"Seemingly countless technologies are converging within online travel marketplace"
Published: 08 Sep 2008
Online Travel Special
Earlier this year, when a senior executive from Orbitz Worldwide was asked about the status of the online travel market in the US by EyeforTravel.com, the response reflected optimism despite the business environment being far from ideal.
The executive, while acknowledging that there would be different answers across the board pertaining to the maturity level of the domestic online travel market, stated that there is a "significant upside for online travel companies in the US".
In order to assess, where the global online travel market is headed in near future, EyeforTravel has lined-up Travel Leadership Forum: Evolution of Online Travel Agenda. The forum, scheduled to take place on 12th November at World Travel Market – the industry's largest event – in London, will feature cream of the travel distribution industry.
Here are few names scheduled to speak during the Forum, along with their viewpoint and what's on their agenda.
Ignacio Martos, CEO, Opodo: Online is a growing channel since its launch. It has been taking market share from the high street since its very beginning.
The decrease in the growing pace during recent years may lead to the conclusion that maturity is coming to this channel and there will be a "status quo" for both channels to be reached soon. Is that true? What are the main factors pushing the clients migration? Are new waves to come? There are still many unanswered questions about this matter and we will try to cover some of the facts that are affecting today's consumer behaviour.
(Martos is scheduled to speak during `The future of travel...'session)
Glen Fogel, Managing Director Corporate Development and International, Priceline: The problem one faces when planning to enter a relatively immature but rapidly growing market is figuring out which model will be successful over the long-term.
The history of business is filled with the wreckage of companies that ignored the local environments and tried to force models from one particular geography into another.
However, one of the complicating factors in choosing an online travel model for the Asia Pacific region is the economies and cultures are transforming as rapidly as the travel business itself.
Therefore, the question is which local environment should one try to match: the current environment or the one that will arrive five years hence? I plan to address the issue of how does one create a strategy when all factors are changing at once.
(Fogel is scheduled to speak during `insights from around the world' session)
Greg Webb, Chief Marketing Officer, Sabre: Seemingly countless technologies are converging within the online travel marketplace, delivering new ways for Generation Y (and the rest of us) to experience travel.
In this new landscape, what I call iWorld, one fundamental remains-travel is still all about the destination. But the overall experience is now driven by technology.
In iWorld, the rise of user-generated content, where everyone is an expert, is driven by tag clouds, content mash-ups and social networking.
Yet, no matter how dramatically these online technologies change the process of travel, and no matter how adaptive this new generation of travelers is, people still need people, as well as partners they can rely on, and trust to tap the potential of any and all emerging, relevant, meaningful technologies.
(Webb is scheduled to speak during `The online evolution' session)
Paul Brown, President of Partner Services Group and Expedia North America, Expedia: Now is a time of change, and even uncertainty, for the travel industry. Rising fuel costs, tightening credit markets and other global economic challenges are impacting travelers, and therefore travel suppliers.
Yet despite the issues facing travel, suppliers can weather the storm and identify new opportunities if they are willing to embrace change.
(Brown is scheduled to speak during `A time of change - and even uncertainty - for the travel industry' session. In this session, Paul Brown will address trends in global traveler behavior and offer strategic insights for navigating the current environment).
Travel Leadership Forum: Evolution of Online Travel Agenda
For more information, click here: http://events.eyefortravel.com/wtm/leaders/agenda.asp
contact:
Tom Ellum, Conference Director
+44 (0)207 375 7236
tom@eyefortravel.com
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