The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Travel Technology
Theatre returns once again this year, as the region’s young tech-savvy
generation and worldwide developments in the digital travel field open up new
areas of IT-related opportunity and education for the industry.
According to IT giant Cisco, mobile
data traffic in the Middle East & Africa region will grow faster than in
any other part of the world between now and 2018, with penetration of
smartphones and tablets using the latest technology forecast to reach 598
million devices within the next four years, up from just 133 million in 2013. One in six consumers in the region is
also now using the Internet as the booking platform of choice according to
hotelmarketing.com, with the distinctive needs of digitally engaged travellers
across the Middle East demanding a tailor-made approach from travel providers.
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| Mr.Mark Walsh |
“Around 60% of airline booking and ticketing in Dubai
alone comes from e-commerce and with youth accounting for 60% of the GCC
population the need for the tourism industry in the region to be at the
forefront of digital development and connectivity is a given. Our Sabre Travel
Technology Theatre line-up for 2014 is a ‘how to’ guide to grow your online
business, connect with the trendsetters and effectively measure ROI,” said Mark
Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Data released by
PhoCusWright in 2013 revealed that online travel agency sales in the Middle East hit US$ 2.3 billion last year, and this
figure is expected to jump by 4% to 17% by the end of 2014. The GCC countries
are also leading the pack in terms of social media activity, with 94% or 56 million MENA region
users on Facebook and Twitter generating around 10 million Tweets per day with
over 3.7 million users.
“With the Travel Technology Theatre
now in its third year and an established calendar feature, our tie-up with
Sabre, an established global leader in this field, and the fact that we will
welcome a record 72 travel technology-specific exhibitors to ATM, demonstrates
the influence of online technology on all aspects of the travel cycle from
planning and booking to recording memories and sharing experiences,” remarked
Walsh.
Sponsored by Sabre, the technology solutions
provider to the global travel and tourism industry, this year’s Travel Technology Theatre
series covers 16 exciting sessions and will open on Monday 5th May
with a session on ‘Mobile in Travel’ where some of the best minds in
the industry have been drafted in to speak including Ian Humphreys, Regional Director
Middle East, Caliber Interactive and Dan Cross, Territory Manager MEA for
TripAdvisor.
Other highlights include a keynote from the Managing Director of
Travelzoo Europe, hints and tips for building your brand online, a guide to finding and
working with good travel bloggers, as well as an edge-of-your-seat digital
debate on ‘The Impact of Mobile in Travel’ held in co-operation with the
Digital Tourism Think Tank.
“Keeping it mobile seems to be the
overriding theme, whether that means a session on how travelers are using
mobile and lessons for successful mobile advertising, which will be led by Google
Industry Manager – Travel MENA, Kara Moddermann, or interactive participation
in a number of sessions focusing on the latest technological advances and
trends in digital consumer behaviour,” said Walsh.
Speakers include Vikram Singh, Co-Founder, Madbooker, on
optimisimg your direct revenue and building your brand online; Laurel Robbins,
social media consultant and award-winning travel blogger; Paul Richer, Senior
Partner, Genesys – The Travel Technology Consultancy on travel technology
trends and staying ahead of the competition; Alana Witte, Director, Middle East
& Africa, Revinate, who will address engaging and satisfying the needs of
next generation guests; and Oliver Blofeld, Managing Partner, Insight, with a
session looking at ways to use social media as a tool to communicate
effectively and engage with audiences by listening to them and responding to
them.
For more information on Arabian Travel Market 2014, please
log on to: www.arabiantravelmarket.com
