Welcome to Halal In Travel - Asia Summit 2018

The third Halal in Travel Asia Summit will be held once again in 2018. This year, we are excited to share our latest report insights at the conference. Remember to subscribe for the latest updates!

ITB Singapore is the next stop in 2018 as we aim to host Halal in Travel in 5 cities across the globe this year. Head over here to find out more about how you can be a part of our event.

From the successful Halal in Travel Asia Summit at ITB Asia in 2016 & 2017, CrescentRating brings their intelligence and experience on Halal tourism once again to the main stage. Gain valuable insights on Halal travel from a panel of experts and professionals in the industry.

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Join us at Halal in Travel Asia Summit 2018

The Halal in Travel Asia Summit conference will be jointly held with ITB Asia on 18th October 2018 at Level 3 Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Room 3102. This upcoming conference will a fusion of keynote speeches, interactive panel discussions, and specialist presentations that explore the latest trends and challenges to emerge in the Muslim travel market. Visit us at our booth from 17-19 October on Level B2.

Watch the launch of GMTI 2017 here

Fazal Bahardeen

Fazal Bahardeen is an Entrepreneur in the Muslim Lifestyle & Travel Space. He founded CrescentRating in 2008, along with the world’s first rating system to rate travel & tourism services for their Muslim friendliness. Currently, he overlooks three leading brands in the Halal travel segment; CrescentRating, HalalTrip and Muslim Travel,Warehouse. Prior to this, he held senior management roles at Alcatel-Lucent, based in Europe & Asia.

Raudha Zaini

Raudha Zaini is the Marketing Manager of HalalTrip – a leading global community platform for Muslim travelers. She leads and manages projects with partners and International Tourism Boards in destination marketing and campaigns. Her aim is to translate her passion for travel as a millennial into innovative products that offer useful and unique experiences to all Muslim travelers.

Devesh Kuwadekar

Devesh Kuwadekar is currently Vice President and Head of Market Development with Mastercard and based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Devesh is responsible for driving Mastercard’s engagement with Banks, Non-Banks, Government entities, Merchants, Payment facilitators, Airline and Travel segment in Malaysia and Brunei. Prior to his current role, Devesh spent over 12 years in various capacities with Qatar Airways in Doha, with his last role as Sr Manager Business Development and Marketing for Qatar Duty Free, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qatar Airways.

Ms. Barkathunnisha

Nisha is the founder and principal consultant of Elevated Consultancy and Training. She is a management consultant, tourism/hospitality practitioner, corporate trainer and academic with more than 25 years extensive experience. Nisha provides strategic management/ marketing consultation and involved in human capacity building in emerging destinations. Nisha has been a keynote speaker, panellist, presenter and guest lecturer at conferences, exhibitions and in academic institutions. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the area of tourism.

Carel Stadler

Carel Stadler has extensive professional and management experience in destination marketing and management as well as the event industry. He is currently employed by Cape Town Tourism as Trade & Partnership Manager where he is responsible for the business strategic objectives through the operational management of the various strategic partners, trade platforms and programmes.

Shaji Abu Salih

Heads the Sales & Marketing of Shaza Hotels, the first luxury, halal environmental brand in the world that celebrates the cultures of the Silk Route. Based in Dubai, Shaji overlooks the revenues, sales, partnerships, marketing and communication of all Shaza Hotels & Mysk by Shaza, the new upscale brand from Shaza. After 8 years of serving Kempinski Hotels, Shaji has been with the Shaza Hotels, since its inception in 2010. Since 15 years in the luxury hospitality, Shaji recently earned an EMBA from NEOMA business school in Paris with Halal Tourism as a main thesis subject

Chris Nader

Chris Nader is Shaza Hotels’ Vice President, in charge of the group’s development globally. He has seen the birth of the company and was involved in setting up the brand’s identity and positioning, establishing its values and philosophy, as well as creating signature products ranging from dining concepts to Spas and Kids’ Clubs. With such in depth understanding of the brand, he naturally developed into a key player of the company’s growth strategy, boosting its development activities across the globe. He was also instrumental in the creation of Shaza’s new upscale brand “Mysk by Shaza”. Based in Dubai, Chris’ role is to double the group’s portfolio in the next few years. He also holds the position of Vice President – Development Middle East and Africa for Kempinski, the renowned European luxury hotel operator and shareholder of Shaza Hotels.

