Following the success of the UNWTO Forum on Talent Development in Tourism: Investing in Youth in Medellin, Colombia in 2015 and the first edition of the UNWTO Global Conference on Talent Development and Education in Tourism held in Bilbao in 2015, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, with support of the city government of Marbella, Malaga Regional Tourism Board, and Andalucia Regional Government, are organizing the 2nd UNWTO Global Conference on Talent Development in Tourism: Strategies for Competitive Destinations to be held from 8-10 October 2017 in Marbella, Spain.

This Conference will bring together policy makers and experts from public tourism administrations, private entities in addition to world renowned academics, to debate the decisive role of talent development and education in defining the competiveness of tourism destinations. The presentations will be complemented by a series of interactive working sessions giving all participants the opportunity to interact and share ideas. The conference also seeks to build awareness within the public and private sectors and among other tourism stakeholders about the importance of attracting and retaining young talent.