8.45am - 7.00pm DAY ONE - Wednesday 1st October

8.45 - 9.00 am Moderators Introduction

• John Burns, President, Hospitality Technology Consulting

9.00 - 9.30 Keynote Presentation

The Role of Innovation in the Sale of Online Travel

• How have innovative sales and marketing techniques kept travel as one of the largest and fastest moving online verticals from 1999 to now? What is predicted for the future?
• What role have the GDSs and Online Travel Agencies played in the growth of travel?
• How have companies like Orbitz, Kayak and TripAdvisor led the way in online innovation?
• Will social networking actually help sell travel?

• Frank Petito, SVP Corporate Development, Orbitz Worldwide

9.30 - 11.15 Session 1

The Rise of Next-Generation Travel Intermediaries: How is the Distribution Landscape Shifting?

• Where do online intermediaries believe their future growth is coming from? Will they invest in online marketing to drive traffic? Or attempt to steal market share from one another?
• How are online intermediaries driving bookings through search? What Web 2.0 tools are proving particularly successful?
• Travelocity and InterContinental Hotels Group have implemented direct connectivity across their systems. How do XML interfaces between suppliers and third parties benefit both supplier and customer?
• Farecast was recently sold for $75 million and Kayak is now the fifth biggest travel site in the world. With so many consolidations and acquisitions in this space, what is predicted for the next phase of evolution?
• Do OTA's deliver the same value proposition as meta-search sites? Can they co-exist and form a symbiotic relationship?
• How can suppliers develop meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with OTA's?
• How can you measure the success of your third party distribution strategy? Should you invest more resources into third party channels in a bid to fight back against economic slowdown?

• Noreen Henry, VP Hotels and Packaging, Travelocity
• Tammy Peter, VP Global Distribution Strategy, Wyndham Hotel Group
• William Koo, Chief Marketing Strategist, Castle Hotels and Resorts
• Craig Cooley, VP Business Development, USA, Allotz.com
• Michael Reichartz, VP Market Management, Expedia

11.15 - 11.45 Networking Coffee Break

11.45 - 12.30 Session 2

Expert Financial Advice: How to Sell Travel in a Time of Economic Instability

• Will downturn lead inevitably to recession - and if so, what can the online travel industry do to protect itself?
• What signs should you watch for - and what plans must you have ready to implement?
• Which segments of the travel industry are most vulnerable to economic downturn?
• Will the weak dollar be the primary factor in keeping the American hospitality industry strong?
• Which international markets are ripe for growth?
• Should you target emerging markets - or concentrate your efforts in Europe and Asia?
• How is ownership structure changing the online travel industry - and how is market share shifting?

• Jake Fuller, Managing Director, Thomas Weisel Partners
• Mark Mahaney, Director of Internet Research, Citigroup Investment Group

12.30 - 1.40 Roundtable Lunch Break

1.40 - 2.10 Keynote Presentation

Examine the Staying Power of Traditional Tour Operators

• After a decade of foretelling the end of the travel agent, why are they still here?
• How have the traditional tour operators and travel agents adapted, evolved and grown?
• What technology are they utilizing in order to thrive?
• Understand the importance of addressing one to one customer needs and get advice on achieving this whilst keeping costs down

• Brian Robb, SVP Corporate Development, The Mark Travel Corporation

2.10 - 2.40 Presentation

Meta-Search and the Consumer: How and When Do Customers Use Meta-Search Engines?

• In-depth explanation of how consumers behave on Meta Search engines: Are they used for flight shopping only - or can Meta Search be usefully deployed to sell other travel products and services?
• At what point do your potential customers decide to use Meta Search? And how do they get there?
• Will Meta Search continue to grow so fast - and which categories are benefiting most?

• Gregory Saks, Director, Compete

2.40 - 3.10 Networking Coffee Break

3.10 - 3.30 Stand-Alone Presentation

How Mobile Could Impact the Travel Industry?

• Hear why mobile will become more and more important for the travel industry
• What things do you need to consider with a mobile touchpoint?
• Discover high-impact opportunities to leverage the mobile channel

• Peeter Kivestu, Sr. Industry Consultant, Global Travel Solutions, Teradata Corporation

3.30 - 5.00 Session 3

How is Evolution and Innovation in the GDS Space Impacting the Distribution Landscape?

• How are GDS's evolving to meet the changing distribution requirements for travel suppliers and travel agents?
• Are GDS's evolving into IT service providers? What new IT products have they developed to create efficiencies in distribution and reduce costs?
• Is GDS technology sufficiently flexible for complex fare structures, like Air Canada's? And are GDS's capable of unbundling?
• Sabre is now using XML standards to entice low-cost carriers like Air Tran. Will we see a full-scale adoption of XML standards across the GDS's? And if so, what impact will this have on distribution costs?
• After traditionally avoiding a GDS, why has JetBlue now reversed its decision? Does this signal a change in the distribution landscape?
• Many third party vendors can equal the richness of GDS content - but how much of the GDS role is being fully eroded by the competition?
• How are the GNE's faring? Could GNE partnerships - and their willingness to work together - be their greatest strength?

• David Gross, SVP Global Airline Distribution, Sabre
• Owen Wild, Director of Marketing, North America, Amadeus North America
• Tore Wick, VP Business Development, Pegasus Solutions
• Gianni Cataldo, General Manager and VP Americas

5.00 - 7.00 Cocktail Party

8.45am - 5.00pmDAY TWO - Thursday 2nd October

Moderator:

• Susan Black, President, Susan Black Consulting

8.45 - 9.15 Keynote Presentation

What Digital Trends Will Impact Your Business in 2008?

