ITB
ITB Berlin CONVENTION 19 Media Titans, Innovators and European Travel Leaders Headline at PhoCusWright@ITB Travel industry research authority PhoCusWright is holding a pioneering programme for its premier European event, PhoCusWright@ ITB Berlin, taking place Wednesday 6 th March 2013 in conjunction with ITB Berlin. Now in its eighth year, PhoCusWright@ITB is designed to help executives capitalize on the advances, strategies and innovations that are shaping the global travel, tourism and hospitality marketplace. This year’s program brings together travel startups, media powerhouses, social pioneers and several of Europe’s key travel companies to debate and define the future of travel. Confirmed speakers include executives from Accor, Google, Facebook, Airbnb, Odigeo, Hotels.com and more. PhoCusWright analysts will share insights on key European travel trends and deliver groundbreaking research on the emerging Middle East travel market and the travel payments landscape. Lively roundtable sessions will assess the state of travel startups and examine how travel’s new intermediaries are disrupting the marketplace. PhoCusWright@ITB is followed by The PhoCusWright New Media Summit (7 th March 2013), which draws new media professionals to Berlin each year to engage with other social media enthusiasts, share strategies and weigh in on what’s next for mobile and social. High Demand at ITB Berlin from the Middle East, Asia and South America Worldwide demand for floor space at ITB Berlin is high, especially from Arab and Asian countries and South America. The Travel Technology Hall (Hall 6.1) features leading companies, eTravelWorld experts will be giving lectures and workshops debating the latest social media and mobile travel services topics, and the Gay & Lesbian Travel section in Hall 2.1 is also set to expand. Newcomers and regular exhibitors in the Mobile Travel and Social Media sections are presenting their innovations and new products in Hall 7.1c. At this year’s eTravelWorld experts are again debating industry topics including The Opportunities and Risks of the Social Web for the Travel Industry and More Efficient Travel Using eTravel, Navigation and Mobile Travel Guides. Focus on the Silk Road and the Danube region Together with UNWTO ITB Berlin will be paying special attention to the development of tourism along the Silk Road. Following its successful launch last year a second edition of the Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting takes place on 6 March 2013. Seven of the ten countries bordering the Danube are joining forces at ITB Berlin 2013 with the common goal of drawing visitors’ attention to this region. Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Serbia are providing information on the various aspects and diversity of the region. New Travel Markets Spotlighted in Destination Days At the ITB Berlin Convention, this year’s Destination Days, sponsored by the ITB Advisory, provide wide-ranging information and highlighting best practices. The focus is on fast-growing travel markets such as health and barrier-free tourism, sustainable tourism, gay and lesbian tourism, as well as on emerging markets in Asia, South America, Spain, Turkey, Egypt and the Danube region. The Africa Forum is discussing Kaza, a joint development venture involving five African countries, for South America, the theme is Safety in Tourism, and a Health Tourism Panel features experts who will define target audiences, and analyse the market situation as well as this segment’s future prospects. ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 6 th March 2013
