Last year 500 delegates attended the 4th Annual ORION Congress in Suzhou, China. This year's Congress explores the broad notion of 'innovation in the tourism and hospitality industry'.

The Congress will be held at the Atlantis, The Palm, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Saturday 11 October 2008, shortly after the hotel’s eagerly awaited soft-opening.  The program will include keynote speeches by senior industry executives and academics. The speeches will be complemented by interactive panel discussions structured around the key topic, with audience participation in question and answer sessions.

Mr Brian Binnie, the test pilot of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipOne has been confirmed as the Special Guest Keynote Speaker, invited by Spectrum International Hospitality Services.  Mr Binnie’s presentation is a perfect fit with the Congress theme which will explore what new ideas are shaping, informing, changing and driving the future agenda for tourism.  Mr Binnie will introduce delegates to Space Tourism and will showcase his experiences as the test pilot of SpaceShipOne, the spacecraft which will be used by Virgin Galactic to operate their commercial space flights commencing in late 2009.

ORION looks forward to having you join us on this exciting occasion!

Press PLAY to watch Sir Richard Branson and Astronaut Brian Binnie introduce Virgin Galactic