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The year 2009 is being tipped as the ‘Year of
the Deal’ when online travel in Asia will come into its own.
Online Travel Agencies operating in the region are still reporting
growth in transaction volumes even though yields may well be down.
Airlines, especially the low cost variety,
taking advantage of the economic downturn and trading down of
consumers, are expanding and aggressively promoting cheap fares on
their websites.
It is
against this background that WIT-Web In Travel 2009 will be held
in partnership with ITB Asia, October 20-23 at the Suntec
Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre.
Leaders in the travel
distribution, marketing and technology industry will gather to
discuss the latest trends and debate the hottest topics that are
driving change in this dynamic environment.
Hotel groups,
for example, are changing their strategies by introducing
exclusive online sales, group-wide discounts and value offers on
their branded websites.
The depressed market conditions are
forcing suppliers to become more creative and adventurous in their
distribution and marketing, and all are seeking to increase their
presence in the electronic channels while maintaining traditional
ones.
“It will be the highest profile and most diverse
gathering of experts in this field,” said Yeoh Siew Hoon, Producer
of WIT. “To date, we have gathered an impressive list of speakers
from Japan’s Rakuten Travel and Australia’s Webjet to regional
names such as Wotif, Agoda and Asiarooms and global brands like
Expedia and Travelocity.
“We also have CEOs of global
companies such as Banyan Tree, Accor Asia Pacific, Travelport,
Abacus and Sabre represented. If you’ve got an interest in what’s
new in the online travel space, WIT’s the event to be at this
year.”
Held in conjunction with ITB Asia, WIT,
which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, will bring a
touch of “Tough Love” to its programme which will cover issues
such as management and leadership in difficult times and branding
and marketing in the digital age and hot-button topics such as
social media, search, rate parity, content, branding and mobile.
A ticket to
WIT, The Main Event, also includes free
admission to the WIT Ideas Lab at ITB Asia; ITB Asia itself; “Asia
Connect” workshops by HSMAI Asia Pacific and a Business Events
Forum.
See other recent news regarding:
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Airports,
Flights,
Codeshare,
Lounges,
First Class,
Business Class,
GDS,
Rewards,
Miles,
Hotels,
Apartments,
Promotions,
Spas,
New Hotels,
Traffic,
Visitor Arrivals,
Cruises,
Free Deals,
Web in Travel,
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WIT,
ITB Asia,
Travel
Trade Shows,
Singapore
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