Business programme

Tourism is a priority sector of the economy and a leading job creator. Tourism contributes to the growth of entrepreneurial and investment activity, the development of services and hospitality infrastructure, the improvement of quality of life indicators, and the expansion of international cooperation, and plays a huge role in building partnerships and mutual understanding between countries. A notable feature of the industry is its relative stability during economic recessions and geopolitical instability and quick post-recession recovery. Russia's tourism sector retains significant growth potential, and there are a wide range of opportunists for strengthening its role as a driver of economic growth in the regions and the country as a whole. The sustainable development of tourism in Russia is closely linked to service quality and requires that we take an integrated approach to workforce planning and ensure that an effective system of training is in place at all levels in line with strategic guidelines. We also need to focus on long-term planning and increasing investment attractiveness, and the tweaking of all subsystems. Increased travel in Russia can not only stimulate economic growth, but also ensure its socio-cultural and sustainable development. What are the new opportunities for the development of tourism in Russia in the current socio-political conditions? How can we maximize the economic and investment potential of domestic and inbound tourism? What are the prospects for the mid and long-term development of the tourism and hospitality industry, including the sustainable development of the regions and country as a whole? How can we harness the creative approaches of young innovators to promote tourism today? What is the role of interregional projects in the socio-economic development of regions? What technologies are available to promote tourism in the Russian Federation?

Welcome Remark
Alexander Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg

Alexander Beglov

Governor of St. Petersburg

Moderator
Veronika Strizhak, TV presenter, Izvestia; member of the Academy of Russian Television

Veronika Strizhak

TV presenter, Izvestia; member of the Academy of Russian Television

Nika Strizhak: TV presenter, author and director of documentaries. Member of the Academy of Russian Television, member of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia. Awarded the order of Friendship and St. Petersburg’s supreme award – the commemorative token “For service St. Petersburg”. Lives and works in St. Petersburg. Graduated with distinction from the Philology Faculty at Leningrad State University. First joined Channel 5 in 1988 and has been working there permanently since 1993. For many years, his favourite genre was the talk show. For ten years, was author and presenter of the popular talk show Naobum, and then, for another ten years, head and presenter of the daily analytical talk show Open Studio (TEFI award 2014). Author of over 20 documentaries. Holds many awards from professional festivals and competitions.Since September 2013, head and presenter of the Sunday analytical programme “Most Important”.

Panellists
Igor Bukharov, President, Federation of Restaurateurs & Hoteliers of Russia
Elena Vasilievna, Acting General Director, ANO "Competence Center in the field of tourism and hospitality"
Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region – Chairman of the Government of the Leningrad Region
Olga Zakharova, Director of the division "Urban economy", Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects
Sergey Ivanov, Chairman, State Committee on Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan
Elina Isagulova, Vice President for B2B Commerce and Operations Management, VK
Evgeniy Kozlov, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow; Chairman of the Committee for Tourism of the City of Moscow
Sergey Korneev, Chairman, Saint Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development
Oxana Leonenko, General Manager of The Carlton Moscow
Elena Rakova, First Deputy Head of the Passenger Transportation Department, Russian Railways
Igor Rudenia, Governor of Tver Region
Lyubov Sovershaeva, Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Central Federal District
Vladimir Solodov, Governor of Kamchatka Territory
Ksenia Titova, Head of Project Office, ProGorod
Natalya Trunova, Auditor, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation
Alexander Tsybulskiy, Governor of Arkhangelsk Region
Andrey Yumshanov, General Director, Kavkaz.RF

Igor Bukharov

President, Federation of Restaurateurs & Hoteliers of Russia

Born June 2, 1960. Works in the industry for 36 years.
Recipient of state and industry awards.
Honorary certificate from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, 2015.
Gratitude Certificate from the President of the Russian Federation D.A.Medvedev in 2010.
Gratitude Certificate from the head of Consumer Protection agency G. Onishenko in 2010.
Recepinet of the Ordere du Merite Agricole of the Ministry of Agriculture of the French Republic in 2006.
Oleg Bukharov started his career as a su-chef at the Budapest restaurant in 1980. In 1994 together with R. Rozhnikovsky started Nostlgie – the first haute cuisine restaurant in Moscow. In 1997 Mr. Bukharov helmed the Federation of Restaurant and Hotel Owners. 2008 – 2011 Mr. Bukharov headed the Kremlevsky food processing federal organization. State Ombudsman on protecting rights of entrepreneurs in hospitality industry. One of his key tasks is preparation of hospitality industry workers.

