London, 09 February 2023: The Advantage Travel Partnership has announced the first two keynote speakers for its forthcoming conference, taking place between 20^th – 23^rd May at the luxury Melia Villaitana in Costa Blanca, Spain.

Dave Fishwick, a self-made millionaire, and the star of the Netflix smash hit ‘The Bank of Dave’, will be sharing his inspiring story of how, from humble beginnings, he went on to build six separate multi-million-pound businesses in the UK and USA, became the UK’s largest supplier of minibuses, and made government and policymakers, industry regulators and multinational banks sit up and take notice.

He has torn up the rule book and generated huge amounts of interest worldwide in the process. An expert on entrepreneurship, business and finance, Dave will share his story of taking on seemingly impossible challenges, offering valuable lessons for businesses both big and small.

Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO of UKHospitality, has also been confirmed as a keynote speaker and will address the conference on her experiences of becoming a powerful voice across the spheres of politics and lobbying representing the UK hospitality industry.

Nicholls is Chair of the Tourism Alliance and co-Chair of the London Tourism Recovery Board, representing the needs of the wider tourism sector in discussions with Government and the Mayor of London. She sits on the Government’s Tourism, Hospitality and Food & Drink Sector Councils and has previously Chaired the London Night-time Commission. She is a Board member of Best Bar None, PASS and is a trustee at Hospitality Action. In July 2021, she was appointed as the first Government Disability Ambassador for hospitality, promoting inclusivity. Kate was appointed co-Chair of the London & Partners’ Tourism Advisory Group in November 2022, who have a critical role in turning London’s 2030 Tourism Vision into reality.

At the conference, Nicholls will talk about the critical role that UKHospitality performs with government on behalf of its members, share lessons on effective lobbying and why it’s crucial to engage proactively with policymakers in order to influence change. 

Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO, Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “As always we are committed to securing the best and most relevant speakers for our conference, and we are confident that Dave Fishwick and Kate Nicholls will not disappoint.

“Dave’s story will absolutely resonate with our members. His experiences are sure to inspire and delight delegates. We feel very fortunate to have secured him for our event, given that Netflix has very recently released a film about his life.

“We are delighted that Kate has agreed to join us in Spain.  She has achieved such a great deal for UKHospitality in her role as a high-profile ambassador for the sector.

“This year’s event will have a robust agenda that will provide a blend of content, from senior keynote speakers providing a comprehensive overview of the macro issues facing the industry, to smaller workshop-type sessions that will ensure delegates take away valuable learnings and insights on a wide range of business-related topics.”

The 2023 Advantage conference will also include strategic updates from Advantage’s CEO Julia Lo Bue-Said and Advantage’s senior leadership team, and immersive experiences exploring the culture and gastronomy of the local area.

Lo Bue-Said added that the full content lineup will be announced in due course.

Attendees will be staying at the Melia Villaitana resort which has been designed in the form of a Mediterranean village and lies between two golf courses, designed by world-leading golf course designer Nicklaus Design. It boasts wonderful views of the Gran Bahia of the Costa Blanca and has a unique architectural style, replicating picturesque squares and historic corners of the region, making the hotel an innovative experience and ideal for a business conference.