World Travel Market Launches Travel Technology 'Show Within A Show'

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

UNITED KINGDOM, July 22, 2005. Recognising that technology is a key driver behind the global travel and tourism industry, World Travel Market is launching a dedicated, stand-alone Travel Technology area for the first time.

The launch coincides with a serious upturn in the IT industry and World Travel Market's unique 'show within a show' concept will offer important insights into the latest global advances.

The feature will be a new development for the event which takes place at ExCeL London between Monday 14 and Thursday 17 November.

"World Travel Market already has a proven track record of attracting all the major global players and senior buyers from 193 countries", said Fiona Jeffery, Group Exhibition Director.

"It is therefore logical to now provide a dedicated technology area where delegates can take a more comprehensive approach to their visit by also learning about new developments and trends within the IT industry from all the leading and specialist IT companies.

"World Travel Market is continually carrying out independent research with exhibitors, visitors and consumers. That is why technology is a major focus for us this year because IT has dramatically transformed the way the industry operates, with an explosion in online reservations, dynamic packaging and direct sell offering consumers a range of choices about how they book their holidays.

"Travel companies find they can save costs by using IT systems for sales, marketing, pricing, e-business and automating office functions. Technology is very much at the forefront of travel today."

She continued: "Repeat bookings are coming in from IT companies such as CodeGen.IT, Final Quadrant and Intracom, and we are attracting new market leaders such as Expedia, who are exhibiting at WTM for the first time to expand their global business reach."

Other technology exhibitors include Galileo, Comtec, Teletext, Cendant, Tourplan, Websource, Open Destinations, Ramesys, eQuality Travel Solutions, Softwire, Galaxy, Cyberembryonic, GHRS S.R.L., GlobeTrack, Nota Bena Co., TextBay, Travelink and Applied Card Technologies.

Products will include business travel systems, reservation and Internet booking systems, multiple channel management and distribution systems, GDS (Global Distribution Systems), dynamic packaging, web design, web advertising and Internet marketing, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems and customer loyalty development tools to website content and e-brochure management and provision.

Travel Technology Partners

Well known travel technology industry organisations and experts have been appointed as partners.

EyeforTravel, the travel industry information portal for conferences and seminars, travel business e-commerce and internet marketing is World Travel Market's Travel Technology Conference Partner. It will organise conferences on two days to cover important technology issues of interest.

Tim Gunstone, CEO of EyeforTravel, said: "Being World Travel Market's Travel Technology Conference Partner is a great platform for us to provide two one-day conferences and will be the fourth year we have been present.

"By attending these one day executive briefings, delegates will have the exclusive advantage of meeting and networking with leading distribution, technology and marketing experts and learning what technologies are about to rock the travel industry.

"In a series of case studies and panel sessions, senior players behind the technology will discuss issues surrounding dynamic packaging, content, connectivity and convergence, XML, screen scraping and meta-search. They will hear how to implement the most cost-effective technology and market their travel products."

Genesys, the expert travel technology consultancy is the official Travel Technology Consultancy Partner, organising seminars and workshops throughout the week with presentations available afterwards via the Genesys website.

Paul Richer, Director of Genesys, said: "Getting the most from technology is absolutely crucial to the success of all travel businesses. The free technology seminar programme will be both informative and educational, helping exhibitors and visitors move forward in this important area."

The Travel Technology Initiative (TTI), the European industry user group promoting the development and use of open systems within travel and tourism and leisure will be the Association Partner for Travel Technology at World Travel Market.

TTI, with members drawn from across the industry, will be offering them a four-day pass with exclusive Meridian Club membership subject to international buyer status.

Online media publication TravelMole is the official Travel Technology Media Partner, delivering stories up to World Travel Market and with journalists on site at ExCeL reporting the latest news online from the event as it happens.

Graham McKenzie, chief executive of TravelMole, commented: "We value the opportunity to utilise the international scale and speed of our operation for a global business forum like World Travel Market to deliver its news to the travel industry round the world.

"We feel this is yet another endorsement of TravelMole's increasing importance in the online Travel Trade News environment. From a standing start we are beginning to reach a predominant position and Reed's reinforcement of this by choosing us as the online media partner for WTM's dedicated technology area is very welcome."