With delegates from North America to Europe and Asia, ENTER 2014 offers a worldwide and unique forum to actively exchange, share, and challenge state-of-the-art research and industrial case studies on the application of information and communication technologies to travel and tourism. The conference is organised by the International Federation for Information Technology and Travel & Tourism (IFITT) that has the vision to create THE global eTourism knowledge network and community.
The international scope of ENTER 2014 already begins with a highly international organising committee, having the Greek IFITT president Dimitrios Buhalis and the German ENTER 2014 chair Wolfram Höpken at its forefront. Moreover, industry chair Dimitris Serifis from Greece, destination chair Joantxo Llantada from Spain and the Irish Day chairs Patrick Horan and Ciaran Doherty, both from Ireland, as well as the research chairs Zheng Xiang and Iis Tussyadiah from the USA contribute to a highly diverse and international committee, which provides a fruitful starting point for a global conference.
Keynote speakers at ENTER 2014 will be Des O’Mahony (Bookassist) from Ireland, Thomas Rödel from Germany, Liz Ward (Australian Tourism Data Warehouse) from Australia, Ana Escurin (NH Hotels) from Spain as well as Kevin O’Sullivan (SITA), Richard Lewis (Interchange & Consort Hotels; Best Western Hotels GB) and Mike Short (Telefonica Europe / O2) from England. Keynote panel discussions will be supported by Lee McCabe (Facebook), Dave Pavelko (Google), Scott McLure (TripAdvisor) from the USA on Wednesday and Nate Bucholz (Google) from England, Aoife Desmond (Facebook) from Scotland and Don O'Leary (Twitter) from Ireland on Thursday.
Furthermore, presentations will be held by Brian Harte and Ciaran Doherty (Tourism Ireland), Agnete Sylvest (VisitDenmark), Miquel Alabern Nebot (Catalan Tourist Board) from Spain, Catherine Fischer (German National Tourist Board) and Hans Petter Aalmo (Visit Norway). The great variety of speakers from many different nations will certainly increase the great range of different aspects related to information and communication technologies in travel and tourism.
ENTER 2014 will not only provide a grandiose opportunity to listen to speakers from all over the world. Delegates of the conference can also benefit from socializing and networking with other conference participants. The registration for the conference is open to everyone who is interested in taking part in an exciting week full of interesting presentations, workshops and events centred on the latest trends in information and communication technology in travel and tourism.
IFITT President Dimitrios Buhalis says: “We are looking forward to a truly global ENTER conference in Dublin. A total of about 160 presentations will be delivered in 4 days from delegates from 80 countries around the world. This year for the first time we have specifically sessions on eTourism in Asia, and particularly for China and Korea whilst our Irish Day has fantastic local content. At IFITT we believe that an international scope will contribute to the global knowledge about information and communication technologies, which, if adapted to local realities, can improve technology solutions.”
ENTER 2014 will take place in the Chartered Accountants House in Dublin, Ireland from January 21-24, 2014.