THIS year’s World Travel Market will have the biggest technology representation so far, with a record 50 companies exhibiting their systems and services and a seminar programme dedicated to the latest technological advances.
The Global Village, WTM’s technology area, will have 13 new exhibitors including Teletext, demonstrating its Web-based and forthcoming digital service, and Cable and Wireless, set to debut a pre-paid calling card at the show.
The variety of technology on display ranges from telephone cards and in-room hotel entertainment systems to updated booking systems.
Many of the new products at the show rely on using the Internet, the fastest-growing technology medium.Recent research suggests that Net bookings are set to account for 10% of holidays booked by 2003. Tour operator systems supplier Anite will be showcasing the Internet reservation system it has developed for Direct Holidays.
Direct plans to sell 10,000 holidays over its Web site by the end of the year. The company’s site carries detailed information about the company, its resorts and accommodation.
Small agency chains and start-up companies will be the target market for new developments from global distribution system suppliers Worldspan and Galileo.
Worldspan will use WTM to launch the Worldspan Net Internet-based booking system, a smaller, cheaper version of its GDS. Small agencies are the target market for the browser-based version.
On hand to answer questions will be senior director sales development and marketing Tim Wright, business development manager Sharon Pawley, international sales managers Harry Paice and John Farrelly and marketing communications manager Laurence Dalmasso.
Galileo will use the show to promote FocalpointNet, a browser-based version of the GDS, also designed for the smaller travel agency. Delegates can find out about Viewpoint, the company’s graphical user interface, designed to make booking on the Galileo system easy for new staff who are not familiar with the industry.
Manning the stand will be key staff including Galileo UK’s general manager sales and marketing Peter Grover.
After visiting the stands, delegates can sit in on a series of seminars about the Internet. There will be 10 sessions lasting 45mins during the show, on such topics as: how to build a Web site; security on the Internet; and whether the Net will be the demise of the high-street travel agent.
For more information, go to the WTM Web site at www.travel.reedexpo.com.
n Tour operator systems supplier JFA will launch a windows-based system aimed at small to medium-sized tour operators. The package, which runs on PCs, is billed as a user friendly system, specially designed for people who are not computer literate and for small companies who do not have a dedicated technology expert or systems department.