Social Media Portal

Learn what audiences experienced at the Digital Travel Summit APAC 2017 with Prachi Panda

Social Media Portal (SMP): What is your name and what do you do there for the Digital Travel Summit APAC 2017?

Prachi Panda (PP): I?m Prachi Panda, conference director for Digital Travel Summit APAC. I conduct 2-3 months of research for the conference with leading c-level industry experts, put together the agenda for the event based on that, identify and collaborate with all speakers. I also outline the objectives for and support our internal teams to achieve a great experience for all attendees of the conference on-site.

SMP: Briefly, tell us about Digital Travel Summit APAC 2017

PP: Digital Travel APAC is the region?s most senior-level e-commerce and digital event for travel.

The event in 2017 (held between the 25-27th of April 2017) at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. strived to be the leading platform in APAC for high-level and forward looking exchange of ideas, interactive discussions for travel brands in the region and help them evaluate which technologies such as mobile solutions, CRM and payment solutions, or AR, VR and AI will work best for them.



SMP: How long has the event been going and why it is needed for the sector?

PP: Digital Travel is a global series of conferences conducted by Worldwide Business Research (WBR). 2017 was the second annual APAC Edition of Digital Travel Summit.

This conference is needed for the travel sector in APAC since it is the only platform for influencers in the sector to join a highly interactive agenda mixing case studies, roundtables, debates, panel and deep dive country clinics ensuring all attendees can pick and choose sessions of their choice and find real solutions to each of their pain points.

SMP: Who were your target audience and why?

PP: We brought together over 300 VPs and directors of ecommerce, digital, digital marketing, mobile and social media from APAC?s leading airlines, hotels, OTAs, cruise lines and car rentals. The goal has always been to focus on key and pressing current issues including delivering seamless multi-channel booking for today?s connected travellers, powering conversion, perfecting customer experience, re-defining loyalty, personalizing online experience, maximizing industry partnerships and more.

SMP: Who were the main guest speakers and keynotes?

PP: Just some of the highlights included:

• Oxford style debates on:
• OTAs and Google are on a collision course and there isn?t room for both which was won by Puneet Mahindroo, Corporate Director, Revenue Management, APAC, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
• Price vs. Loyalty. In today?s price-sensitive market loyalty no longer exists, which was won by Leanne Hucker, Director of Sales and Marketing, The Siam, Thailand.

• Exclusive VP and director only boardroom discussion on navigating the ocean of technology that was led by John Sinke, Assistant Vice President, Digital Marketing, eCommerce and Social Media, Resorts World Sentosa
  
  
• An exclusive Airlines Think Tank discussing how to utilize digital to be relevant with potential customers led by Kyota Chikazawa, Marketing and Sales Supervisor, All Nippon Airways
  
  
• Interactive Dragon?s Den to end the conference with exciting companies such as Anywhr, ZuZu Hotels, Jovago and Waynaut which was won by Zelia Leong from Anywhr.

SMP: What do you hope delegates have taken away from the event?

PP: We hope that all delegates can find practical solutions to their most pressing challenges, be exposed to new areas of opportunities that will exponentially increase profits, network with and find the right partners to work and scale their businesses with.

SMP: What were the challenges you saw discussed at the Digital Travel Summit APAC 2017?

PP: Just a few of the issues raised at the summit included:

• How to combat pricing competition?
• How to inspire your team to think innovatively about creating and delivering a distinctive customer experience?
• How to use ?phygital? bespoke customer experiences to drive growth?
• How to create a practical and profitable real-time personalization strategy?
• How to exploit data analytics and personalisation on an enterprise wide level to gain an information edge over your competitors?
• How to overcome cross-device complexity to enrich customer experience and reduce the friction of travel?

SMP: What are the high moments of what you have been doing so far?

PP: The event really coming together with all senior speakers, attendees and sponsors flying over from all across the region and sharing their success stories with each other was definitely a high point!

It was also great to receive fantastic feedback from the audiences, I?m happy to share some:

Digital Travel APAC is one of the best travel conferences and you cannot afford to miss it.
- Dyson Yu, Vice President, Digital Marketing and eCommerce, Dream Cruises

Digital Travel APAC lets you attend only the most relevant sessions allowing ample time for networking. This year, the event has firmly established itself as the leading travel conference.
- John Sinke, AVP Digital Marketing, e-Commerce & Social Media, Resorts World Sentosa

One of the premier conferences in the APAC region which covers the "To Do Stuff" in digital and travel making it most relevant for both startups and established companies wanting to expand their footprint in the region
- Rajat Suri, Head of Business Growth, Musafir.com

We met potential partners and industry thought leaders with whom we were able to productively engage. For summit partners and visitors alike, this is already a must-attend event on the industry calendar!
- Nick Tubb, General Manager Asia Pacific, Ingenico ePayments

SMP: Best way to contact you and Digital Travel Summit APAC 2017?

PP: Three ways to get in touch with us:

Website https://digitaltravelapac.wbresearch.com/
Email sgwbrinfo@wbresearch.com
Or call us using +65 6722 9455

SMP: How can stakeholders get involved for the next event?

Email us at sgwbrinfo@wbresearch.com and we?ll be glad to help.
Guest speakers can head to the speaker submission webpage while sponsors can use the sponsor page or more information.  

SMP: What the best way for delegates to get involved and where do they register for 2018?

PP: Registration is not open yet but delegates are welcome to email us at sgwbrinfo@wbresearch.com to reserve their seat.



SMP: Where can content be viewed for people that couldn?t attend?

PP: Content is always available on our website. Simply click through to our website media centre to view more.

SMP: Is there anything else we should know?

PP: We?ve already started prepping for Digital Travel APAC 2018 which will be happening between 17-19 April 2018 at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. Drop us an email at sgwbrinfo@wbresearch.com to reserve your seat.




SMP: What was on the menu at the event?

PP: We had a buffet of Asian fusion cuisine. We also had a very unique Teh Tarik station in our exhibition area!

SMP: Share a good thing you did for someone at the event?

PP: Some of the speakers were chairing tracks, doing a standalone presentation and leading an interactive session through one day, so I made sure that they had everything they needed, had eaten and gotten enough coffee!
    
SMP: What was the first thing you did when you got in to the office after the event?

PP: I collated some initial feedback and wrote thank you notes to the speakers.

SMP: If you had an event superpower what would it be and why?

PP: It would be to be able to attend all of the sessions at the same time.

We spend significant amount of time working closely with the speakers for each session to make sure they are interesting, innovative and practical! But given the fact that we have multiple tracks, everyone has to pick and choose which session they can be a part of. It would be great to be able to hear from all the expert speakers onsite!

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