WIT to focus on answers for tough times

SINGAPORE – It is often said that crises separate the men from the boys, the women from the girls. WIT-Web In Travel, being held this month, will suggest how travel companies can emerge a winner in the challenging times ahead.

“Everyone’s watching the global economic situation and wondering and worrying how the US meltdown will affect the Asian economy and, by extension, travel and tourism,” says WIT’s producer, Yeoh Siew Hoon.

“But wondering and worrying will not give answers nor solve problems. Action is needed and leadership is critical at this pivotal time.”

She said that WIT, held on October 21-22, would provide a timely forum for industry leaders in the most dynamic segment of the travel industry to come together to surface ideas that will enable companies to ride out the storm ahead.

A session on “New Approaches to Brand Building and Marketing” will ask the tough questions – in difficult times, should companies slash and burn, or spend and build and how pivotal is brand really to business success?

Three of Asia’s biggest travel markets – Japan, China and India – will also be featured at WIT.

Making their debut are two of Japan’s leading online travel companies, Recruit and Ikyu.

Suguru Tomizuka, president, Recruit Travel Information Company and Masabumi Mori, CEO, Ikyu Corp will share their experiences from one of the region’s most complex, challenging and dynamic markets.

The session on India will bring together the leaders of three top online companies – Dhruv Shringi, CEO, Yatra.com, Phanindra S, CEO, RedBus and Keyur Joshi, Makemytrip.com.

China’s largest online travel company, Ctrip, will also be making its debut at WIT – Alfred Chang, director of business development of Ctrip will share ideas on where the opportunities are in the world’s biggest market. Fritz Demopoulos, CEO, Qunar, will join the discussion.

A session on investment, featuring four leading investors based in Singapore, will give an update on what’s happening in the investment landscape in Asia and where the opportunities are amid the financial crisis.

The panel of investors, which include William Liu, chairman, Stream Global, Michael Yap, deputy CEO, Media Development Authority, Frederic de Bure, partner, IDG Ventures SEA and Lee Keen Whye, managing director, Strategic Alliance Capital, will also be judging on the winner of “The WIT Start-Up Pitch” in which three start-ups will pitch their ideas at the conference.

“WIT will cover all the questions you are probably asking right now but have no one to ask them to. Well, at WIT, we will have up to 60 industry leaders and speakers who will be there to answer your questions,” said Siew Hoon.