Free seminar! But first come first served!

There are just a five days to go, fellow delegates!

Apart from the Travolution seminar sessions, another highlight is expected to be the Expert Panel Discussion on the first day of the show.

Lining up on stage for the session will be:

• Robert Farrell, general manager programme office, Virgin Holidays
  
• Richard Mintern, group chief information officer, Monarch/Cosmos
• Humphrey Sheil, chief technology officer, Comtec
• Mark Thompson, sector IT and marketing director, TUI Travel PLC
• Andy Tidy, e-commerce project director, Thomas Cook

Making sure they all behave will be Andy Boyce, director, Travology.

It's a free session! You just need to make sure you're there early at the presentation theatre between 1pm and 2.45pm.

10 questions to ask a tour operator reservation system supplier

A guest post from Alex Bainbridge of Travel UCD:

Next week in London is the annual Travel Technology Show… Now for us travel technology geeks this is high pressure stuff. Not only do we get to pretend we know something about Sales and marketing (!) - but we have to expose to our friends and competitors what we have been up to for the last 12 months.

I am going to be both exhibiting (Stand A49 TourCMS - don’t miss it!) and talking at a seminar on the Wednesday. (Please come - I might be in a seminar about legacy systems - but I will be talking about the future!)

For me in the last 12 months I have been busy busy busy. The “consulting” side of what I do is undisclosed…. I like remaining a “back room boy” for some of the larger UK travel companies.

Being a “back room boy” I have been involved (indeed project managed!) a number of tour operator reservation system change projects. From experience, these tend to be hell. This is because not only do you have to manage expectations (both positive that the new system will be amazing, but negative because some people’s jobs are no longer necessary) but also get projects delivered on time and on budget.

So if you are going to the show next week and are looking for a new system - here are my top 10 questions to ask a potential system supplier:

• Are developments to the core system possible to be undertaken by customer request? If you have a need for a particular development - can you request a development?
• What proportion of your developments are instigated by customers vs the system supplier? - I like to see a share of, say, 50%/50% between developments that the customers want vs those that the system supplier wants. (Remember that the system supplier will want developments that increase potential sales whilst existing customers want developments that help fix their existing business challenges)
• If you pay for a core system development - how long do you retain competitive advantage? Some suppliers say that if you pay 100% for a development you can “lock out” competitors for 18 months. If you pay 50% of a development cost - you can lock out competitors on the same system for 12 months (Often enough to push a competitor to using a specific development the season behind you)
• How often are new releases “released”? - If these are too often (for example every couple of months) - what onus is there on you signing off these new releases - or does the system supplier guarantee that your existing business processes will not be impacted by new releases? If this is too often and you have to sign off before this new release is given to you, will the testing time be too onerous?
• Is the system supplier based on bubble economics? For some system suppliers, new customers (and all their professional service fees) subsidise many of the exiting staff in a company however these staff supply services to existing customers. If a system supplier has a business model based on bubble economics relying on a constant flow of new customers this can be a problem for the long term validity of a company - especially if the market is stagnant or reducing?
• Where does the money they invest in Research & Development come from? Some UK system suppliers get many of their developments paid for by very large travel companies - however in the UK these companies are busy merging and standardising on their reservation systems. If the company you are considering has been happy taking money from these companies, what happens if these R&D funds dry up?
• What is the 5 year plan for the system? Frankly, no one will answer this - however it is fun to ask and watch everyone’s faces
• What is the DNA of the software? Systems that have come from a travel agency background are often no good for tour operators and vice versa
• What are you average professional service fee day rates? Some UK system suppliers have “offshore” (Sri Lanka etc) project teams. These can often be great value. Some are based in London. They are not such good value.
• How is your system better than TourCMS that I can get for £50 GBP per month? Yes. Ask them. I dare you (Obviously many systems have greater functionality than TourCMS…. the question is whether that is worth the price difference).

DISCLOSURE - Yes I own a system supplier. No I am not a journalist. This isn’t always an impartial blog. Never mind. Time to move on.

[Read more from Alex's blog - Musings on travel ecommerce - Ed]

A message from the organisers… what to do if you have not yet received your badge?

Those who have registered for the Travel Technology Show should receive their badges in the mail or sometime this week.

If you don’t receive your badge for any reason or misplace it, don’t worry there is a backup…

We will email you an electronic badge on Monday 4 February which you can print out and take with you to the show and get your official badge printed.

If you don’t have access to your email and still haven’t received your badge by the show this is still not a problem, please simply print out your email confirmation from when you registered for the show and we’ll be able to look you up in the system and print you a new badge.

Trust us, it’s not a problem!

Please remember if you have registered we will have you on our records so although it is better to bring your electronic or mail badge with you, you will still be able to enter with no troubles if you don’t!

Also just a reminder that if any of your colleagues have forgotten to register, they still can, please click here for free registration.

The postman has arrived

Many of you will have received a letter this morning with your delegate pass for the Travel Technology Show.


DON'T LOSE IT.

[As you can see from the picture, we are also showing off our new dual-screen set-up at Travolution Towers!]

Checklist for the Travel Technology Show

With just 10 days or so to go, it's time to set you all up with a list of things you need to remember.

