Register Now

SPEAKERS & MODERATORS

Speakers

Prof. Kaye Chon

Dean, Chair Professor, and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation.

Professor in International Hospitality Management of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

A frequent speaker at international conferences, Dean Chon has published over 200 papers in international journals and professional publications and has authored or edited 12 books. One of his co-authored books, Welcome to Hospitality has been adopted as a textbook in more than 100 hospitality education programmes world-wide. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing and the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research.

In 2011, Dean Chon received the Ulysses Prize from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The Ulysses Prize, known as the “Nobel Prize in Tourism,” is annually presented to one scholar in the world for his or her lifetime contributions in creating new knowledge in tourism.

Elliott Rayner

Fractional Head of Storytelling, OWOW

Helping product and marketing teams turn complex products into clear, compelling product narratives.

He spent over a decade building products in the sports industry at Adidas and ASICS before leading marketing teams in tech at Babbel and ARION.

The research and frameworks he developed along the way now power his book, The Story Engine, and his workshops, helping teams discover, define and deliver product narratives that their whole company can tell and their customers actually believe.

Natalia Bayona

Executive Director, United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism)

Natalia is the Executive Director of UN Tourism and the youngest person ever to hold the position. She leads global initiatives linking tourism with innovation, education, investment, and sustainable economic development.

Recognized by Forbes, Bloomberg, and the World Economic Forum, she is considered one of the most influential Latin American leaders worldwide.

Since joining UN Tourism in 2018, she has launched pioneering programs supporting entrepreneurship, digital education, and tourism investment across more than 100 countries. She founded the UN Tourism Online Academy, reaching over 50,000 students globally through partnerships with leading universities.

Natalia holds an Executive MBA from IE University and has taught and spoken at institutions including Harvard, MIT, and Cornell.

Rafat Ali

CEO & Founder, Skift

Rafat Ali is the CEO & Founder of Skift, the most influential business media & information company in the travel industry, providing news, research, events, and creative services to key stakeholders globally.

Previously, he was the founder/CEO of paidContent and ContentNext, which he sold to UK’s Guardian News and Media in 2008, and left in 2010. Prior to that, he was managing editor of Silicon Alley Reporter.

Rafat was the Knight Fellow at Indiana University, where he completed his Masters in Journalism, 1999-2000. Prior to that he completed his BSc in Computer Engineering, from AMU in Aligarh, India.

Nellie Swart

Professor, Director Executive Education - Graduate School of Business Leadership

Professor of Tourism at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Chair of Tourism Educators South Africa. A respected academic, researcher, and industry leader, she holds a Doctorate in Commerce (Leadership, Performance and Change) and is a Certified Meetings Professional (CMP).

With more than 70 publications and several influential book contributions, Prof. Swart is recognised for advancing tourism education, sustainable development, and leadership across Africa and beyond. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including recognition among the Top 40 Women in MICE, the 100 Most Powerful People in African Hospitality, and the Top 5 Women in Leadership in Africa, as well as the 2025 AAXO ROAR Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry.

An internationally sought-after keynote speaker, mentor, and advisor, Prof. Swart is passionate about developing future tourism leaders, promoting gender equity, and driving innovation and sustainable growth in the tourism and events sectors.

Oliver Wykes

CEO Wind Europe

Oliver Wykes, COO at WindEurope and President-Elect at the AC Forum. WindEurope is the voice of the European wind energy industry. It represents the whole value chain of wind energy across Europe with more than 600 members. Prior to WindEurope, Oliver worked as a management consultant in various sectors. 

Follow us on social media!

#ICCACongress26 #CrossWorlds

© 2026 International Congress and Convention Association. All rights reserved.