Print Preview : Marketing Europe - tourism experts meet in Bruges

Marketing Europe - tourism experts meet in Bruges
Specialists in destination marketing and new technologies from national tourism organisations all over Europe are meeting in Bruges from 17th to 19th October at a conference organised by the European Travel Commission (ETC) in association with the Tourist Office for Flanders (Toerisme Vlaanderen).

High on the agenda will be discussions on how developments in technologies and the internet can be better harnessed to attract visitors to Europe`s many world-beating destinations and attractions.

The conference is ETC`s annual e-Business Academy, the only event of its kind to be organised specifically for national tourism organisations. It has become an important fixture in ETC`s calendar, giving delegates a valuable forum in which they can share practical experience and professional insights. It is organised by one of ETC`s strategic advisory groups, the Marketing and Technology Network (MTN).

This year`s academy is attracting an impressive array of speakers from the commercial sector. The keynote speech will be given by Michaela Pappenhoff, Managing Director, Europe for PhoCusWright, the leading travel research company. Delegates will also hear presentations from Google, the internet search engine, and the event`s five commercial sponsors: Webconomy (premium sponsor), AD Europe Global, Lonely Planet Business Solutions, TRAVELfusion and Wilken. All companies are leaders in their field, offering services of direct relevance and value to the online marketing programmes run by national tourism organisations.

Andrew Duff, chairman of the MTN, welcomed this, the sixth e-Business Academy, saying, The value of the academy is now widely recognised both by our members and commercial suppliers. I`m particularly pleased to see that two companies, Webconomy and Wilken, are sponsoring us for a second successive year, and am delighted that Webconomy has chosen to be a premium sponsor of the event.

Dave Van den Broeck, vice-chairman of the MTN and Information Technology Manager for Toerisme Vlaanderen, added, It`s very important to me that we are holding the event in Flanders this year, as it highlights the priority we attach to electronic media and marketing on the internet. And it gives us the chance to showcase one of our leading and most historic destinations, Bruges, to our international colleagues. Michael Verikios - Wednesday, October 03, 2007