WIT 2009: TOUGH LOVE



DAY TWO, OCT 21, 2009
Ballroom 2, Level 2, Suntec Convention Centre
9.00-10.00 Opening ceremony, ITB Asia (Theatre)
10.10-10.20 WIT Day Two opens, Ballroom 2
10.20-10.50 SHY's People: Coffee with Michael Peschardt
Yeoh Siew Hoon turns the tables on Michael Peschardt, the host of Peschardt's People, a TV documentary which profiles fascinating people all over the world. In this one-on-one, she will find out the man behind the TV personality and his impressions of the world he moves through, the places he's visited and the people he's encountered. Prior to hosting his own show on BBC World, Michael spent 15 years as the BBC's foreign correspondent in Australia.
10.50-11.10 Market Spotlight

Vietnam's being tipped as one of Asia's most exciting, new online travel markets; the Indian market continues to grow and evolve; and China – the big story in Asia that gets bigger. This session, led by Ram Badrinathan, will throw the spotlight on the opportunities in the Asia Pacific market.
  • Tran Minh Phuong, David, CEO & Co-Founder, Chudu24, Vietnam
  • Vinay Gupta, Founder, Via, India (www.viaworld.in)
  • Anya Zhao, Marketing Director Ecommerce, Air China
Moderator: Ram Badrinathan, General Manager-Asia Pacific, PhoCusWright Inc
11.10-11.50 Panel Debate: Is Content Really King or Is It All About Price?

We've heard it many times – content is king. No content, no honey, darling. But is that all hype? Whether it's UGC or rich media, does content really matter when it comes to making money? Or is it all about price? This panel will cut to the heart of the online travel space.
  • Frank Trampert, Executive Vice President-Revenue Generation, Asia Pacific, Carlson Hotels Worldwide
  • Maria Taylor, Vice President-Distribution, Accor Asia Pacific
  • Giles Longhurst, Head of Business Development, EMEA & APAC, Frommer’s Unlimited
  • Jens Thraenhart, CEO, Chameleon Strategies
  • Takanobu Yamamoto, Trip Advisor, Japan

Moderator: Morris Sim, CEO, Circos.com
11.50-12.20 No Events, No Money

  • Robin Lokerman, Managing Director, MCI Asia Pacific (Hear Robin's podcast)
  • Jill Henry, CEO, Sarawak Convention Bureau
  • Sandra Chipchase, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau (Hear Sandra's podcast)
Moderator: Elizabeth Rich, Executive Director, Business Events Council of Australia

If there is one sector that’s been hit hardest by the financial meltdown, it was the business events sector. Suddenly, corporate events became a dirty word and were labeled as junkets. Find out how you can help your customers feel good again about spending on events, and how you can differentiate your sell with new channels in the rapidly changing segment of business events.
12.20-13.00
 The WIT Customer Stand-Off

At the end of the day, no matter your platform or business model, everyone wants to reach the customer. But who plays a bigger role in how customers plan, and book their travel, and whose role will gain in importance over time? This Stand-Off, which will focus on the leisure travel segment, will put different players in the travel value chain in front of a WIT-selected consumer panel. Each player representing different parts of the supply chain – meta-search, content, social media, rich media, OTA, supplier direct, travel agent and an alternative service provider – will pitch their value in 2 minutes each to a panel of consumers, who will then rate their pitch on a scale of 1 to 5. The outcome – a scoreboard of how our customers rate the importance of the different players in the travel planning and booking process.

  • Supply Chain – Gerry Oh, Vice President-South-east Asia, Jet Airways (India); Aileen Clemente, Rajah Tours, Philippines; Richard Huggins, Sales Director, Microsoft Online Services Group, Southeast Asia; Martin Symes, CEO, Wego.com; Giles Longhurst, Head of Business Development, EMEA & APAC, Frommer’s Unlimited; Takanobu Yamamoto, Trip Advisor, Japan; David Chambat, TVTrip; Grant Colquhoun, Director of Hotels, Travelocity

  • Customer Panel – Luke Clark, Alison Marshall, Dave Lim, Carl Griffith and Wang Cheng Foon

    • Moderators: Yeoh Siew Hoon and Gordon Locke
    13.00-13.20
    		 The Final Debate: What conquers all: Love or Money?

    A finale that will pit two of WIT’s champion debators against each other. Audience voting decides the winner.
    • Money: Martin Symes, CEO, Wego
    • Love: Bruce Hancock, Director of Operations, Asian Oasis, Thailand
    Adjudicator: Michael Peschardt
    13.20-13.30
    		 WIT, The Main Event ends

    Note:     Programme correct at time of publication and is subject to change.