ASIA'S first home-grown travel distribution and technology conference – Wired 2005, Asia Travel Matrix – was launched today with a three-year marketing commitment from the Singapore Tourism Board. 

Wired 2005 (www.wiredasia.biz) will bring together all major Asian industry players in travel's most dynamic sector, reflecting the increasing maturity of the regional travel technology and distribution market.

Based on three basic pillars - Bold Thinking, Fresh Ideas, New Technology – Wired 2005, which will be held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore on October 20-21, has already won strong industry support.

Partners include Akamai, Yahoo! South-east Asia, Pegasus, HEDNA (Hotel Electronic Data Network Association). Media partners include Travel Trade Report, www.ehotelier.com and click to read 2005: Asia Travel Matrix has been founded by two of the region's leading travel communication specialists - Yeoh Siew Hoon and Martin Kelly.

"We saw a niche for a travel distribution event that truly understands the Asian marketplace and its incredible diversity," said Siew Hoon.

Kelly added that the pair had a long-term strategy to build the event into the regional market leader.

"We want Wired 2005 to foster bold thinking, fresh ideas and new technologies," he said.

"Our sessions will be designed to facilitate thought-provoking debate and stimulating discussions and we want it to become the launching pad for new technologies with travel applications."


The STB's Acting Asst Chief Executive Business Travel & MICE, Aloysius Arlando, said he believed the event has great potential.

"We want to see Wired grow to become a signature event for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in Asia," Mr Arlando said.

He said this was in line with STB's goals of developing strategic clusters of events to support Singapore's meetings and conferences sector.

"We hope in time that, under the Asia Travel Matrix banner, Wired will become one of a few key events under this cluster."

Background:
Yeoh Siew Hoon is a respected industry commentator whose stories appear in numerous publications and websites throughout Asia. She is also the former editorial director of Travel Weekly, Travel Asia and TTG Asia, and has extensive experience in creating and running events. She recently launched www.shy-connection.com, which features ‘Mile High', a travel e-zine with a difference.

Martin Kelly runs TRAVELtech, Australia's benchmark annual technology and distribution event, and the highly successful Search Engine Room online marketing conference. He recently founded www.traveltechasiapacific.com - a regional travel technology news service.

Working with them on Wired 2005 as event manager is Vera Lye, an experienced travel technology journalist, based in Singapore.

Further Information:

Yeoh Siew Hoon                                                         Martin Kelly
Phone: 65-6342-4934                                                 Phone: 612-9882-1575
Mobile: 65-9680-1460                                                 Mobile: 61-414-774-978
Email: yeoh.sh@pacific.net.sg                                   Email:  mjk@iform.com.au

Vera Lye
Phone: 65-97467377
Email: vera@allrave.com