EURHOTEC 2001 BOASTS NEW SAVOIR FAIRE

The International Hotel and Restaurant Association's (IH&RA) 6th European Hospitality Technology Exhibition and Conference, EURHOTEC 2001, will provide a host of new benefits to exhibitors and delegates when it comes to Paris from 19-21 February next year.

Hi-tech innovations at EURHOTEC 2001 will include a Multi-media Web Theatre, a mobile video-unit broadcasting direct from the exhibition floor daily to three websites: eurhotec.com, hospitalitynet.org and wiredhotelier.com.

Footage will include interviews and product demonstrations with hyper-links to exhibitor web-pages.

An On-line Storefront feature at www.eurhotec.com <https://www.eurhotec.com> will integrate product information, multi-media clips, custom graphics and press releases. Through this medium attendees can schedule appointments with exhibitors and exhibiting companies can post recruitment opportunities and application forms for job vacancies.

A Technology Pavillion on the exhibition floor will provide free e-mail access and connections to exhibitor websites where visitors can try out the products and services in an on-line environment. Meeting space for product seminars (lasting 30-minutes) can also be booked in advance by vendors.

EURHOTEC 2001 will have a higher than ever concentration of buyers and decision-makers thanks to an inaugural 'IH&RA Summit for Chief Information, Finance & Executive Officers', a prestigious by-invitation-only event for top tech executives from major multi-national chains. Designed to address the strategic needs of hospitality corporations, the Summit will assess the principal forces driving change in the business environment.

With attendees representing over 60 countries in Europe as well as America, Asia and the Middle East, EURHOTEC 2001 is expecting over 2000 visitors and 120 exhibitors.

Given the huge impact of the Internet on the hospitality industry, the EURHOTEC 2001 educational programme will have a strong e-focus, with a three-track approach catering to the needs of the novice as well as the expert:

1) Basic 'How to...' sessions on choosing guestroom technology, designing websites, using e-procurement, selecting distribution channels, boosting web visibility

2) 'Integration solutions' sessions on topics such as retaining data from marketing, integrating old business models into new ones, comparing different types of solutions

3) 'Strategic Vision' sessions on the implications of the latest developments in GDS, Application Service Providers, WAP technology, BT labs, Bluetooth, Geocoded travel booking and others.

EURHOTEC 2001 session themes include

* Moore's Law: Is it really better not to be first?

* Business to business: achieving and sustaining profitability

* How to profit from e-procurement

* Harnessing the power of the Intranet in hospitality operations

* Diff-e-culties: avoiding the pitfalls of e-business

* Business-to-employee strategies: e-recruitment and e-training

* Marketing and distribution: a dichotomy no more

* Electronic distribution for smaller properties

* Developing a website for an independent hotel

* E-biz and small-biz: a happy marriage?

* The power of the online brand

* Renovating your hotel: making the right tech investments

* How to choose your PMS

* GDS/CRS strategies vs. web systems

* How to drive business to your website

* 24/7: opportunities and threats of 'instant gratification'

* Finders keepers: CRM and the lifetime customer

* Ensuring customer satisfaction through your website (case study)

* Beyond the 'E': Bluetooth and the rise of T and M-Commerce

* Digital TV and its impact on tourism

* In-room entertainment - What are the options?

* Telecommunication trends: how they will impact your business

* The demise of the in-room telephone: what next?

* Selecting and managing computer projects and vendors