Conference Keynote

Wed, Jun 3, 2026 09:40 AM – 10:00 AM BST

Bernard Donoghue OBE, one of the most authoritative and well spoken voices in the UK visitor economy, opens our conference with an unmissable sector-wide perspective. As Director of ALVA — whose over 300 members collectively welcome over 157 million visits annually— Bernard brings unrivalled insight into the trends, pressures and opportunities shaping attractions right now, from shifting visitor behaviours in a cost-of-living era to the fragile but resilient recovery still unfolding post-pandemic. Backed by fresh public sentiment data, his keynote will set the context for everything that follows — and if Bernard’s track record is anything to go by, he won’t shy away from telling it like it is.

If you’d like to watch Bernard’s Keynote then head over to Zoom to catch up on Demand.

Bernard Donoghue
CEO
Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

A creative, successful communicator, policy analyst, lobbyist and strategist now working at national CEO level representing the UK’s most iconic and important cultural, heritage, artistic and tourism organisations.

Over 35 years board experience (chair, director and trustee) of some of the UK’s best known and well regarded NGO’s; senior executive experience across a range of organisations including central government, government agencies, EU and UN political institutions and charities. My passions are culture, theatre, museums and galleries, heritage, conservation and nature, social justice and anti-discrimination, the power of culture and tourism to transform lives and economies, philanthropy and art.

Read more about Bernard Donoghue.