Oct 19, 2010
Ballroom 2, Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore
WHAT'S ON THE MENU
| 07.30-08.45 |
Check In |
| 08.45-09.00 |
Curtain Raiser |
| 09.00-10.00 |
Hitting The C-Spot: Cross-Fire Let's cut to the chase and cut through the clutter. WIT opens with a panel cross-fire that's not been attempted before so watch out for chaos. Two teams will compete against each other to come up with the best customer insights that they believe will drive change in travel distribution and marketing. A Referee will challenge those insights and throw them up for debate. Based on his final choice of Customer Insights, the two teams will then suggest actions and solutions to address those insights. You get to vote for the best team based on their passion and conviction and of course, articulation. The Glee Team:
The A Team:
Referee: Siva Ganeshanandan, GM, APAC, Autonomy Optimost Cheerleader for Glee Team: Yeoh Siew Hoon, Editor, WIT
Cheerleader for A Team: Kevin May, Editor, Tnooz |
| 10.00-10.15 |
The C of Change
Joe Nguyen, Vice President-South-east Asia, ComScore loves to crunch numbers but in this session, he will give us the meaning behind the numbers as he sheds light into the changing online behaviour of 10 key Customer segments in Asia. Want to know how Baby Boomers behave versus the Millenials? Well, this is the session to listen to. |
| 10.15-10.30 |
The C of Confusion: Actions speak louder than words
Is the customer always telling the truth? After all, he may be saying something but doing another. And is the customer always right? This presentation by Siva Ganeshanandan, GM, APAC, Autonomy Optimost, which will cover case studies from travel and non-travel, will look at the truth behind customer insights, and how you cannot always believe what they tell you. Plus, how do you keep up with the fickle customer and create good customers? |
| 10.30-11.15 |
Branding & Marketing in the C of Change So it's changed. So what? How will we deal with the new cloud and changes to come, as predicted by the opening panel? How will this affect the way we brand, market and sell to our customers and how we serve them in an age when everybody's talking and sharing? This panel will explore this subject from different perspectives. Panel A:
Moderators: Morris Sim, CEO, Circos Brand Karma & Yeoh Siew Hoon |
| 11.15-11.45 |
Coffee Time |
| 11.45-12.15 |
The WIT Debate 1: Independents Rule, Brands Wither In The New Age of the Cloud Watch two teams as they throw the gauntlet down for the battle of the brands versus the independents. Who has the upper hand in the new age of the Cloud? It's your vote that counts. For:
Against
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| 12.15-12.45 |
On The Move, Part 1 After years of anticipation and expectation, followed by deflation, that mobile would change things forever, has it finally arrived? In this first session on mobile, we look at it from the view of the customer and how it has, and could, change the experience of those on the road - from augmented reality to real-time destination information to trip planning.
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| 12.45-14.00 |
Lunch |
| 14.00-14.20 |
Coffee with Morten Lund, 'Archangel' investor, start-up ideologist and visionary
Before the WITovation Grand Final pitch, let's meet one of the judges. Morten Lund has been called many names, among them, "Rebel with a focus" or "Neo-Classical serial entrepreneur". He's co-founded more than 50 high-tech start-ups, most famously Skype and online stockbroker Zecco. He was also involved in the Chinese browser, Maxthon. But it hasn't been all success. Morten knows what it's like to be declared a bankrupt. As he said in a blog, "Being insolvent and bankrupt is no real fun. Personally it has meant that I have been out of cash (as in NO credit card no nothing) - everything I controlled was taken by the government appointed lawyers." Today, Morten, who lives in Copenhagen with his wife and four children, is back in fighting form. |
| 14.20-15.00 |
WITovation Grand Final Pitch Three finalists who survived the WITovation Entrepreneur Bootcamp on Oct 18 get to pitch their ideas in 5 minutes each to our panel of investors. He who dreams, dares and he who dares, wins. Audience voting encouraged but judges have final say. Judges
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| 15.00 |
Channelling The Customer: A Story In Parts
The travel planning and buying process has changed. Search is splintering, social networks are fragmenting and niche players have inserted themselves into the value chain, offering new value propositions to the customer. This series of panels will examine this process in parts - and at the end, you get to decide which part of the value chain will hold most value for the Customer. |
| 15.00-15.50 |
Channelling The Customer: Bridging The Chasm Between Inspiration & Transaction
First the customer has to be inspired. Then she begins to search, and shop, and hopefully book. That funnel, from the moment of inspiration to the point when she is ready to transact, has become increasingly complex and fragmented but, at the same time, filled with possibilities thanks to new technology and solutions.