• Your Consumers are online 24/7 "Always On" - How do you support this?
• Align your offline and online message so you are always ready online, for what is happening offline
• Should you make video a centerpiece of your online strategy? And how do you make your video message consistent when selling multiple products?
• How can you balance search and social media?

• David Pavelko, Team Manager, Travel Vertical, Google

9.15 - 9.45 Keynote Presentation

The Future of the "Traditional" Online Intermediary

• Is the traditional model of transaction-based revenue becoming extinct? If yes, is this good for suppliers, consumers or both?
• Will consolidation save the model and who wins and who loses?
• Will the traditional players have to acquire "Next Generation" players so they don't get left behind?

• Glenn Fogel, Managing Director, Corporate Development and International, Priceline.com

9.45 - 11.00 Session 4

Update Your Online Strategy to Keep Ahead of Changes in Customer Behavior

• What are the latest changes in online search behavior - and how are they affecting paid search?
• Which Web 2.0 features do travel customers find most useful?
• Which Web 2.0 tools are really driving bookings for suppliers and online intermediaries?
• What types of content do online travelers prefer - and which sources are perceived as being most trustworthy?
• To what extent does user-generated content influence travel purchasing decisions?
• How effective is personalization, customization and relevant content as conversion and retention tools - and how can you measure your results?
• How are social networks and web 2.0 tools changing customer expectations of online travel - and how should you respond?
• Which travel companies truly satisfy the needs and preferences of today's customers?
• Podcasting News reports that the average American viewer watches at least two videos online every day. How can you best capitalize on this?

• Amy Scarth, Head of Research, EyeforTravel
• Ken Penny, Sr. Director, e-Commerce and Distribution Planning, Continental Airlines
• Diane Clarkson, Travel Analyst, Jupiter Research

• John Lambe, CTO, OpenJaw Technologies & Vice-Chairman of the OpenTravel Board of Directors

11.00 - 11.30 Networking Coffee Break

11.30 - 12.50 Session 5

Maintain the Profitability of your Online Advertising Campaigns - Even when Costs are Rising

• Where should you be focusing your advertising spend online to drive maximum traffic? Local search, long-tail queries, meta-search: Which channels deliver the best Return on Investment?
• How can you generate incremental traffic through a comprehensive search strategy?
• Ensuring your online adverts are relevant: Why is contextual advertising so valuable?
• According to Forrester Research, 40% of people search for something they see in a television or print advert. So how do you close the loop between offline marketing and search to deliver the maximum revenue?
• How will continued cost inflation impact on the future of pay-per-click as an effective advertising model for travel? And how can you create realistic ROI metrics for your pay-per-click campaigns?
• Where do blogs, RSS, online videos and social networking fit into your online advertising campaigns? Do they actually deliver a ROI - or can you manage without them?
• The best keywords in the right quantity: What's best practice - and how can you take advantage?

• Drew Patterson, Vice President, Marketing, Kayak

• Anil Aggarwal, CEO, Milestone Internet Marketing
• "Caribbean Jim" Hobbs, President/Founder, CheapCaribbean.com

12.50 - 2.00 Roundtable Lunch Break

2.00 - 3.30 Session 6

Using Social Media to Enhance Your Distribution Strategy

• How can travel companies monetize the boom in user-generated content, videos and social networks?
• Does investing in a social media strategy really deliver return on investment? Or is it more about creating brand advocacy?
• What opportunities are there for travel companies to partner with social media sites?
• How do you identify social media sites that your customers use frequently and rely on to make purchasing decisions?
• How can you partner with the social media sites that are most valuable to you?
• How do you measure the impact of your social media efforts?
• How should you promote and protect your brand in the social media space?
• How can you monitor what is being said about your brand?
• What impact will user-generated content have on your search engine rankings and click-through rates?
• Hear from companies have succeed in building an online community to build loyalty and encourage customers to create content
• What are the legal implications of consumer-generated media content for hospitality organizations? What liability do you have?
• How can you use social media to retain and acquire customers?

• Kristen Celko, VP Marketing, STA Travel
• Nathan Clapton, Senior Director, Brand Distribution, TripAdvisor
• Neil Salerno, CHME, CHA, Consultant & Author, Hotel Marketing Coach

3.30 - 4.00 Networking Coffee Break

4.00 - 5.10 Session 7

How to Enhance Your Website Content to Increase Traffic and Improve Conversion Rates

• How can you optimize your website to drive traffic, highlight your unique selling points and appeal to specific customer segments?
• What are the secrets of reducing abandon rates during the research phase - and how much user-generated content, mapping and video does it take to capture your customer along the purchasing path?
• How can you enhance website design, site performance and loading times to significantly reduce online abandon rates?
• Larger imagery, easier navigation and additional search options: To what extent do they improve the user journey - and produce bottom line paybacks?
• According to Forrester, 43% of surfers believe shopping on travel websites has become less useful. Does your website match up to the expectations of increasingly demanding customers?
• TripAdvisor is a prime example of deploying user-generated content to dominate search engine rankings. How can you integrate UGC into your own SEO strategy - and boost your visibility?

• Bob Barnes, CEO, Zonder
• Anne Payne, CEO, BeDynamic
• Yen Lee, CEO, Uptake