Located
alongside, the Digital Innovation Asia events are deliberately timed
to lead into the PATA Annual Summit on April 25-28, which will
attract around 400 of the most senior travel and tourism executives.
PATA
has partnered with E-Tourism Asia the producer of Digital Innovation
Asia (DIA) to stage digital events, which include the Digital
Innovation Asia Awards, Blogger Match-Up Asia, Speak-Up Asia, and the
China Boot Camp.
Kicking
off Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) on April 23, hosted by
ChinaTravelTrends.com, the China Boot Camp helps companies understand
how to reach and connect with affluent and sophisticated Chinese
consumers. With China being the fastest growing source market for
many destinations in Asia and all over the world, and the complex
social media and digital landscape being the most influential medium
in modern China, learning how to adapt to marketing to this new group
of tourists is vital for any travel and tourism organization today.
Followed
by the first Blogger Match-Up in Asia on April 24, hosted by the
Aloft Hotel Bangkok, where speed-dating sessions connect bloggers
from the region and from all over the world with travel and tourism
providers from Asia. Workshops on how to deal and leverage citizen
journalists provide vital knowledge and insight. A not to be missed
session by the second highest ranked Twitter account in Thailand
(@mrscotteddy) with over 130,000 followers in just three years, will
give insights on how even the smallest travel company with low budget
can be effective and engaging on Twitter and other social media
platforms.
In
the evening, the first Digital Innovation Asia Awards (or DIA Awards)
recognize the best in digital innovation in the travel and tourism
industry from the region. Hosted by Bed Supperclub Bangkok, one of
the most innovative nightlife entertainment venues in Asia, the
awards will recognize in the following categories: “Most Engaging
Website”, “Most Viral Campaign”, “Most Creative Use of
Technology”, “Most Inspiring Content”, and “Most Innovative
Digital Organization”.
The
DIA Awards are judged by the new Digital Innovation Asia Council, an
invite-only forum of the most senior e-commerce executives and
digital marketing thought-leaders from hotels, airlines, tourist
boards, cruise
lines, tour operators, and travel media from all
corners of the Asia Pacific region.
On
April 25, the first Speak-Out Asia, hosted by the Tourism Authority
of Thailand, will launch at uber-trendy Zuma Restaurant at the St
Regis Hotel Bangkok, and emceed by famous blogger, Thai-TV Show host,
and co-founder of travel company Smiling Albino, Daniel Fraser.
The
vision of the event is to wow, inspire, engage, and stimulate the
audience, feature respected and well-known digital revolutionaries,
showcase technology solutions, and source innovations from across the
region. Other than normal online travel conferences, Speak-Out Asia
embraces the complete Visitor Economy - meaning it is not just about
marketing, sales, and distribution, but a unique forum to look at all
aspects of tourism, including but not limited to e-visa, mobile
crisis management, and social crowd-funding powered micro-financing.
Speak-Out Asia will also feature Digital Aid Asia @ Speak-Out Asia.
Digital Aid is an initiative to leverage technology in developing
responsible tourism. This unique and important session will look at
how digital and social media can combat human trafficking and child
prostitution, a major issue when tourism is increasing emerging
tourism destination. The session is hosted by Destination Innovation
Asia CSR partner SISHA.
Mr
Martin J Craigs, CEO of PATA says, we are excited to be partnering
with E-Tourism Asia, the producer of Digital Innovation Asia. This
event is a perfect primer for next gen minded mentors the day before
our summit. The growing importance of mobile, digital, and social
media in Asia in "m-powering" the complete Visitor Economy
is one of the catalysts of travel and tourism growth in the region.
Speak-Out Asia will not only be inspirational but will also be
thought provoking by raising issues like crisis management, and human
trafficking, and how technology can play a vital role.
Mr
Suraphon Svetasreni, Govenor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
comments, TAT, which has made the use of social media a priority in
marketing Thailand as an amazing tourism destination, is proud to be
the country host of the first Digital Innovation Asia, including the
DIA Awards and Speak-Out Asia. Thailand is excited to welcome digital
thought leaders from the region and all over the world. Exchanging
ideas with bloggers and influencers on social media platforms at the
Blogger-Match-Up is the way forward for any travel and tourism
organization, being it small or large.
For
more information on how to get engaged in Digital Innovation Asia
from April 23-25 in Bangkok, please visit
www.DigitalInnovationAsia.com and follow-us on Twitter @DIAtourism.
Tickets are very limited, and a PATA member rate, as well as a
package prize with the PATA Annual Summit exists. More information
about the PATA Annual Summit on April 25-28 at the Centara Grand
Bangkok can be found at www.PATA.org.
