Registration 7.50 - 8.50am

DAY 1

• INTRODUCTION - Manoj Gursahani, Chairman, Travelmartindia.com

9am KEYNOTE: The shaky Indian situation

This is not the way it was expected to be when the Indian OTAs burst onto the scene. We are seeing flight withdrawals due to rising costs and difficult agency relationships, a shift from limited hotel availability and a booming economy to a lack of consumer demand in a global recession, and almost 5 years of struggles resulting in staggering cumulative losses for the OTAs’ backers instead of rich liquidity events. If life wasn’t tough enough already, now the giant multinational OTAs are building up their own Indian operations.

India’s online travel market remains a mere 2 billion rupee slice out of the possible 40 billion rupee pie. Once the “rock” of investment and opportunity, are we now witnessing a shaking of the optimistic foundations that the Indian industry was built upon?  Why haven’t the Indian players achieved the same results that OTAs in China, Australia, Europe and North America achieved at similar levels of development? What will this mean for players old and new?

Hear industry veteran Glenn Fogel lead this thought provoking discussion about the state of the Indian industry, and the likely implications of these critical new forces emerging within it. What changes can we expect and how will these shape the look of the Indian market of the future?

• Glenn Fogel, Executive Vice President Corporate Development, priceline.com

EXPERT PANELISTS:

• Dhruv Shringi, Founder & Executive Director, yatra.com
• Deep Kalra, Founder & CEO, MakeMyTrip.com

Coffee 10.20 - 11am

11am SESSION: Airline withdrawals, zero commissions and the impact on India's travel landscape

These issues have leapt to the forefront of recent debate. The agencies response to the cutting of commissions has been swift and decisive, further pressurizing the difficult operating environment for airlines. Hear why a fee-based model should work in India, and learn some of the possible repercussions of switching to zero commissions.

• Other countries operate successful fee-based models, so why cant India?
• With such a high percentage of agency bookings coming from airlines, what will the future hold if zero commissions gain traction?
• Is eliminating commissions effectively a move toward phasing out traditional agencies, or critical to a modern airline's survival?
• Should we expect to see a consumer backlash to the introduction of these new fees?
• Is there an argument to follow the lead of Emirates and continue with the 5% commissions, or will their loyalty be short lived?
• How could this elimination of commissions change Indian travel distribution of the future (possibly for all sectors)?

• Marnix Fruitema, SVP Asia Pacific, Air France KLM
• Kapil Kaul, CEO South Asia, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation
• Rajji Rai, President, TAAI

Lunch 12.30 - 1.30pm

1.30pm SESSION: Troubled economies and the changing behavior of India's travel consumers

India's swelling middle class is expected to have an online community of over 100 million by 2011. Travelers are moving away from traditional packaged holidays. Indian consumers are changing fast, and this presents new opportunities and challenges.

• Have we estimated a faster rate of online adoption than what has actualized, and could the recession facilitate growth in consumption of online travel?
• What packaging and add-on techniques rather than price cuts can be used to stimulate consumer bookings and payments online?
• What industry changes will we see as a result of the slow uptake of online bookings in the Indian travel market?
• Consumers aren't stupid! What are you compromising by offering heavily reduced product prices and then adding hefty taxes and fees?
• Hotel prices are dropping to a more reasonable level. What changes can we expect to see in domestic travel patterns as a result?

• Frank Tietjen, Head of Corporate Strategy, TUI AG
• Amit Saberwal, VP Retail & Business Development, MakemyTrip.com
• Pritpal Saini, CEO, BID2Travel.com

2.40pm PRESENTATION: Consolidations & acquisitions - a changing travel landscape

Consolidations and acquisitions are nothing new to the travel industry. These difficult economic conditions will probably be a catalyst to speeding up whatever changes were already likely to occur. This presentation will take a look into what India can expect to see as more consolidation and acquisition activities begin to happen.

