HSMAI Asia Pacific and WIT-Web In Travel are teaming up to bring Asia Connect as well as WIT*e, the inspiration and mentoring event run by WIT, to Bangkok.
Asia Connect is a one-day conference, organized by HSMAI Asia Pacific, focused on imparting new knowledge and skills in the travel distribution and marketing space to hospitality professionals. WIT*e – Inspiration & Mentoring is an evening event aimed at grooming tomorrow’s tourism leaders in Asia Pacific.
Said Craig Fong (left), Director of Marketing & Sales of Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket, who is a HSMAI Asia Pacific founding Board of Director member and event organizer for Thailand, “We are delighted to work with WIT, the leading media platform in the travel distribution and marketing area, to bring Asia Connect Thailand and WIT*e to Bangkok.
“The sales and marketing arena is getting more complex with so many new channels opening up requiring hoteliers to be keep abreast of new trends and issues in order to understand the challenges and capture the opportunities.”
Yeoh Siew Hoon, editor of WIT, said, “This is an opportunity for us to bring the idea of WIT*e outside Singapore because we believe that grooming tomorrow’s tourism leaders is something all of Asia needs to do at the rate our tourism industry is growing.
“Travel and tourism students need to be mentored by industry professionals and to be inspired to stay on in the business. Let’s face it, all of us got our start because someone gave us a chance.
“And it’s not only a one-way street – we have found with the five WIT*e we have run in Singapore so far, industry professionals who attend are as inspired by the enthusiasm of the young. WIT*e is about connecting future leaders with industry professionals so that both can learn from each other.”
The one-day Asia Connect and WIT*e will be held at the Dusit Thani Bangkok. Asia Connect will run from 9am to 5pm while WIT*e will start from 6pm in the same venue, the Vimarnsuriya Room.
Asia Connect will kick off with a high-level travel leaders panel, moderated by Siew Hoon. Taking part in the discussion will be Laurent Kuenzle, Managing Director, Asian Trails, Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO, Thai AirAsia, Morris Sim, Co-Founder & CEO, Circos Brand Karma, Jennifer Cronin, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Dusit International and Grahame Tate, Managing Director, IDeaS.
Other topics on the agenda include
o Market Trends: Mid-Year “Temperature Check” by Jonas Ogren, Area Director – Asia, STR Global and Kris Lim, Associate Director – Strategic Intelligence Centre, PATA
o Future of Brands on the Internet by Jinn Powprapai, Managing Director of McCann Erickson
o Strategies and Tactics to Optimize GDS Hotel Distribution by Brett Henry, Vice President – Marketing, Abacus International
o Positioning Thailand as a “Preferred” MICE Destination by Akapol Sorasuchart, President Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)
At WIT*e, the same travel leaders featured in Asia Connect’s opening panel will share their career stories and advice with travel and tourism students and young talent.
In addition, Alex Lombardi, Regional APAC HR Director, of Amadeus which maintains regional its headquarters in Bangkok will share his insights on the latest global recruitment practices and the new skills that are needed in an industry that’s increasingly being driven by technology. Amadeus has 219 offices worldwide and employs a total of 8,999 people.
• To register for Asia Connect, visit http://guest.cvent.com/d/4dqfcx/4W
• To register for WIT*e (attendance is free for students and interns), contact Anocha Saisin at Phone +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext.3103, Fax +66 (0) 2200 9999 Ext. #3018, E-mail [email protected]
Featured image credit (Modern city in a green environment,Suan Lum,Bangkok,Thailand): Ockra/iStock
