I just returned from the Travel Distribution Summit in Beijing and what an interesting event in terms of what it revealed about the China online travel market.
 
This is one market that continues to seduce yet remains elusive to foreign global players and if anything, this year, the whole chestnut of globalization versus localization was even hotter.

If you read my post - www.webintravel.com/news/gds-likened-to-nuclear-weapons-what-works-outside-may-not-work-in-china_604 - from the event last week, you'll know what I mean.
 
Then there were predictions made about the decline of hotel wholesalers and how the rise of travel apps would favour intermediaries, and lots of insights into how the Chinese customer was changing.
 
So here's why I am really excited about the Web In Travel Conference next month. Unlike last year, when all of us were feeling rather fragile and vulnerable in a year of Tough Love, this year we will see some clear lines drawn in the sand on certain issues.
 
Global vs local – will local brands in huge domestic markets such as MakeMyTrip and CTrip be able to expand outside their shores or will they face similar problems as their global brethren have in expanding across Asia, travel apps vs browsers, wholesale model vs merchant model, brands vs independents, meta search and social media, mobile + more mobile, brand control vs customer control – all our panels have been carefully constructed to create debate around these burning questions.
 
Our inaugural Entrepreneur Bootcamp on October 18 will also unearth some new business ideas and fresh talent.
 
Beyond the content, we have also lined up lots of matching and networking opportunities during our breaks and social events so you can make new friends and catch up with old ones.
 
Our conference rate is US$1,088, good value for what we have put together. It allows you entry into five days of learning, networking and fun from the WITovation Entrepreneur Bootcamp on Oct 18 to the WIT Ideas Lab and WIT Clinics at ITB Asia and, of course, the main event, the WIT Conference.
 
Come join us for the sixth edition of Web In Travel and be part of the conversation that will set the agenda for the future of online travel in Asia Pacific.

For more enquiries, please contact Gerry Pang at gerry@webintravel.com or +65 979 77730 or visit www.webintravel.com for more information.
 
See you in October.
Siew Hoon