• what has given rise to the recent mergers and what does this mean for small and medium sized enterprises?
• will this trigger a rising cost for 3rd party distribution?
• who stands to benefits from legacy and low cost carrier mergers?
• what does the Indian industry of the future look like?

• Ankur Bhatia, Managing Director, Amadeus India

Coffee 3.05 - 3.45pm

3.45pm SESSION: Competing on price to stimulate demand

If the fallout from the 9/11 terrorist attacks taught our industry one thing, it was that dropping prices does nothing but cheapen your product. So why has this lesson been forgotten as we teeter on the edge of another price war?

Hear compelling arguments against competition based on price alone.

• “Lowering prices doesn't stimulate demand, it simply gives people who were already going to travel a better deal” - Right or Wrong?
• Hear which methods can be used to drive value to your customers instead of cutting prices.
• Hear why tight economic conditions provide a perfect opportunity to strengthen brand loyalty.
• Should we even care that we are competing on price, when an economic recovery will bring the same demand-outstripping-supply issues of the past?
• Is travel already so much of a commodity that price has become the only competitive factor?

• Gautam Bhandari,Area Director of Revenue Management, Marriott Hotels India
• Rishikant Singh,AGM Revenue Management, Air India
• Puneet Mahindroo, Corporate Director of Revenue Management & Global Distribution, Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces

5pm PRESENTATION: The increasing threat of credit card fraud

As the internet continues to grow as a key sales channel for the travel industry, so does the risk of exposure to payment card fraud. Hear the key areas of focus for businesses wanting to increase their credit card channels revenue, whilst minimising the operational cost and exposure to fraud. Learn what tools and techniques can be deployed in order to fight against fraud losses, whilst maximising the release of genuine customer spending.

• What is the real cost of payment fraud?
• How is payment fraud evolving and what trends are apparent?
• How can pooling of industry data assist in the battle against the fraudster?

• Mark Goldspink, Managing Director, ReD Merchant Services

5.20pm Networking reception in exhibition

DAY 2

9am SESSION: Embracing social networks and User Generated Content as marketing and distribution platforms

5 of the world's 10 most visited sites are (either full or in part) a social network. 3 social networks feature in India's top 10.

Online communities are without a doubt the biggest social phenomenon since the mobile phone. Understanding this huge social shift and the potential marketing and distribution opportunities/pitfalls it presents, is essential for any modern travel business looking to target and engage more consumers.

• Ignore social channels and User Generated Content (UGC) at your own peril. Understand why.
• Hear how social networks can become leading marketing tools to build brands and provide strong ROI.
• Learn how a negative review can be turned into positive PR.
• A marketers control over what is said about their brand is diminishing. Where and how is your brand being portrayed by groups other than your marketing team?
• Word of mouth has never spread so far. With so many new channels to consider, which ones take priority and how can word of mouth be converted into revenue?
• How should you be engaging consumers socially? Learn what new channels you should be monitoring and marketing through.

• Sharat Dhall, Managing Director - India, TripAdvisor
• Girish Shah, Head of Branding, Reliance ADA Group
• Savio W Barretto, Marketing Manager, Google India

Coffee 10.30 - 11.10am

11.10am SESSION: Brand perception and fickle consumer loyalty

In a world where the transparency of pricing is increasing, your prices speak loudly about the type of brand and product that you are. The savvy travel consumer interacts with a myriad brands, so in the increasingly murky environment of brand perception and customer loyalty, here are some questions that need consideration:

• With prices falling (particularly in premium/5 star categories) and travel becoming more commoditized, is there such a thing as brand loyalty anymore?
• What indicators show that a customer is truly loyal to your brand, and not to the lowest available price?
• What long term implications can price competition have on the perception of your brand, and what have past experiences taught us about reversing brand perceptions?
• The corporate segment is growing In India. What strategies should you be employing now to capture this market and foster loyalty within it?
• Is 3rd party distribution a deterrent or encourager of brand loyalty, and are they as susceptible as suppliers to brand disloyalty?
• How do we make travel more affordable for customers without affecting brand perception?

