Seminar addresses IT revolution on tourism, travel and hospitality

On 25th and 26th March, The University of Surrey is organising a seminar on ‘How Information Communication Technologies Revolutise the future for the Tourism, Travel And Hospitality Industries’.

The seminar will take place at the Centre for eTourism Research (CeTR) at the University of Surrey, Guildford. The Workshop and Seminar is organised in collaboration with the International Federation of Information Technologies for Travel and Tourism (IFITT), the Chartered Institute of
Marketing Travel Industry Group and the Tourism Society.

The workshop aims to bring together leading professionals and academics with researchers and eTourism students in order to visualise the future of tourism, travel and hospitality organisations and to explore factors for innovation and success. The event is organised by the newly established Centre for eTourism Research (CeTR) and is part of the MSc in eTourism which was launched by the University of Surrey in September 2001.

Commenting on the workshop’s subject, seminar leader Dr Dimitrios Buhalis said: “This seminar aims to enable participants to identify the main drivers of change and supply them with tools to enhance the future competitiveness of their organisations.

“Innovative management methods and skills will also be introduced, and these will equip participants to manage and market tourism products and destinations in the emerging electronic marketplace. The academic environment of the University of Surrey will allow commercial operators to debate critical issues and identify areas for further research. Speakers and workshop facilitators will include leading professionals and researchers in eTourism.”

The seminar will adopt a strategic approach and will examine the anticipated changes in technology and the opportunities and challenges for the tourism industry of the future. The latest advancements in the Internet and digital technologies (eFutures) will be debated and their strategic implications for developing effective eBusiness strategies will also be covered. The Seminar seeks to reinforce the view that innovative and successful organisations in tourism, travel and hospitality will be using technology to maximise the value added to their products, to enhance profitability and improve their competitiveness.

To ensure that there is maximum interactivity between participants and presenters a minimum number of 10 and a maximum number of 40 participants will be allowed.

For more information and Registration form:
http://www.smsss.surrey.ac.uk/ShortCourses/eTourismFutures.pdf