This session will attempt to take you through the funnel – from the what (inspiration) to the how (transaction) and examine the different value proposition at each point of the value chain so that you understand better how your brand and service can better position itself within the funnel. Part 1: Timothy Hughes, the blogger behind BOOT – The Business Of Online Travel, will open up the world of inspiration and share with you the wonderful, new things that are happening in that space, where the opportunities are and what are the problems that need to be solved. Part 2: The Customer, Carl Griffith talks about “I Dream Of Search” Part 3: A panel of diverse players, representing different parts of the funnel, will then put their heads together on how the chasm between inspiration and transaction be bridged and the different value proposition they present to the customer. Panellists:
Moderated in a rapid-fire format, The BOOT will then put questions to the panelists to get the discussion going. Expect a rollercoaster ride down the customer funnel. |
| 15.50-16.20 |
Coffee Time |
| 16.20-17.00 |
My Name is Yuki-san, I Love To Travel Get insights into the changing Japanese customer with this panel moderated by Aya Aso, CEO & President of Agora Hospitalities, Japan, who returns to WIT for the third year. Panellists
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| 17.00-17.45 |
Hot Air: Airlines, Alternatives & Ancillaries The airline world is all a-flutter as new, ever-changing models take to the skies, changing customer behaviour forever. Are old legacy systems changing fast enough to keep up with customer demands? And while they are doing it, watch out for some new alternative plays. This session, led by Peter Harbison, Executive Chairman of CAPA, will shed insight into how the airline model is changing to keep pace with changing customer demand.
Moderator: Timothy O'Neil-Dunne, Managing Partner, T2 Impact |
| 18.00 |
The annual WORLDHOTELS party at WIT Buses leave from Suntec Convention Centre |
(Programme correct at time of publication, subject to change)
The C-Spot (Day Two)
Oct 20, 2010
Ballroom 2, Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore
WHAT'S ON THE MENU
| 08.45-09.00 |
Curtain Raiser |
| 09.00-09.40 |
Long live the romance of travel Is the romance of travel dead? There are some who say the Web and technology has killed it. After all, search has reduced holiday planning to algorithms and travel reviews lead us all down the same path, towards the kingdom of the bland. Location-based devices pinpoint and guide us every step of the way that we need never get lost. And with so much sharing pre-trip, during-trip and post-trip, what else is there to discover when you're on the ground? This panel debate will look at how we can blend technology and the personal touch to keep the fires burning in our customers' hearts.
The Customer's Story - How Travel Changed My Life: Goh Mia Chun, Singapore's “Motorcycle Diaries” Man
Moderators: Yeoh Siew Hoon & Luke Clark, Editor, Mandala Magazine, Ink Publishing |
| 09.40-10.20 |
Coffee With The CEOs From love on the road to a view from the top as we gather the industry's CEOs for a chit-chat to talk about their business outlook, their predictions for the year and their thoughts for the future. Is our industry ready for the changes that are coming, and how can we better steel ourselves to build a sustainable future in which we continue to innovate new products and services, inspire and mentor new talent and constantly excite customers, old and new?
Robert Bailey, President & CEO, Abacus International |
| 10.20-11.10 |
The Biggest C-Spot of All China. China. China. Everyone's biggest dream, yet it could be everyone's worst nightmare if one is not prepared. Yet it's a market you have to be in if you want the scale. This session will look at how the digital world has changed the Chinese travel market, from how it's changed the way airlines are operating and marketing to how it's changed consumer behaviour. What trends are the experts gathered for this panel seeing that will make a difference to how you play your China card?