Dmitry Vakhrukov

Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

Alexander Drozdenko

Governor of the Leningrad Region – Chairman of the Government of the Leningrad Region

Born on November 1, 1964 in the Dzhambul Region, Kazakhstan, Alexander Drozdenko graduated from Leningrad Agriculture Institute in 1986 with a degree in the economics and organization of agriculture. He obtained a PhD in Economics in 2007. Between 1988 and 2002, he worked in various positions in the Kingisepp District of the Leningrad Region. In November 2002, Alexander Drozdenko was invited to join the Government of the Leningrad Region and appointed as the Region’s Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Leningrad Region Committee on State Property Management. In May 2012, the Legislative Assembly of the Leningrad Region, on the recommendation of the President of the Russian Federation, elected Drozdenko as Governor of the Leningrad Region. He was inaugurated on May 28, 2012. On May 12, 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree “On the Early Termination of the Powers of the Governor of the Leningrad Region.” Alexander Drozdenko has been appointed acting Governor of the Leningrad Region. At the pre-term gubernatorial elections in Leningrad Oblast that took place on 13 September 2015 Alexander Drozdenko received the majority of votes. On 30 September 2015 Alexander Drozdenko took office as the Governor.

Olga Zakharova

Director of the division "Urban economy", Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects

Sergey Ivanov

Chairman, State Committee on Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan

Elina Isagulova

Vice President for B2B Commerce and Operations Management, VK

Heads the development and promotion of VK’s consolidated B2B solutions and services. The division is
responsible for holistic assistance in the digitalization efforts of partners, based on the entire spectrum
of the internet holding’s products and services.
Elina joined the Council of the Eurasian Women's Forum under the Federation Council of the Federal
Assembly of the Russian Federation, in March 2023.
2014 – 2015 – Deputy Director of Advertising, Gazprom Media
2012 – 2014 – Vice President of Sales, ProfMedia TV Ltd
2008 – 2012 – Deputy Commercial Director, ProfMedia Business Solutions Ltd
2005 – 2008 – Director of Sales, TV3 Media Ltd
Graduated from Moscow State University with a specialization in Linguistics and Translation. Speaks
English and Spanish.
Married, mother to three children.

Evgeniy Kozlov

First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow; Chairman of the Committee for Tourism of the City of Moscow

Sergey Korneev

Chairman, Saint Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development

Oxana Leonenko

General Manager of The Carlton Moscow

The General Manager of The Carlton, Moscow hotel Oxana Leonenko has rich and diverse experience in hospitality and is a high-class professional with more than 20 years of experience in tourism and hotel business, of which 6 years in one of the most luxurious hotels in Russia - The Ritz-Carlton. Graduated with honors from two universities - Voronezh State University in the specialty «History» (1999-2004) and Moscow State University of International Relations in international economic relations and commerce (2004-2007), Oxana began her career with Marriott International in one of the first hotels of the international hotel chain - Renaissance Olympic. Afterwards she joined to the Global Sales Office (2009-2017), where she was initially in charge of Russia and later became Regional Director of Sales in Eastern Europe, Russia and emerging markets. Before joining The Ritz-Carlton Moscow, Oxana was responsible for the integration of Starwood offices in Eastern Europe, and was one of the founders and members of the Advisory Board of the Russian branch of the International Business Tourism Association (2013-2015).
Oxana, being also Skolkovo Business School Alumni, is a certified coach in high-quality service, and also speaks at many industry forums as an expert in hospitality, service leadership, corporate culture and business transformation.

Elena Rakova

First Deputy Head of the Passenger Transportation Department, Russian Railways

Igor Rudenia

Governor of Tver Region

Lyubov Sovershaeva

Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Central Federal District

Vladimir Solodov

Governor of Kamchatka Territory

Ksenia Titova

Head of Project Office, ProGorod

Ksenia Titova is a professional in urban spatial development and tourism master planning (RANEPA, HSE). She contributed to developing urban planning documentation for Kazan in addition to spatial development concepts for Irkutsk and Kirovsk.

For more than three years, she was responsible for updating the regulatory framework based on the Integrated Territorial Development Standard and for providing support to integrated urban development projects at DOM.RF Foundation.

Since 2021, Ksenia has been Director of the Project Office of ProGorod LLC (VEB.RF), with her job functions including master planning for tourism macro-regions of the Russian Federation.

Natalya Trunova

Auditor, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation

Alexander Tsybulskiy

Governor of Arkhangelsk Region

Born on July 15, 1979 in Moscow.
Education:
Graduated from the Military University attached to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in 2001.
Graduated from the Moscow Institute of International Business in 2006.
Fluent in English, Greek and French.
Work experience:
1996-2005: Military service.
2005-2008: Worked in various positions at the Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry
of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation.
2008-2011: Worked in various positions аt the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation.
2011-2013: Director of the Department of International Relations and Development of Cross-Border Cooperation, Director of the Department for the Coordination of State Industry Programs, Ministry
of Regional Development of the Russian Federation.
2013-2014: Aide to the Minister, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Director of the Department for Interaction with Customs Union Authorities and Economic Cooperation with CIS Countries, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
2014-2017: Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
Since September 2017 - Acting Governor of Nenets Autonomous Area.
On October 1, 2018, assumed the post of Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Area.
From April 3, 2020 - Acting Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region.
From October 8, 2020 - Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region.

Andrey Yumshanov

General Director, Kavkaz.RF

Front row participant
Azamat Raimov, Руководитель сектора туризма Посольства Республики Узбекистан в Российской Федерации Rukovoditel' sektora turizma Posol'stva Respubliki Uzbekistan v Rossiyskoy Federatsii Head of the tourism sector of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Russian Federation