Towards the Tourism Conference in Bratislava: "Connecting Tourism to Tomorrow"
The central square overlooking the theater in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Photo by Shosh Lahav
On Sunday, October 19th, the annual conference of the Israel Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism Consultants will open in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The conference will last for 4 days (October 19-22, 2025) and its program is diverse and interesting, combining the professional side including lectures and panels, with tours, entertainment and excellent cuisine, and of course social and professional meetings between the participants themselves. Conference attendees are staying at the Sheraton Hotel located in the center of Bratislava, and the weather is also expected to be sunny.
The conference is organized by the Israel Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism Consultants, headed by: Kobi Carni - Chairman of the Association, Rina Kameni - CEO of the Association, and with the participation of Michal Carmi - Operations Manager at the Association, Keren Bar - Chief of Staff, Katrina Royce - Accountant and Dadi Suissa - Consultant to the Association.
The conference is attended by approximately 220 participants, including senior figures in the Israeli tourism industry, such as: Uri Sirkis - CEO of Israir, Oz Berlovitz - CEO of Arkia, Shlomi Zaphrani - VP of Commerce at El Al and Tali Laufer - Head of the Business Division of El Al, Revital Ben Natan - CEO of Ofakim, Hani Sobol - CEO of Diesenhaus, Avishai Cohen - CEO of Amadeus, Imri Kalman - CEO of Ternova, and many others.
To our delight, the conference is taking place after the living hostages have been returned, the war in Gaza has ended (hopefully), and we will pray for the return of the fallen hostages - because without them the joy is not complete.
In the professional part, there will be panels and lectures on:
"Leading in Tourism with Artificial Intelligence: The Dream Team at the Click of a Button", a lecture by Golan Thomas, CEO of Lemetayel Digital; "One on One - Kobi Carni, Chairman of the Association and Shlomi Zaphrani, VP of Commerce at El Al; "The Economic and Tourism Relations Between Israel and Slovakia", a lecture by Alexander Ben Zvi, former Israeli Ambassador to Slovakia; "The Home Front - What Will Tomorrow's Israel Look Like?", a lecture by Dafna Liel, the political commentator of News 12; "Digital Communities", a lecture by Imri Kalman, CEO of Ternova; A panel on "Future Trends and Destinations", with the participation of: Uri Sirkis - CEO of Israir, Oz Berlovitz - CEO of Arkia, Revital Ben Natan - CEO of Ofakim, Hani Sobol - CEO of Diesenhaus, Avishai Cohen - CEO of Amadeus, moderated by Efrat Doron - CEO of Passport News.
About the Israel Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism Consultants:
The association unites the travel agencies and tourism consultants in Israel, and acts on their behalf as their official and authorized representative. The association aims to improve and deepen the culture of travel and tourism in Israel, to expand the knowledge and use of advanced and updated scientific means among its members, to take care of the welfare of those involved in the travel and tourism industry in Israel and to guarantee the rights of the consuming public in all matters relating to tourism services. The association unites approximately 400 travel agencies and approximately 4,500 tourism consultants in Israel, and acts on their behalf as their official and authorized representative before the Knesset of Israel, government institutions in Israel and abroad, public, economic and legal organizations in Israel and the world, foreign countries, embassies and consulates.
Photo = Central Square in the capital city of Bratislava. Photo by Shosh Lahav
