World Travel Market 2013, the leading global event for the travel industry, has an impressive line up of social media speakers including senior executives from Facebook and Google.
The WTM Travel Perspective programme, sponsored by Global Distribution System Sabre and part of the content to support the new The Travel Tech Show at WTM, starts on Tuesday 5 November with a keynote session from Facebook Head of Travel Lee McCabe. The session – entitled Facebook and Targeting: Finding the People that Matter to You – will explore how powerful Facebook is as an advertising platform.
“Travel is in Facebook’s DNA. More people share their travel milestones on Facebook, such as departing for a holiday or sharing a photo from their travels, than any other important events,” McCabe said
“In fact, more than 70% of Facebook users update their status and/or share photos while on holiday. This is why travel companies are reaching out to Facebook to find the people that matter to them.”
The session takes place in South Gallery Rooms 23-26 at 10.30am
Wednesday 6 November sees Google’s Industry Head for Tour Operators Sarah McDonald takes the stage as the first keynote speaker of the day.
Sarah McDonald joined the Google Travel team in 2006, acting as digital consultant to online travel agencies and hotel suppliers throughout Europe. Prior to Google she worked for student travel agent STA Travel as Internet Sales and Marketing Manager.
She is followed by former WordPress user interface designer John O’Nolan. O’Nolan has built blogs for Microsoft, Virgin Atlantic, easyJet and Nokia. He has also raised $300,000 to build brand new blogging platform Ghost. He will tell delegates about his experience at WordPress and how his new platform will shake up online publishing.
Both sessions takes place in South Gallery Rooms 19-22 from 10.30am.
Reed Travel Exhibitions, Senior Director, World Travel Market, Simon Press said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome senior speakers from both Google and Facebook to WTM 2013.
“The WTM Travel Perspective Programme has been incredibly popular since being introduced in 2011, and this year’s programme looks set to be even better attended.”
Mark Frary, co-founder of Travel Perspective, said: “It is exciting to see all of the strands of social, technology, mobile and blogging come together under the single banner of the Travel Tech Show at WTM for the first time.
“The WTM Travel Perspective sessions will run over three days and there is more space than ever before for people to listen to the latest thinking from Facebook and Google. We are also launching Fresh, aimed at start-ups in the sector. As well as offering advice to those wanting to turn an idea into reality, there will be an elevator pitch session for individuals and teams with fledgling ideas in social travel and travel planning.”
