Thanks to the speakers and the 120 people who showed up: we certainly learnt a lot from it which is why we know the second WIT*e, happening on Thursday June 25, will be an event you won't want to miss.

First up on the menu is my interview with Giovanni Angelini, former CEO & MD, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. Giovanni reminded me the other day of how long we have known each other and we both laughed at the swift passage of time. I have always considered Giovanni a friend, mentor and a source of inspiration in my career and I look forward to getting him to share his career experiences and life philosophy with you.

Then we will have a short and sharp Tech Talk – the online and technology space is the fastest growing segment of our business and it deserves an airing. I will be discussing career opportunities in that space with IT veteran, Timothy O'Neil Dunne, Managing Partner, T2 Impact, and start-up newbie, Morris Sim, CEO of Circos.com. It'll be interesting to hear their contrasting perspectives.

Next up is Talent Time – no, not a WIT*e Idol (unless you absolutely demand it) but a panel discussion moderated by Andrew Chan, CEO of TMS Asia Pacific that will focus on talent management issues and how companies market themselves to employees.

On the panel are Evelyn Goh, Vice President-Talent Management, Pan Pacific Hotels Group; Frank Trampert, Executive Vice President, Revenue Generation, Carlson Hotels Worldwide-Asia; and Tony Lai, ACE (Sector Planning & Development), Singapore Tourism Board.

Our "Mahana and Haka man" Bruce Hancock, Director of Operations, Asian Oasis, Thailand will be back and he's got a few more surprises in store for you.

Our mentors/sponsors that night include HSMAI, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Sabre Airline Solutions/Sabre Travel Network, SynXis Asia Pacific, ZUJI/Travelocity, Travelport, WORLDHOTELS, Geek Terminal, Jetstar Asia, Accor Asia Pacific, Stream Global (a mentoring venture capitalist) and ITB Asia.

So join us at Cinnamon Room, Level 5, Novotel Clarke Quay, which by the way did such a superb job with the food and "Tough Love" cocktails. We guarantee you that not only the drinks and food will be flowing, but also the inspiration and mentoring. At $20 a head, it's the best deal of the year.

WIT–tily yours, Siew Hoon

PS To register, contact Illka Gobius ig@illkagobius.com; T +65 9105 8268
 
You can also RSVP to our Facebook event page at

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=89795784817&ref=nf#/event.php?eid=89795784817

4Hoteliers is the only Official Daily News" of WIT09

www.webintravel.com - October 20-23, 2009 Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore