TRAVEL TRENDS - INCORPORATING TRAVELTECH AND NOVACANCY
21 August, 2008, 4:30:17 PM
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Events
GET a fix on the future at TRAVELtech, Australia's online travel marketing, distribution and tech event, which is being held in Sydney on August 26. The 2008 event is shaping up well with strong bookings, an excellent speaker roster and compelling theme: the open-ended Year of Living Dangerously? It can be taken a couple of ways ... the obvious: oil, inflation, interest rates and marketing costs up - challenges ahead. But it's also a question, and the good news is there's increasing evidence the online channel may be the place consumers turn at times like these. Confirmed speakers are listed below, while the latest program has just been posted - it's packed with industry leaders and topical content.
TRAVELtech, founded in 1999, focusses on the latest online travel marketing and web-based innovations. It has a well-established reputation for delivering relevant, high-quality content and excellent networking - see who is coming to TRAVELtech 2008 so far. If you have any questions, please call Martin Kelly on 61 2 9882-1575. Please visit the TRAVELtech photo gallery to see some photographs from the 2007 event. Sponsors include:
Bookings are now open for Australia’s original search marketing and optimisation event, Search Engine Room. Event highlights include:
Confirmed speakers include:
Search Engine Room an Australian-owned event that strives to reflect the market in which it operates while embracing international trends. It’s outward rather than inward looking, taking great care to incorporate consumer and marketing priorities into innovative and provocative programs. The program focus is on respected, well-connected speakers delivering topical, relevant information. Search engine optimisation and marketing is well-covered, while broader industry issues are also addressed through interviews with leading search industry figures. There are case studies, debates and panels. Audience interaction is encouraged and Search Engine Room always makes an effort to be forward-looking, tracking the latest search and digital trends. Consumers are also given the once-over, enabling delegates to gain a better understanding of their customers.
A RECORD crowd attended the second No Vacancy acommodation industry conference in Sydney recently. It was a great day featuring industry leaders, panels, case studies, presentations and debate. There was a touch of controversy with hard questions asked - and answered. Program topics included online distribution, consumer trends, channel and yield management, carbon offsetting, star ratings, modern marketing tactics, pricing, social media strategies and plenty more. No Vacancy will return in 2009 - please sign up for the TravelTrends.biz newsletter if you'd like further details. |
TRAVELtech 2008: Year of Living Dangerously
8.15am - 9.00am: Registration and Welcome Coffee 9.00am - 9.40am: The Year of Living Dangerously? Take this any way you want… it’s a rhetorical question after all. It could mean the usual – oil, inflation, interest rates and marketing costs up, up, up while house prices and consumer confidence head down. But there’s increasing evidence the online channel in particular may be the place consumers turn at times like these, though it’s clearly a case of fortune favouring the brave – despite the temptation, this is not a time to be cautious. 9.40am - 10.30am: Uncharted Waters. Successfully navigating the next 18 months will be crucial to the long-term future of online travel businesses. This session will address tactical issues, consumer attitudes, travel and buying habits, ancillary revenue, social media, online advertising and marketing, It will also cover the importance of easy-to-use technology, including that old chestnut – dynamic packaging v. bundling.
10.30am - 11.00am: Morning Tea... 11.00am - 11.15am: Web Travel Traffic Drivers. This session shows where the big online travel brands are getting their traffic. It will also examine what turns looks into bookers, and takes a look at the role travel plays in the major publishing portals. 11.15am - 11.40am: Entering The Fray. The big online publishers are taking travel very seriously - and so they should … major travel are companies spending millions with them every year on advertising. But their interest is now increasing extending to ownership of online travel brands. What does the future hold?
11.40am - 12.00pm: Online Charity Can Make You Money. A funny thing happened to the World Nomads bottom line when the company set up a charitable foundation and started accepting donations through its network of websites – the sales conversion rate increased, providing a compelling argument that corporate responsibility should be part of every sales and marketing plan. 12.00pm - 12.40pm: The Future of Airline Distribution. Big topic because, let’s face it, airlines have been leading the travel industry by its nose since the Wright brothers first took flight. Their impact has been profound in recent times – witness LCC and the online education they have given consumers, opening the doors for other travel websites to flourish. Presentation followed by discussion.
12.40pm - 2.00pm: Lunch... 2.00pm - 2.25pm: Mapping Your Online Future. Consumers love online Maps, and they using them in all sorts of different ways – to find accommodation, locate businesses, and plan itineraries. Also, as you’ll see through the day, they are increasing turning to maps (over text) as a basic search tool. This session features an excellent global examples from Google and plus a local case study. 2.25pm - 2.40pm: The Big Question. How do consumers, when set a specific task of booking the cheapest flight from Melbourne to Perth and a hotel room near the Botanic Gardens in Brsibane, do the job? The results, which have implications for all online travel businesses, may surprise you. Just about every major site features in some way. 2.40pm - 3.00pm: Enough Rope - Roamfree Takes The Hot Seat. In recent times, no travel outfit has aroused greater interest – or controversy – than the Roamfree Group. In just two years, it’s created quite a stir, making big statements, buying lots of companies, taking on lots of staff before cutting back on employee numbers. What does the future hold? Find out in this exclusive interview with the boss of Roamfree followed by audience questions. 3.00pm - 3.30pm: Email Marketing In The Age of Spam. Marketing is supposed to be glamorous but if ever there was an ugly duckling, it’s email. But it’s looking increasingly attractive as the other online marketing costs – especially search marketing – blow out. Or as Travelocity boss Michelle Peluso recently said: “We can’t afford to go out and continuously find new customers”. So mine that database – here’s how… 3.30pm - 4.00pm: Afternoon Tea... 4.00pm - 4.30pm: Widgets, Gadgets And All The Rest. Confused? Me too. But bet you've heard of them. Our next speaker will not only reveal what widgets and gadgets are, but also looks at the ways they can be used in online sales and marketing. 4.30pm – 5.00pm: Amadeus Great Debate: "Virtual Travel Will Virtually Replace Travel by 2030". This war of words is a light-hearted debate run along traditional lines. Two teams of three will cross verbal swords before audience-power decides the victor. Sponsored by Amadeus IT Pacific, who are also shouting post-conference drinks. Confirmed debators so far include Bill Lawler, Peter Hook, Tim Hughes and Jo O'Brien. Stay tuned for further details. 5.00pm – 6.00pm: Drinks… 6.00pm: Close…
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