WTM tackles e-commerce

TWO hard-hitting hour-and-a-half debates with senior industry experts and a series of daily seminars will form part of World Travel Market (WTM) 2000's attempt to get to grips with the problems and challenges of e-travel.
Exhibition director, Fiona Jeffery, said the topic was the most important development in the industry since the birth of the package holiday. "The debates are definitely not to be missed. They will sweep away the promotional hype and lay the subject bare for scrutiny on a domestic and global scale."
Respected in the industry, American journalist and editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly US, Alan Fredericks, will chair a panel on Tuesday, November 14 at the central feature area, where the subject will be 'e-travel: Evolution or Revolution.' Speakers will include:
* Clive Jacobs, chairman and ceo of Holiday Autos Group Ltd;
* Simon Vincent, chief operating officer for Thomas Cook's UK distribution division;
* Charles McKee, senior vice president of Lastminute.com, and
* Laura Haines, managing director of brand consultancy, Appetite, formerly Beresfords.
The second debate, to be held on Thursday, November 16, again at the central feature area, addresses the pressure presently on travel agents to react to the boom in Web commerce and will be chaired by Jeremy Skidmore, editor of the UK's Travel Weekly. The debate here will focus on whether or not agents have a future. Speakers will include Steve Endacott, managing director of Holidays By Phone; Gary Wardrope, commercial director of The Travel Channel and Colin Heal, chairman of ARTAC Worldchoice, an 800-strong group of independent agents.
All the debates and seminars can be booked prior to WTM which takes place between November 13-16 at Earls Court in London.

(Miguel de Sousa)