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Event: 4th eTourism Futures Forum
Exploring the Information Communication Technologies Revolution and Visioning the Future for the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industries
Dates: 21-22 March 2005
Place: School of Management at the University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
The rapid development of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and the Internet in particular have revolutionised the tourism, travel and hospitality industries. Not only have operational and strategic management and marketing of both private and public organisations had to adapt to the realities emerging through technology, but also most organisations had to dramatically enhance their distribution strategy and alter their business model, changing the industry structure. Innovative ICT adopters expand their market share by developing direct links with consumers and by expanding through vertical and horizontal integration. A number of new eMediaries also emerged, challenging traditional intermediaries and accumulating significant market share through expansions and an aggressive programme of mergers
and acquisitions.
The 4th eTourism Forum aims to bring together leading professionals and academics with researchers and eTourism students in order to visualise the future of tourism, travel and hospitality organisations and to explore factors for innovation and success. The Forum will adopt a strategic approach and will examine the anticipated changes in technology and the opportunities and challenges for the tourism industry of the future. The latest advancements in the Internet and digital technologies (eFutures) will be debated and their strategic implications for the industry structure will also be discussed. Participants will be asked to debate on effective eBusiness strategies for each sector of the industry and for the industry as a whole. Innovative technology management methods and best industry practice will also be introduced, providing knowledge for participants to manage and market tourism products and destinations in the emerging electronic marketplace.
The event seeks to reinforce the view that innovative and successful organisations in tourism, travel and hospitality will be using technology to maximise the value added to their products, to enhance profitability and improve their competitiveness. It also aims to enable participants to identify the main drivers of change and to supply them with tools to enhance the future competitiveness of their organisations. Hence this Forum encourages all participants to “put their thinking caps on” in a non-commercial environment and to reflect on the tourism industry of the future. The academic environment of the University of Surrey will allow commercial operators to debate critical issues and to identify areas where University research can contribute to developments. Speakers and workshop facilitators will include leading professionals and researchers in eTourism. The emphasis of the Forum will be on interaction and discussion rather than presentations.
To ensure that there is maximum interactivity between participants and presenters a minimum number of 10 and a maximum number of 40 participants will be allowed.
Please book early to avoid disappointment.
In collaboration with:
The Tourism Society
www.tourismsociety.org
CIMTIG
www.cimtig.org
Travel and Tourism Initiative
www.tti.org
British Hospitality Association
www.bha-online.org.uk
HCIMA
www.hcima.org.uk
IFITT
www.ifitt.org
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
