Travel Weekly has unveiled a new wave of speakers for its dedicated Travel Marketing Track at Cairns Crocodiles 2026, with senior leaders spanning touring, media, youth travel, digital strategy and artificial intelligence set to take the stage in Cairns this May.
Joining previously announced keynote Bruce Poon Tip – founder of G Adventures and a global pioneer of community tourism – the latest lineup reflects the breadth of expertise shaping the future of travel marketing.
Among the new speakers is Anna Fawcett, General Manager APAC at Global Touring, who will unpack Topdeck’s fresh rebrand and what it signals for the future of youth travel. As the iconic brand evolves to meet changing expectations from a new generation of travellers, Fawcett will share insight into how touring companies are repositioning themselves in an increasingly competitive and experience-driven market.
Also confirmed is Jackie Frank, founder of Be Frank Group and founding editor of Marie Claire Australia, one of Australia’s most influential media and brand strategists. Frank has shaped award-winning content across fashion, beauty, health and lifestyle publishing, and now advises major organisations on storytelling, strategy and purpose-led marketing – helping brands build deeper emotional connections with audiences across platforms.
Youth travel disruption will also be a major theme of the track, with Trent Ellen, General Manager of ARRIVAL Travel, joining the program to discuss how the brand is capturing the hearts and minds of travel-hungry Gen Z consumers. ARRIVAL Travel, launched by The Inspired Unemployed creators Matt Ford and Jack Steele, has quickly attracted attention for its creator-led approach to travel experiences, blending entertainment, community and destination marketing to engage younger audiences.
Rounding out the announcements is Matthew Forzan, founder of Yoghurt Digital and an AI-driven marketing strategist, who will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming travel marketing, search behaviour and customer acquisition. With more than 15 years’ experience in digital strategy and performance marketing, Forzan will provide practical insight into what travel brands need to do now to remain competitive in an AI-shaped landscape.
These speakers will appear on the Travel Marketing Track debuting on Tuesday 12 May as part of Cairns Crocodiles 2026, marking a major expansion for the festival and cementing tourism’s place within one of Australia’s most influential gatherings for marketing, media and creativity.
Developed by Travel Weekly in partnership with Cairns Crocodiles, the new stream evolves from TravelDAZE – Australia’s long-running forum for senior travel leaders – and will now sit within the official festival program, giving the sector a bigger and more integrated platform.
The one-day track will spotlight tourism, aviation, hospitality and destination marketing, connecting travel executives with global marketing expertise, emerging technology insights and cross-industry thinking.
Cairns Crocodiles 2026 will run from 12-14 May, with main-stage keynotes and the Building Brands and Rewilding Creativity tracks delivered across all three days. The Travel Track joins the newly announced Film & Screen stream, giving delegates four major content pillars to explore.
More speakers for the Travel Marketing Track will be announced in the coming weeks, with organisers promising additional high-profile names from across tourism, technology, media and creative industries.
With cross-industry perspectives and a focus on the future of travel marketing, Travel Track is shaping up to be a must-attend event for tourism leaders, marketers and innovators alike.
Tickets for Cairns Crocodiles 2026 are on sale now.