• Saurabh Bhatnagar, Regional Director - India, Preferred Hotel Group
• Prabhat Pani, CEO, Ginger Hotels
• Abinash Manghani, Head of Sales & Marketing, Fortune Park Hotels Ltd.

12.20pm PRESENTATION: Driving value to the corporate segment

There is a growing opportunity of corporate travel within India, with global corporations on the increase and some of India's own enterprises now big enough to require corporate travel services. So how should travel suppliers be positioning themselves to corporates to claim a larger share of this growing segment? What drives value to the modern corporate traveler, and how can this foster loyalty?

• Gaurav Sundaram, Country Director - India, Egencia

Lunch 12.40 - 1.40pm

1.40pm SESSION Part 1: Lowering distribution costs and efficiency measures

There is a strong argument to suggest that the best way to combat a global recession at the business level is to work on a leaner bottom line. It's all about survival, so concentrating on efficiency and innovative distribution/sales measures can be every bit as significant for longevity in travel as driving your top line.

• Incentives versus transactions - Is meta search a solution to combat the rising cost a distribution, and what quality of traffic can you expect through this model?
• Evaluate new social channels as a cost effective and targeted means by which to distribute your product.
• Separating the good sellers from the bad. Here how a downturn can help you evaluate which channels are most valuable to you.
• Unlike sales, costs can be controlled. What cost saving measures can be achieved through a comprehensive online strategy?

• Phanindra Sama, CEO, redBus.in
• Aloke Bajpai, Founder & CEO, iXiGO.com
• Tarun Lakhanpal, Group Manager, Distribution & Revenue Management, The Lemon Tree Hotel Company

2.40pm SESSION Part 2: The future of OTAs as a distribution channel

OTAs remain an important global booking platform, and a popular means of travel research. Recent debate has been centered around the relevance of the OTA proposition and their ability to stay afloat. But surely this model will prove profitable for all when embraced to the extent of our Western neighbours right?

• OTAs continue to grow customer bases and lower supplier marketing costs. So why should there be any doubt surrounding the longevity of this channel?
• OTAs drawing inventory from meta search engines - does the future consist of a combination OTA/meta search model?
• Do OTAs remain integral to building consumer confidence online and changing buying behaviour?
• Described by some commentators as “irrational”, what repercussions could 50% cash back offers have?
• Are GDSs actually capable of doing a better job?
• Is more inventory from hotels the only lifeline for OTA's, and if so why are there barriers currently hindering this partnership?
• Alliances and consolidations - what can we expect to see over the next 1-2 years?

• Devdutta Banerjee, Regional Director - Revenue Management India, Bangladesh & Nepal, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
• Shaun Dubash, VP Business Development, Travelguru
• Vikas Gulati, VP Marketing & Business Development APAC, Sprice.com

Coffee 3.40 - 4.10pm

4.10pm SESSION: The changing face of the travel sales and marketing strategy

Relying on typical marketing methods and channels is effectively limiting your sales potential. Today's internet savvy consumer requires dynamic new marketing messages and strategies. Techniques to grow the market instead of competing for what already exists are paramount.

• What reductions in customer acquisition costs are possible by utilizing OTAs as a marketing channel?
• Selling direct means you need to provide enough product content on your website to give the consumer confidence to purchase. So what are today's minimum requirements?
• In an increasingly competitive market optimizing your ranking on Google is simply not enough. What other channels is it now essential to optimize visibility to increase sales?
• One size does not fit all! How should you be locally tailoring your marketing messages, and what results can you expect?
• What new channels are emerging as key sales platforms for India, and can these be leveraged globally?
• A recession is a great time for capturing market share. How and where should you be allocating marketing budget to achieve this?

• Siddhartha Singh, Marketing Manager, Travelocity India
• Noel Swain, Vice President of Marketing, Cleartrip

Conference closes 5.30pm