“Asia” – The travel industry buzzword

This coming March the Travel Distribution Summit Asia 2007 is returning to Singapore. A selection of the most highly qualified speakers from the most trusted worldwide travel brands, will meet to discuss the opportunities and challenges of this evolving market. Companies represented include: Expedia, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Blue, Shangri La Hotels and Resorts, Hilton, Continental Airlines, MakeMyTrip.com, Abacus, Travelport, Europcar, Yahoo!, Zuji, SpiceJet and many more. (for a full list of speakers scroll to the bottom of this article)

For a full agenda and list of speakers please visit:
http://www.eyefortravel.com/tdsasia2007

(Book before December 1st to receive early bird discounts)

It is widely accepted that the Asia Pacific region is the world’s most dynamic travel market, growing by an impressive 31.4% in 2005. The freeing up of travel regulations which had previously hindered the region’s growth, is moving the industry forward at an unprecedented rate. Greater consumer buying power has given rise to a huge increase in the number of travel suppliers and choices offered. Major travel solution providers, aware of the enormous potential, are acting swiftly to ensure that they are first in to stake their claim on the market. This surge in competition has meant the importance of a well packaged, distributed and marketed product is essential to remaining competitive.

For more information on this event www.eyefortravel.com/tdsasia2007

The first day opens with an essential look at the changing face of distribution in Asia. Most of the region’s major players will be there, including Travelport, Abacus, and Sabre. If previous years are anything to go by, this promises to be an informative cross-section of opinions with an in-depth insight into the future direction of product distribution.

Continuing on throughout the day the focus shifts to low cost carriers and the impact this influential phenomenon has had in Asia this past year. The speed at which the market is developing can be attributed in part to the rise in penetration of budget carriers, where a 4% increase in market share last year speaks for itself. Sharing their views on the opportunities and threats this creates are some of the more successful new entrants in the industry, including GoAir, Nok Air and SpiceJet.

The second day sees a detailed evaluation of the changing relationship between intermediary sales, and the increasingly popular use of direct sales. The Asian market has been handicapped by the difficulty of prying consumers away from trusted traditional booking methods, to online systems. Until now progress has been slow, however things are rapidly changing as suppliers find new and innovative ways of encouraging online adoption. Hear the developing trends and future predictions from industry leaders Expedia, Millennium Copthorne, and Continental Airlines.

Although learning from its predecessors Europe and North America, Asia has its own very unique set of hurdles to overcome to fulfill its massive potential. ‘Asia’ has become the current travel buzz word, and the high level of Asia-focused discussion at the recent WTM is proof of this. To close out the two days of the conference, other topics being covered include sales and marketing, revenue management and new market studies focusing on the huge emerging markets of China and India.

EyeforTravel is a global online publisher and conference company focusing on distribution, marketing and technology developments in the travel and tourism industries. Their conferences are renowned as key meeting places for senior-level executives, from across the industry, to meet, network and discuss strategy. To find out more visit: www.eyefortravel.com

Delegates can also qualify for the early-bird discount they book before 1st December 2006. For information on reserving your place visit:
https://secure.firstconf.com/travel/tdsasia2007/

Contact:
Reece Gladstone
EyeforTravel
+44 (0)207 375 7158
[email protected]

Current speaker list…

Rogelio Sarreal…Sabre…VP Asia Pacific
Don Birch…Abacus…CEO
Simon Nowroz…Travelport…Regional Managing Director for Asia
Jinou Park…Millennium and Copthorne…VP Global Distribution and Revenue Management
Niall White…House of Travel…Director of Strategic Change
Pascal Bordat…Fare.net…CEO
Scott Ohman…Cathay Pacific…Manager of eBusiness
Stefan Wolf….Shangri La Hotels…Director of Revenue Management
Mark Bowmer…Qantas…Director of Distribution Strategy
Deep Kalra…MakeMyTrip.com…CEO
Dhruv Shringi…Yatra…Founder
Olivier Dombey…Pegasus…VP Sales and Account Management Asia Pacific
Roy Graff…China Contact…Managing Director
William Bao Bean…Deutsche Bank Securities…VP Equity Research
Patee Sarasin…Nokair…CEO
Steven Greenway… Virgin Blue… Head of eCommerce
Chris Amenechi… Continental Airlines… Senior Director – International eCommerce and Distribution Planning
Reza Behnam… Yahoo!… Managing Director South East Asia
Belson Courtinho… Jet Airways… Manager of eCommerce and Distribution
Martin Symes… Bezurk… CEO
Douglas Khoo… Qunar… Co-Founder
Raj Halve… GoAir… CCO
Tina di Cicco… Viva Macau… Global Head of Marketing
Roshan Mendis… Zuji… Director of Supplier Relations and Partnerships
Caroline Leong… Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts… Group Distribution Director
Massimo Brancaleoni… Costa Crociere… Vice President
Sanjay Kumar… SpiceJet… VP – Planning and Marketing
Moshe Rafiah… TRAVELfusion… CEO
Mike McDermott… Lonely Planet… Travel Services Manager
Puneet Mahindroo… Taj Hotels and Palaces… Director of Revenue Management
Kevin Croley… Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts… Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Jehan de Thé… Europcar… Global Marketing Director
Urrshila Kerkar… Cox & Kings… CEO
Ben George… Hilton… Revenue Management Director, Asia Pacific
Alan Featherby… Rendezvous Hotels and Resorts… CEO
Henrik Kjellberg… Expedia… SVP International Lodging and Destination Services
Steven Pinchuk… Harrahs Entertainment… VP Revenue Management
Eka Ginting… indo.com… CEO
Jeff Lavender… GoMacau.com… CEO
Soren Lanngelund… Mobile Travel Technologies… Director for Asia