LOS ANGELES— The downturn in business travel isn’t preventing new conferences from popping up— EyeforTravel is adding another event to the list this September with the launch of its first-ever “Wireless in the Travel Industry” conference and exhibition. Being held September 11-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the new wireless travel conference is part of the PCIA Global XChange exhibit sponsored by Worldspan, Sabre, AvantGo, and many others. Approximately 200 wireless travel executives will gather to discuss the effects of the Internet and mobile communications on the industry, as well as how wireless devices will effect electronic commerce in the future. “Over the last five years, [the web]has caused incredible industry upheaval. Today one-in-three web transactions is travel related,” said Carl Goodman, event director/EyeforTravel. “Wireless could have an even greater effect on the way travel is sold. Wireless could become the main distribution channel for the travel industry.” Though online sales are picking up, totaling almost $1.03 billion in March 2001 according to EyeforTravel, it is still yet to be determined whether wireless transactions will be as popular. “This is the world’s first wireless event that concentrates on all areas of the travel industry. Lots of skeptics have said it is too early, but the quality of our speakers is very high. We have lots of great sponsors, and bookings are already coming in at this early stage,” said Goodman. The list of keynote speakers for the conference includes Scott Heintzeman, CIO/Carlson Hotels Worldwide; Bob Offutt, svp/Sabre; and Don Addington, manager of mobile commerce/Travelocity. Currently, Carlson is the only hotel chain scheduled to participate at the conference, but Goodman said he hopes to get more hotel executives “on board to speak in some of [the]remaining panel slots,” which will discuss the use of wireless devices in the hotel industry. “Internally, hotels can offer much greater customer service to their guests by allowing hotel staff to communicate more effectively through wireless devices,” he said. “Externally travelers will be able to book online anytime, anywhere, and will make use of wireless check-in services at hotels. It will be especially effective for business travelers who need their itineraries to work like clockwork.” He added that despite the downturn in business travel, and the recent bankruptcy of eMarketWorld— sponsor of the eTravelWorld conference— EyeforTravel is still expecting the new wireless conference to be a success. “The global economy is slowing down. This will affect our shows, it has to, but the travel industry is now reaping the awards of its earlier investment in the web. I believe the industry will see the potential of wireless and will be keen to find out all they can,” said Goodman. He added that eTravelWorld grew quickly and had great events, but “unfortunately they had to spend a lot of money to do this.” Currently, EyeforTravel’s attendance rate is up for 2001 and Goodman expects it “to continue with [its]fall shows.”
