Earlier this month, the World Tourism and Travel Council joined with the International Institute for Peace through Tourism to host the second annual Global Summit on Peace through Tourism in Geneva, Switzerland. IIPT President Louis D’Amore welcomed the partnership with WTTC, calling it "enlightened self-interest" for the travel industry to promote "a peaceful, and stable socio-political environment in which world travel and tourism can thrive." The conference, which took place February 5 through 8, highlighted ways in which the tourism industry can help reduce poverty. Summit themes included: tourism development in least developed countries; development and marketing of destinations emerging from conflict; the role of sports in peace and development; and the linkages of tourism, the arts, culture, and heritage in building a culture of peace.

Speakers at the summit included Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan; actor Roger Moore, UNICEF spokesperson; Claude Baumgarten, President, World Travel & Tourism Council; H.E. Akel Biltaji, Chief Commissioner, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and Jordan's former Minister of Tourism & Antiquities; the Hon. Jennifer M. Smith, premier of Bermuda; and Richard North, the CEO of Six Continents Hotels.

IIPT president D’Amore will also be a featured speaker at EIBTM’s global exhibition in May, also to be held in Geneva. He’ll lead a centerstage debate on "Meetings for Peace". For more, visit http://www.iipt.com and http://www.eibtm.com.