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Date: Thursday 10th and Friday 11th April 2008
Venue: International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR)
School of Services Management, Bournemouth University, Room DG02, Talbot Campus
Website: http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/icthr/
And Visioning the Future for the Tourism, Travel And Hospitality Industries Course Director: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis eTourism – or the application of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the Internet on the tourism, travel and hospitality industries – has revolutionised market structures, practices, communication and distribution channels. It is now evident that eTourism is part of the mainstream industry management and marketing and the most essential part of distribution for the entire sector. Innovative ICT adopters continue to expand their market share by engaging directly with customers and aggressively using advanced Customer Relationship Management systems. They also manage their partner relationships dynamically through comprehensive multi-channel distribution strategies, affiliate marketing, XML interoperability and co-opetition. A small number of powerful eMediaries have emerged through mergers and acquisitions influencing a very large proportion of the online market. Social networking and Web 2.0 is emerging in the marketplace to enable interaction between innovative industry players and also to support consumers to communicate dynamically and share content, reviews, opinions and suggestions.
Powerful networking communities such as Facebook and Linkedin as well as Tripadvisor and Wayn bring together communities from around the world to intereact dynamically. In addition, disruptive technologies, such as Voice over IP telephony and pervasive connectivity through WiFi and WiMAX support always-on connectivity and interaction. Tourism organisations and destinations therefore need to adapt to the emerging realities and to alter their business model in order to address these challenges, engage dynamically with partners and customers and enhance their competitiveness.
The 7th eTourism Forum identifies key developments and issues in eTourism and brings 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 adopts a strategic approach and examines 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 explored 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 European Commission iSet project will also be presented through the wireless technologies Forum.
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, 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 Bournemouth University 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.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