Neollene

I was architect by training, a filmmaker and photographer by passion. My interest in visual arts and adventure has opened up many opportunities beyond what I initially envisioned. Besides my passion in travelling with high level of curiosity, I have encountered several assignments that have sent me exploring to various parts of the world. Despite cinematography and photography, I have involved in producing, directing, script-writing, cameraworks, editing, colour-grading, 3D montage and visualisation for TV programmes, commercial video productions and short films. My architectural background has helped me visualizes arts, graphics, photos and videos into cinematic experiences on screen.

Zulkifly Md Said

Zulkifly Md Said is the Director General of Islamic Tourism Centre under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia. He leads the Centre’s role as an advisory body in matters pertaining to Islamic tourism, as well as complementing and supplementing the functions of the Ministry. He has served at the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board’s Northern Region office in Penang, Malaysia and at the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board’s overseas offices in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Istanbul.

Riyanto Sofyan

Riyanto Sofyan has over 35 years of experience in the Hospitality and Property Business. In 2012, he was appointed as Strategic Partner to The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia to develop and enhance Halal Tourism in Indonesia. In 2016, The Ministry appointed him to head the Team for Accelerated Development of Halal Tourism. He also holds several organisational positions including Chairman of Indonesia Sharia Hotel & Restaurant Association (ISHRA).

Rafat Ali

Rafat is the CEO/founder of Skift, the largest industry intelligence and marketing platform in travel, providing news, information, data and services to all sectors of the world’s largest industry.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

Ali Akbar Sahiwala

Ali Akbar Sahiwala is the Creative Director and Founder at Rehla Design, a strategic design consultancy that creates meaningful brands and experiences. Ali's work spans across sectors, with a special focus on branding for the Islamic Economy. Ali received his M.P.S. degree in Design Management at Pratt Institute in New York, in 2015. He also holds an Honours B.A. in Architecture and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Toronto.

Nur Hazirah Jamaludin

Nur Hazirah Jamaludin is the Content Manager of HalalTrip – a leading global community platform for Muslim travelers. She manages content across all platforms and is enthusiastic about making travel accessible for everyone. Her goal is to manage a platform that appeals and remains ever-relevant to Muslim millennials who desire to travel across the globe.

Shinjan Sarangi

Shinjan Sarangi heads overall growth and business for CrescentRating and HalalTrip. Key areas include, focus market strategies, growth through online and offline channels as global partnerships. Shinjan brings in launch experience across industries such as, Consumer Packages Goods, Travel and Consulting. He has previously worked with Unilever and Nivea, based in India.

Panel Sessions and Workshop for Professionals in the Tourism Industry

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Level 3 Sands Expo and Convention Centre Room 3102
Booth: R17

18th October 2018
10:30 am - 1:30 pm

Network After Event

18th October 2018

10:30 - 10:45

Latest insights on the Muslim Travel Market

Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating will set the stage for the panel discussions by addressing the latest insights on the Muslim Travel market.
10:45 - 11:05

Launch of the Digital Muslim Travel Report by Mastercard and Crescentrating.
11:05 - 11:25

In the Spotlight : A One on One Interview

Moderator : Fazal Bahardeen - CEO of CrescentRating
11:25 - 11:55

Panel Session:

Moderator : Ms. Barkathunnisha - Principal Consultant of Elevated Consultancy
Going Digital: How Online Has Shaped Muslim Travel Behavior
11:55 - 12:05

Investing in Halal Travel
12:05 - 12:20
Networking Break
12:20 - 12:30

10 Key Halal Travel Trends 2018 by CrescentRating
12:30 - 01:00

Panel Session:

What’s Next? Developing the Halal travel market in the service & destination sectors
Moderator : Fazal Bahardeen - CEO of CrescentRating
01:00 - 01:20

Converse with HalalTrip's Farah (The AI Chatbot)
01:20 - 01:30
Muslim Travel Trivia

Stand to chance to win attractive prizes