Stars of WIT to receive global exposure

SINGAPORE – WIT-Web In Travel’s Start-Up Pitch will be supported by TourismROI LLC (www.TourismROI.com), the world’s first global source of information for Travel & Tourism management and investment opportunities, based in New York.

As part of the partnership, the three finalists handpicked by WIT’s panel of investor judges to be heard at WIT, The Main Event on Oct 20-21, and four runner-ups whose ideas will be workshopped at the WIT Ideas Lab on October 22, will be featured on the TourismROI portal, www.TourismROI.com

TourismROI, whose founding sponsor includes the World Travel & Tourism Council, is a unique source of information for tourism operations, development and investment opportunities worldwide.

The web site provides extensive and real-time B2B destination-specific information and a wide selection of tourism investment opportunities from startup ventures to multi-billion dollar investment projects.

It was launched in March 2008 by CEO and managing partner, Richard Miller.

He said, “We are excited to work with the WIT Start-Up Pitch because TourismROI is not only focused on multi-billion dollar mega-projects, but small startup projects where aspiring entrepreneurs looking for funding can pitch their business plans and connect with investors and capital to help launch and develop their dreams.”

Miller said the site has attracted more than 78,000 unique visitors and has topped $50 billion of posted tourism investment opportunities.

The charge for posting a pitch on TourismROI is US$500 per pitch for six months.

The WIT Start-Up Pitch will become a featured event on TourismROI and all entries to the 2009 Conference will be given exposure on the site.

The winner, finalists and runner-ups will be given premium coverage on TourismROI.

“We are pleased to expand the reach of our Start-Up Pitch and help entrepreneurs gain more exposure to investment possibilities well beyond the physical conference,” said WIT’s producer Yeoh Siew Hoon.

The WIT Start-Up Pitch, which is open to start-up companies, with less than three years experience, and who are looking to move their business to the next level, is open for entries.

The winner will be given assistance by Stream Global to position themselves to receive a Singapore government grant worth S$50,000 in the Interactive Digital Media space.

Three finalists will be chosen to pitch in WIT, The Main Event.

Four runner-ups will be given another platform to pitch their ideas and get them “workshopped” by a panel of advisors in the WIT Ideas Lab on October 22-23, running alongside ITB Asia, the B2B tourism exhibition organised by Messe Berlin.

Those interested in entering the WIT Start-Up Pitch 2009 can email admin@webintravel. The deadline for submission is July 31.

To learn more about WIT, visit www.webintravel.com.