This coming March the Travel Distribution Summit Asia 2007 is returning to Singapore, a selection of the most highly qualified speakers from the most trusted worldwide travel brands, will meet to discuss the opportunities and challenges of this evolving market. Companies represented include: Expedia, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Blue, Shangri La Hotels and Resorts, Hilton, Continental Airlines, MakeMyTrip.com, Abacus, Travelport, Europcar, Yahoo!, Zuji, SpiceJet and many more. (for a full list of speakers scroll to the bottom of this article)

For a full agenda and list of speakers please visit: www.eyefortravel.com/tdsasia2007/conference/agenda.shtml

(Book before December 15th to receive early bird discounts)

It is widely accepted that the Asia Pacific region is the world's most dynamic travel market, growing by an impressive 31.4% in 2005. The freeing up of travel regulations which had previously hindered the region's growth, is moving the industry forward at an unprecedented rate. Greater consumer buying power has given rise to a huge increase in the number of travel suppliers and choices offered. Major travel solution providers, aware of the enormous potential, are acting swiftly to ensure that they are first in to stake their claim on the market. This surge in competition has meant the importance of a well packaged, distributed and marketed product is essential to remaining competitive.

For more information on this event www.eyefortravel.com/tdsasia2007

The first day opens with an essential look at the changing face of distribution in Asia. Most of the region's major players will be there, including Travelport, Abacus, and Sabre. If previous years are anything to go by, this promises to be an informative cross-section of opinions with an in-depth insight into the future direction of product distribution.

Continuing on throughout the day the focus shifts to low cost carriers and the impact this influential phenomenon has had in Asia this past year. The speed at which the market is developing can be attributed in part to the rise in penetration of budget carriers, where a 4% increase in market share last year speaks for itself. Sharing their views on the opportunities and threats this creates are some of the more successful new entrants in the industry, including GoAir, Nok Air and SpiceJet.

The second day sees a detailed evaluation of the changing relationship between intermediary sales, and the increasingly popular use of direct sales. The Asian market has been handicapped by the difficulty of prying consumers away from trusted traditional booking methods, to online systems. Until now progress has been slow, however things are rapidly changing as suppliers find new and innovative ways of encouraging online adoption. Hear the developing trends and future predictions from industry leaders Expedia, Millennium Copthorne, and Continental Airlines.

Although learning from its predecessors Europe and North America, Asia has its own very unique set of hurdles to overcome to fulfill its massive potential. ‘Asia' has become the current travel buzz word, and the high level of Asia-focused discussion at the recent WTM is proof of this. To close out the two days of the conference, other topics being covered include sales and marketing, revenue management and new market studies focusing on the huge emerging markets of China and India.

EyeforTravel is a global online publisher and conference company focusing on distribution, marketing and technology developments in the travel and tourism industries.  Their conferences are renowned as key meeting places for senior-level executives, from across the industry, to meet, network and discuss strategy.  To find out more visit: eyefortravel.com

Delegates can also qualify for the early-bird discount they book before 15th December 2006.  For information on reserving your place visit:

https://secure.firstconf.com/travel/tdsasia2007/conference/register_request.asp

Contact:
Reece Gladstone
EyeforTravel
+44 (0)207 375 7158
reece@eyefortravel.com

Current speaker list…

• Rogelio Sarreal…Sabre…VP Asia Pacific
• Don Birch…Abacus…CEO
• Simon Nowroz…Travelport…Regional Managing Director for Asia
• Jinou Park…Millennium and Copthorne…VP Global Distribution and Revenue Management
• Niall White…House of Travel…Director of Strategic Change
• Pascal Bordat…Fare.net…CEO
• Scott Ohman…Cathay Pacific…Manager of eBusiness
• Stefan Wolf….Shangri La Hotels…Director of Revenue Management
• Mark Bowmer…Qantas…Director of Distribution Strategy
• Deep Kalra…MakeMyTrip.com…CEO
• Dhruv Shringi…Yatra…Founder
• Olivier Dombey…Pegasus…VP Sales and Account Management Asia Pacific
• Roy Graff…China Contact…Managing Director
• William Bao Bean…Deutsche Bank Securities…VP Equity Research
• Patee Sarasin…Nokair…CEO
• Steven Greenway… Virgin Blue… Head of eCommerce
• Chris Amenechi… Continental Airlines… Senior Director - International eCommerce and Distribution Planning
• Reza Behnam… Yahoo!… Managing Director South East Asia
• Belson Courtinho… Jet Airways… Manager of eCommerce and Distribution
• Martin Symes… Bezurk… CEO
• Douglas Khoo... Qunar... Co-Founder
• Raj Halve... GoAir... CCO
• Tina di Cicco... Viva Macau... Global Head of Marketing
• Roshan Mendis... Zuji... Director of Supplier Relations and Partnerships
• Caroline Leong... Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts... Group Distribution Director
• Massimo Brancaleoni... Costa Crociere... Vice President
• Sanjay Kumar… SpiceJet… VP – Planning and Marketing
• Moshe Rafiah… TRAVELfusion… CEO
• Mike McDermott… Lonely Planet… Travel Services Manager
• Puneet Mahindroo… Taj Hotels and Palaces… Director of Revenue Management
• Kevin Croley... Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts... Vice President, Sales and Marketing
• Jehan de Thé… Europcar… Global Marketing Director 
• Urrshila Kerkar… Cox & Kings… CEO
• Ben George… Hilton… Revenue Management Director, Asia Pacific
• Alan Featherby… Rendezvous Hotels and Resorts… CEO
• Henrik Kjellberg… Expedia… SVP International Lodging and Destination Services
• Steven Pinchuk… Harrahs Entertainment… VP Revenue Management
• Eka Ginting… indo.com… CEO
• Jeff Lavender… GoMacau.com… CEO
• Soren Lanngelund… Mobile Travel Technologies… Director for Asia