The first edition of WTM Connect Asia, which will take place in May this year, will see Azran Osman Rani, ex CEO of AirAsia X deliver a key note at the conference.

Running from May 18 to 20 in Penang, Malaysia, the event will bring suppliers of international travel product to the island to meet with Chinese, South East Asian and international Hosted Buyers.

WTM Connect Asia offers attendees a diverse programme full of pre-scheduled appointments, FAM trips hosted by Penang Global Tourism, networking events, key note conferences, and cultural evening functions all providing plenty of new business opportunities.

Along with Rani, Jamling Tenzing Norgay - son of Sherpa Tenzing who climbed with Sir Edmund Hilary on the first ascent to Everest - will also deliver a key note on May 18.

Rani was the CEO of AirAsia X from 2007-2015 and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from the travel industry: “In today's volatile and uncertain climate, opportunities are abound for the bold and courageous who challenge the status quo and blaze new paths. I will be sharing my personal experiences of starting a long-haul low-cost airline and growing it from a single aircraft to 25, and achieving $1 billion annual revenue - when industry experts said it was impossible. I hope my experiences will inspire us to challenge our current assumptions and practices, and look for new ways to serve our clients and thrive in these exciting times,” he said.

Norgay is an Everest climber, a mountain guide, author and the star of the awe-inspiring IMAX documentary ‘Everest’. He says: “I will be sharing the story of my journey to the top of the world, parallel to my father’s climb with Edmund Hillary as the first people to reach the top of Mount Everest. I’m looking forward to meeting people of the travel industry from all over the world”.

Both speakers will add variety and value to the programme of WTM Connect Asia. Whilst Rani’s talk will be related to the past, present and future of the travel industry from his perspective, Norgay promises to inspire the audience with the legend of his father and his own story of living up to his name.

Following their talks, exhibitors and buyers will be treated to the best of Malaysian food and entertainment at one of the grandest clan temples in Malaysia – Khoo Kongsi. The remaining two days of the event include pre-scheduled appointments, networking events and a beach gala dinner on the evening of May 19. - TradeArabia News Service