Keynote Speaker: Simon Calder
Back for 2024 after an unforgettable appearance in 2019 when he predicted an oncoming global pandemic… we are still delighted to welcome Simon back!
Simon Calder is Britain’s leading travel commentator and is known as “the man who pays his way” which means that he pays for his own travel.
He began his career at Gatwick airport, where he cleaned out planes for Sir Freddie Laker and, later, his job was frisking passengers. He then started to write travel guidebooks and travel articles. Today Simon is Travel Correspondent for the Independent. Simon also writes for the Evening Standard and National Geographic, as well as many other publications.
Simon is a regular guest on national TV and radio, often seen on BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, This Morning, CNN, ITV News, Channel 5 and Sky News. Plus BBC Radio 2, 4, 5, LBC, Times and Talk Radio, and is frequently interviewed on national and local BBC radio.
Simon has a weekly travel podcast called You Should Have Been There. Plus, he records a Daily Podcast for the Independent. He has many followers on Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and You Tube.
Hundreds of people a day get in contact with Simon through his website and through Twitter. To answer all the questions & queries, he holds an Instagram Live every Saturday and Sunday at 17:30. He also holds an Ask Me Anything on Twitter once a week.