HOW to get onto the Internet and ways to cut through red tape are two of the topics that will be tackled by this year’s British Travel Trade Fair seminar programme.
Consumer expectations and trends that will influence tourism over the next few years will be examined in a third seminar, and the promotion of England in the new millennium will be dealt with in a fourth session.
There will also be a Question Time session during which members of the tourism industry will examine the topics facing the UK’s tourism sector in the 21st century.
BTTF exhibition director Fiona Jeffery said: “We wanted the seminar sessions to tackle head-on the real issues that confront the industry in what are very challenging times. BTTF brings together people from all sides of the industry, making it an ideal forum for debate.”
All seminars will take place during BTTF in the Concourse Hospitality Suite adjacent to the exhibition hall. Entry is free but places should be booked in advance with Liz Steele on 020 8910 7892. The English Tourism Council is organising three of the seminars. The first, Consumer Futures, presented by the ETC head of research and intelligence Gill Shaw will look at tourism forecasts for next year and analyse how consumer trends and attitudes will influence the industry.
Is Red Tape Crippling Your Business? presented by the ETC’s new head of policy and strategy Richard Dickinson will discuss how the burden of red tape can be eased. During the seminar, entitled the Promotion of England in the New Millennium, the ETC will give details of the research and consultation that has been undertaken to create a new brand image for England.
Travel technology expert Paul Richer will tell delegates attending his seminar entitled Winning Ways on the Web that e-commerce is the single most important challenge facing the British tourism industry. Richer, senior partner of travel technology consultancy Genesys, will tell delegates that selling on the Web will shortly become a central marketing tool.
The panel for Question Time, sponsored by The Tourism Society, includes British Airways Holidays managing director Roger Heape and The Observer travel editor Desmond Balmer.
Bttf seminar schedule
Wednesday
11.30am-12.15pm: Consumer Futures Forecasts for 2000/2001
Presented by Gill Shaw, head of research and intelligence,English Tourism Council.
2pm-2.45pm: The Promotion of England in the New Millennium
Presented by Catriona Campbell, English Tourism Council and Joanna Royle, Yorkshire Tourist Board.
3.15pm- 4pm: Winning Ways on the Web
Presented by Paul Richer, senior partner Genesys, The Travel Technology Consultancy.
Thursday
11am-11.45am: Question Time with Tourism Professionals
On the panel are Champneys managing director Ord Thurso, British Airways Holidays managing director Roger Heape and The Observer travel editor Desmond Balmer.
1.30pm-2.30pm: Is Red Tape Crippling Your Business?
Presented by Richard Dickinson, head of policy and strategy, English Tourism Council and a panel of regulatory representatives.