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When: Monday, Sept. 21; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: The Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street

The widget above will show all the tweets (including yours from home) from the event hashtag #CNT09. It’s going to be a big day—thoughtful, celebratory and inspiring. The conference message that I’m already absorbing as I ready myself for the trip is what an impressive power the travel industry has to ignite positive change.

Read @WendyPerrin‘s blog post, How Can YOU Help Save the World When You Travel

There’s a video of Matt Damon from last year’s WSC in which he tells the travel industry just how much power they have to help the planet. Just one memorable quote I took away was:

“There is no greater single tool to combat ignorance, small midnded-ness, fear of other-ness— than travel. So besides being a great business…the industry you’re in promotes people getting outside of their own myopic perspective, of them getting out of their own little community, out of their own culture, and greater cross-culture understanding and ultimately good global citizenship.”

Watch the video. His hopes for the big and little travel companies at last year’s conference is timeless.

What to look forward to from the event:

• The 2009 World Savers Awards
• The Economics of Doing Good with Keynote Panelists Abby Joseph Cohen (President, Goldman Sachs Global Markets Institute), Blake Mycoskie (CEO, Toms Shoes), RAchel Webber (Director of Energy Initiatives, News Corporation), Moderated by Nicholas D. Kristof (Columnist, The New York Times).
• Ken Burns, Filmmaker and Director of The Natonal Parks: America’s Best Idea

• The Commited Consumer: Engaging Your Guests Now with panelists Carmen Baker (VP of responsible business, Carlson Hotels), Richard Edelman (President & CEO, Edelman Public Relations), Niki Leondakis (COO, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants), Gregg L. Michel (President and COO, Crystal Cruises), Bruce Poon Tip (Founder and CEO, Gap Adventures), Moderated by Wendy Perrin, Consumer news Editor, Condé Nast Traveler.
• Featured Speakers:

Wyclef Jean, How Tourism Can Help Haiti

Jeffrey B. Swartz, The Connections Between Doing Well and Doing Good

Mandy Moore, Condé Nast Traveler Five & Alive Fund

• The Bottom Line: Why Responsible Travel Matters with panelists Raymond N. Bickson (Managing director and CEO, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces), Mark S. Hoplamazian (President and CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation), Jorie Butler Kent (Vice chairman, Abercrombie & Kent), Gilles Pélisson (Chairman and CEO, Accor), Moderated by Dorinda Elliott (Deputy editor, Condé Nast Traveler).
• The Local Benefit with panelists Luis Bossoms (President adn CEO, Groupo Plan), Simon Cooper (President and COO, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company), Darrell Wade (CEO and co-founder, Intrepid Travel), Tensie Whelan (President, Rainforest Alliance), Moderated by Kevin Doyle (News editor, Condé Nast Traveler)
• The Ripple Effect with panelists Julie Klein (Director of Environmental Affairs, Rock Resorts, Vail Resorts Hospitality), Brian Mcguinness (Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc), Frank Rainieri (President and CEO, Groupo Puntacana), Moderated by Dorinda Elliott (Deputy Editor, Condé Nast Traveler)

Stay tuned…