagos Islands since June 2022. As CEO, Galli Zugaro has personally supervised every vessel launch, completely changing the landscape of boutique river expeditions. After the launch of Aria Amazon in 2011, Galli Zugaro oversaw the construction of the Aqua Mekong in a Vietnamese shipyard in 2014, as well as the building of its sister vessel Aqua Nera in 2020, which was transported later on from Vietnam to Peru on an epic 12,350- nautical mile journey across the globe. Not content with resting on his laurels, Galli Zugaro brought Aqua Expeditions into its first ocean foray in November 2019 with a former British Navy ship, overhauled in a sleek modern style with the help of Dutch yacht designer Cor D. Rover. Aqua Blu explores Indonesia’s most pristine regions: Komodo National Park, the Spice Islands, and Raja Ampat. Unprecedented acclaim has followed the ships’ trailblazing style and bespoke guest experience, featuring an exclusive one-to-one level of service and world-class cuisine by renowned chefs. Aqua Expeditions has received rave reviews and prestigious awards from the world’s leading travel media including Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes, Robb Report, Departures, The Times, and more. The story of Aqua Expeditions came full circle in 2021 with the unveiling of its fifth vessel in the Galapagos Archipelago, a destination of special significance as it represents the beginning of Galli Zugaro’s professional career in luxury travel and the source of inspiration for starting his own brand of immersive small-ship voyages together with his partner Fred Brown. As the first superyacht experience in the region, the 50m Aqua Mare incorporates original custom interiors by famous yacht designer François Zuretti, taking an iconic once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the Enchanted Islands to the next level. A distinguished speaker, Galli Zugaro is regularly asked to share his travel industry insights on innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and market trends at a diverse range of leadership gatherings. His focus also lies in driving sustainable development through travel, prioritizing the social and environmental impacts and solutions of operating in culturally significant and unspoiled natural destinations. Half Italian and half American, Galli Zugaro received his B.A. in Communications from Boston College. He lives in Singapore with his wife and three children.