• Fritz Demopoulous, CEO, Qunar Moderators: Don Birch, Managing Partner, China Opportunity Partners & Jens Thraenhart, Managing Director, Dragon Trail |
| 11.10-11.40 |
Coffee Time |
| 11.40-12.10 |
And So Arise The New Customers New legions of travellers are emerging across Asia and the way they plan and book their travels are changing. This year, WIT turns the spotlight on Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines. Panellists
Moderators: Ram Badrinathan, General Manager-Asia Pacific & Vice President, Learning Solutions and Chetan Kapoor, Research Associate, PhoCusWright |
| 12.10-12.45 |
Generation Next Just as customers are changing, mindsets too have to change within our industry and there's a new generation of leaders emerging that are creating businesses for the next legion of customers. This panel looks at the new generation of leaders who are re-shaping the travel business. Panellists
• Prakaikaew Na-Ranong, Managing Director, Indigo Pearl, Phuket |
| 12.45-14.00 |
Lunch |
| 14.00-14.30 |
Face-Off: Content, Customisation & The Next Big Thing This session brings together veteran entrepreneur Dave Sifry, founder of Technorati and now Offbeat Guides, with investor Abrar Ahmad, Partner at Travel Capitalist Ventures. Sifry will talk about where content is going, where it wants to go, how you can free it and give it context and customization. Abrar, whose portfolio companies (including Offbeat Guides) have transactions totaling US$800 million, will talk about what he’s looking for in the next big thing in travel startups and share the nuances of travel investments in emerging markets.
• Abrar Ahmad, Partner, Travel Capitalist Ventures |
| 14.30-15.10 |
On The Move, Part 2 Mobile's hot, that's a fact. In this session, get insights into who's doing what in this space from a leading mobile travel specialist and an alternative view from an Asian low cost carrier on how it views mobile and the role it will play in that competitive segment.
Gerry Samuels, Founder & Executive Director, MTT Technologies Moderator: Brett Henry, Vice President-Marketing and Vice President-India, Abacus International |
| 15.10-15.50 |
Coffee With The Online Travel Leaders The growth of last year is helping keep the smiles on the faces of OTAs in Asia Pacific. But the competition is increasing, challenges are mounting and customers remain fickle, mercurial and unpredictable. What's keeping these leaders awake at night? This session brings together global, regional and local players to discuss the common, and different, issues that ensure they remain paranoid about their future.
Adrian Currie, Chairman, Agoda Co-moderators: Yeoh Siew Hoon & Ram Badrinathan, General Manager-Asia and Vice President, Learning Solutions, PhoCusWright |
| 15.50-16.20 |
Coffee Time |
| 16.20-17.00 |
The New Good, Bad & Ugly Customer In the old days, a good customer was someone who didn't bargain (too much), was loyal (almost always) and spent constantly and consistently. He was predictable, reliable and fair. But in today's world with new channels, which bring with them new measurements, is good still good? And could ugly be turned beautiful? And come on, hasn't loyalty gone out the window already? This session will explore the new customer conundrum. Who should you turn away at which time? Who do you want more business from? And what are the new measurements and tools available to maximize revenues, improve yields and spread that gospel, far and wide, beyond the here and now? Panellists
Moderators: Grahame Tate, Managing Director, IDeaS Asia Pacific & Yeoh Siew Hoon |
| 17.00-17.20 |
Coffee with Marc Charron, Managing Director, TripAdvisor Asia Pacific
A one-on-one interview with Marc Charron, who moved to Singapore in July to set up a regional beach-head for TripAdvisor. |
| 17.20-18.00 |
Channeling The Customer, Part 2: Hitting the Second S-Spot Social media stole the spotlight the past year. Will it continue to shine as the superstar of travel or is it totally over-rated and over-hyped? This session will go behind the scenes and look at what's real and ask the crucial questions, can you monetise social media? Can you have a social media strategy? Panellists:
Moderator: Morris Sim, CEO & Co-Founder, Circos Brand Karma |
| 18.00-18.15 |
The Closing Debate: In the new age of the Cloud and Citizen Sharing, the Customer controls your brand, not the other way round.
For: Morris Sim, CEO, Circos Brand Karma
|
| 18.15 |
Closing, Conclusion, Completion |
(Programme correct at time of publication, subject to change)
