11:00

Registration and Refreshments

11:30

Welcome from Neil Simpson, Travel Technology Europe Event Director

11:35

Opening remarks from Chair Simon Ferguson, Chief Executive, TW group

11:45

Keynote Presentation, Francesca Ecsery, Group Sales Director, Cheapflights Ltd

12:15

Panel Discussion - The economy and consumer trends for 2010 and beyond

Following expert insight into the economic indicators and predictions for the next 12 months presented by Lloyds TSB, we open the discussion with key industry figures to assess the effects upon the European travel market, including:

• What can travel businesses do now to secure their future as the European economy rallies?
• Operating in context of the continued increase of economy and rail travel in Europe
• New models for special offers and rewarding consumer loyalty
• How to maintain the percentage of premium paying customers
• The continued importance and impact of business travel

Trevor Williams, Chief Economist, Lloyds TSB

George Morgan-Grenville, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Abercrombie & Kent

Patrik Öqvist, MD Head of European Operations, Viator

Tim Russell, UK and Ireland MD, Amadeus

13:00

Morning coffee and networking

13:15

Panel Discussion - Optimising online marketing and harnessing the true potential of Social Media

Join both industry and out-of-industry experts to discuss the pertinent issues surrounding online marketing and social media, as we establish:

• Just how important are the conversations about your brand that take place online and what level of involvement should you take?
• Can you really provide customer service effectively over social networks and how are negative comments and feedback best handled?
• How important is Twitter really and which are the new social networking sites to watch?
• The profitability/accountability of social media – demonstrating effective use of budget and achieving measurable results
• Building brand through Search, or is brand no longer the be-all and end-all of Search?

Chaired by Kevin May, Editor, Tnooz

Robin Goad, Research Director, Experian Hitwise

Rob Laurens, eCommerce Director, TUI Travel - Activity

Xanthe Arvanitakis, COO, Vexed Digital

Claire Higgins, Head of Marketing, vtravelled.com, Virgin Atlantic

14:00

Lunch

15:00

Merge with exhibition

09:30

Registration and refreshments

09:45

Opening Remarks from the Chair Simon Ferguson, Chief Executive, TW group

10:00

Panel Discussion - Consumer and technology trends across Europe and within the fast-growing economies
As outbound traffic increases from Eastern Europe and the BRIC countries due to a newly mobilising holiday base, we ask:

• What does this mean for the infrastructure of countries with high inbound tourism?
• Which technologies are European travel companies using?
• Are they following the UK model or doing things differently and how they are interacting with UK organisations?

Sarah Smalley, MD, GFK Ascent MI
Axel Mueller,  Commercial Director, Traveltainment
Alan Josephs, CEO, Travel Intelligence Group
Tim Russell, UK & Ireland MD, Amadeus

10:45

Morning coffee and networking

11:00

Case Study - Using technology to power international expansion

Using technology to speed up international expansion       
Pitfalls to avoid in technology planning and roll out        
Bridging the gap between business owners and developers

Patrick Oqvist, MD & Head of European Operations, Viator

isango! Case study
- Using web technology to unbundle the package holiday and offering greater customer choice
- How the Internet is now helping "nichi-ficcation" of consumer search and creating a more level playing field for new entrants- The world is flat and geography is history if you innovate.  How we managed to do core functions like sourcing & product management from India and how we're now entering the US/Australian markets through intelligent localisation of our website
- How small suppliers from around the world can tap into the marketing and technology investments of large affiliates like Qantas and Accor and do business like never before

Deepak Jha, Vice President - Commercial, isango!  

12:00

Panel Discussion - The threat and opportunity of new EU legislation in 2010
In 2010 two fundamental pieces of European tourism legislation are under consideration for reform - the Package Travel Directive (PTD), which establishes the principles of consumer protection whenever two elements of a trip (such as travel and accomodation) are packaged together and the Tour Operations Margin Scheme (TOMS), regulating the application of VAT to tourism.

This discussion provides an update to the discussions in Brussels and explores:

• Will a tougher consumer protection regime, as advocated by some members of the European Parliament, be introduced?
• Will VAT laws be revised?
• What can companies do to ensure their opinions are heard?

Tom Jenkins, Executive Director, ETOA
Tom Parker, Secretary General, ETTSA

12:45

Panel Discussion - The tipping point for mobile?
Mobile has been on the travel sector's horizon for a while but as 3G phones have flooded the market, mobile tariffs have changed to allow cheaper web access and web enabled mobile applications are now widely accessible, presenting an exciting but challenging technology to be harnessed by the travel industry.

• Which mobile web services should you provide?
• How to use mobile as an effective distribution channel
• How transactions will be completed via mobiles

Chaired by Kevin May, Editor, Tnooz
Marco Balabanovic, Head of Innovation, Lastminute.com
Chris Carmichael, Manager of BA.com & Mobile Innovation, BA
Paul Lyonette, Head of Emerging Technologies, Microsoft

13:30

Merge with exhibition for lunch