Summit Meeting of International Bloggers at ITB Berlin

A major meeting of bloggers from around the world will be taking place for the first time during the ITB Berlin at the event PhoCusWright@ITB Berlin. Bloggers are regarded as influential opinion-formers, which explains why web logs are an increasingly important marketing instrument. So-called user-generated content can make a significant contribution to boosting sales. The ITB Berlin will provide an opportunity for experienced trade visitors to learn first hand how to make effective use of blogs on tourism internet sites and in online communities.

At a free workshop due to take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 5 March, an international team of bloggers from the travel industry will be presenting concepts, technologies, innovations and current issues that are being featured on web logs. The PhoCusWright Bloggers' Summit@ITB Berlin is a unique opportunity for obtaining basic details directly from the bloggers themselves. The workshop is intended in particular for the employees of tourism businesses, who are using the internet increasingly as a sales channel, as well as for anyone engaged in marketing tourism destinations, and travel agency staff.

The programme will also feature a number of other events dealing with current issues, for keen and interested bloggers, for which prior applications are needed. Detailed information will be available from the organisers Phil Caines, joint publisher of the book "The Tips from the T-List" (the American bloggers' bible), and Bruce Rosard, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, PhoCusWright. A travel industry bloggers' meeting with leading figures from the travel industry will be taking place on 5 March from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and again from 4.30 to 5.30 p.m. The Travel Technology Conference will conclude with the Bloggers' Summit Gathering on Thursday, 6 March, starting at 8.30 p.m. Accredited bloggers will be granted free admission to all the sessions of PhoCusWright@ITB Berlin.

This year the Travel Technology conference "Success in Travel E-Business" with the renowned North American market research company PhoCusWright will again present discussions and papers covering all aspects of tourism. These will include a discussion on "Strategies for Success in Changing Times", between Philip C. Wolf, President and CEO of PhoCusWright Inc., and the President and CEO of many years' standing of the successful GDS system Amadeus, José Antonio Tazón. The most influential business leaders from Europe's main online travel agencies Opodo, Expedia, ebookers, eDreams and Lastminute will discuss the decisive changes taking place on the global travel market.

Using successful examples from the international hotel sector Bill Walshe, CEO of the Irish chain Jurys Doyle Hotel Group, will be providing some insights and forecasts from an industry insider. A number of issues which are currently the subject of intense discussions will also be on the agenda. They include: what impact do search engines really have on the travel booking process, and what influence will meta-searching exert on travellers in the future. So far Christian Saller, General Manager of SwooDoo GmbH, Gareth Williams, co-founder and CEO of SkyScanner Ltd., and, from Kayak.com, Annie Wilson, Director of Global Business Development Europe, as well as representatives of the market leaders Google and Kelkoo/Yahoo have agreed to contribute to this item. The cost of admission to the Travel Technology Conference for trade visitors is 350 euros.

The ITB Berlin will take place from Wednesday, 5 March to Sunday, 9 March 2008, and the ITB Berlin Convention Market Trends & Innovations will be held from Wednesday, 5 March to Saturday, 8 March 2008. The period from the Wednesday to the Friday is reserved for trade visitors.

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