The Travel Commerce Conference & Expo 2004 (TravelCom), the travel industry`s defining event for marketing and…
The Travel Commerce Conference & Expo 2004 (TravelCom), the travel industry`s defining event for marketing and distribution strategies, will be held April 19-21 at the Hilton NY, New York City. Not limiting themselves to discussions strictly about the Internet, executives from some of the most successful travel industry suppliers will discuss the critical issues involved in attracting and keeping customers in today`s more complex, multi-channeled world. Attendance levels are expected to exceed last year`s record-breaking 1,000+ participants.
TravelCom 2004 stands out as the industry`s most comprehensive source of information about all segments of the offline and online travel industry. It is the only travel conference and expo created exclusively for the industry, by the industry, with the show having been developed by the top industry executives on TravelCom`s Advisory Board.
Among this year`s keynote speakers are Henry H. Harteveldt, Vice President – Travel Research, Forrester Research; Michelle Peluso, CEO, Travelocity; and Jay Witzel, President and CEO, Carlson Hotels Worldwide. Peluso will take part in the CEO keynote panel entitled New Faces in Travel Leadership and speak in the Executive Women`s Forum, while Witzel will be a keynote panelist in The Hotel CEO Roundtable.
Other speakers will include influential executives and decision makers from America Online Travel, British Airways, Carnival Cruise Lines, Club Med, Delta Air Lines, Expedia, Google Travel, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Liberty Travel/GOGO WWV, Orbitz for Business, Priceline, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Travelocity Business and Worldspan, among others.
They will engage in thought-provoking presentations and workshops on timely topics, including:
- Winning Strategies in the Current Economic Recovery
- New Faces in Travel Industry Leadership
- The Battle for the Multi-Channel Shopper
- Marketing Value Versus Price: What Do These Mean in a Wal-Mart World?
- Distribution: The New Hot Channels
- The Next Round of Upheaval in Corporate Travel
- GDS Deregulation Shakeout and Its Impact on Product Distribution
- The Impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Henry Harteveldt, co-chairperson of TravelCom 2004 and Vice President, Forrester Research, said, With the country`s economy and consumer confidence improving, the travel industry is emerging from the last few turbulent years with aggressive, innovative strategies for marketing and distribution. It is more important than ever to stay abreast of both offline and online trends in attracting the new wave of vacation and business travelers.
This year`s agenda will include two new high-powered, one-half-day events: The Search Forum for Travel Marketers and the one-of-a-kind Executive Women`s Forum. These events will provide an opportunity for attendees to gather industry expertise and participate in a roundtable learning environment. More than 15 other workshops and more than 50 sponsors and exhibitors will be featured as well.
TravelCom has once again formed alliances with key industry associations including the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) as a Gold Sponsor, the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME) as the host of the Marketing track of conference sessions, the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) as the host of the Distribution track of conference sessions, The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), and the Computerized Airline Sales and Marketing Association (CASMA).
Susan Black, co-chairperson of TravelCom 2004 and Partner of The Black & Wright Group, said, Through alliances with HSMAI, HEDNA, ATME, USTOA, CASMA and various travel trade publications, TravelCom has established a new industry standard of providing an unmatched level of expertise and information to its attendees. This is truly a can`t-miss event if you are involved in the travel industry.
Travel Commerce Conference & Expo 2004 is sponsored by Forbes Magazine and Forrester Research, and is produced by JD Events. The 3rd annual event builds upon TravelCom Expo`s highly successful 2003 show, which recorded more than a 35 percent jump in attendance over the previous year.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