Attendees:

• Delegate pass - you're not getting in otherwise
• Accommodation - if you're from out of town and staying for both days
• Business cards - essential and obvious
• Bottle of water - it might be February, but it gets warm in Earl's Court 2
• Strong shoes - you'll be sorry if you don't
• Seminar programme - better still, book now

Exhibitors:

• Stand furniture - it will look bare without it
• Promotional materials and brochures - what else are you going to give delegates?
• Laptops - to show off that new product!
• Drinks and nibbles - for you delegates
• Exhibitor pass - the boss will be very unhappy if you forget it
• Accommodation - you'll be exhausted after Day One
• BIG SMILES

Quotoids #1

"I come every year to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in travel technology."

"We were in the process of getting a new reservations system. We wanted to check that we were contacting the right suppliers."

"I'm new to the travel industry, I wanted to bring myself up-to-speed with what is happening and what's likely to happen in the future."

"It’s essential for networking, various meetings, seminars and general information gathering."

Blatant self-promotion for seminars

We can because we're running the blog...

Seriously, it's two weeks today until the Travolution-run seminars at the show.

Our fantastic line-up on Wednesday 6 February is as follows:

9.45-11.00: If Only I Could Create the Perfect Travel Website… - Two design agencies offer their tips on how to engage users with the next generation of travel websites, explaining the subtle differences for prospective online operators and agencies.

Jason Till, digital production director, Designate Communications
Justin Cooke, managing director, Fortune Cookie


11.15-12.30: Integrating the Old Into the New – Understand how legacy platforms, constantly under pressure to integrate booking and reservation systems into an array of channels, can be overhauled to meet the needs of modern consumers and travel companies.

Alex Bainbridge, managing director, Travel UCD
Ornagh Hoban, vice president marketing and strategy, Datalex


14.15-15.30: It’s Marketing, Jim, But Not As We Know It – Learn how best to evaluate where to spend the valuable advertising pounds, as travel companies look to reach consumers in as many ways as possible over the web including organic search, PPC, display and social media.

Duncan Parfitt, head of paid search, Steak Media
Warren Cowan, chief executive, Greenlight
Nick Hayward, strategic development director, Latitude


15.45-17.00: Starting-up again – Re-invention, an influx of capital, turning plans into action? Learn about the pitfalls and how to turn a bright idea for the web into a real business.

Ranjan Singh, chief executive, Isango
James Dunford Wood, co-founder and managing director, Worldreviewer.com


Further details on these and other seminars over the course of the two days can be found on the main TTS website.

It's A Quiz!

If the Travel Technology Show’s schedule looks daunting, take this quiz to find out which seminars and exhibitors will best serve your needs.


What can new information technologies do for my business?

• A. I know it can help my business, but I’m not sure where to start.
• B. We’ve made some investments, but want to learn more to turn them into profit.
• C. I want to get ahead of the competition with more investment.

Web 2.0 is the much-hyped future of the world wide web. What does it mean to you?

• A. What’s the world wide web?
• B. It’s all about social networking.
• C. It’s about creating ‘mashable’ websites, such as combining Google maps with your own content, like Opodo does.

Why is XML important for the way businesses use the web in future?

• A. What’s wrong with the way businesses use the Internet?
• B. It’s the new version of HTML.
• C. It helps different software systems to talk to each other over the Internet.

Does your approach to marketing include Internet search engines?

• A. No, we do our marketing in the shop window and local newspaper.
• B. No, we’d like to start using the Internet for marketing but don’t know how.
• C. Yes, but we’re always looking to improve our search engine optimisation.

Do you plan to integrate electronic marketing and distribution with your back-end systems?

• A We don’t have electronic marketing or distribution.
• B. It sounds like a good idea, but we don’t know where to start.
• C. It’s part of our plan, but there are a few hurdles to overcome before we get there.

Do you plan to offer podcasts on your website?

• A. What is a podcast?
• B. I listened to the one by Ricky Gervais, but I don’t know how it would apply to us.
• C. We’re just starting out podcasting and would like to learn more.

How can mobile phones help us get feedback on our service?

• A. I haven’t got time to take the calls.
• B. I’ve heard about automated text services.
• C. We’re looking at automated texts but not sure on our strategy yet.

What effect will user-generated content, such as TripAdvisor, have on the travel industry?

• A. I’m not sure what user-generated content is.
• B. I don’t see where they fit with my business.
• C. Pretty soon everyone will check their destination on TripAdvisor before booking.

How did you score?

Mostly A
You are likely to be fairly new to technology, so rather than diving in at the deep end, you might prefer to learn about some examples of how technology has helped travel firms. The seminar titled Real-life Stories from the Travel Industry Coalface will help. It’s on February 5, from 3.45pm to 5pm.

If you have more specific questions on technology and your business, Equinus and SourceIT-Travel.com will be running the Advice Centre, offering free technology advice. Pre-book consultations by e-mail.

Mostly B
Those with some experience might want to know where it’s all heading. Facebook hit the headlines last year and people are asking how social networking sites will affect travel businesses. Find the Building Travel Brands Using Web 2.0 discussion from 11.15am to 12.30pm on February 5.

If you’re already using the Internet as a commercial tool, but want to get more from it, why not try the session How to Find Fulfilment from E-business. It will address subjects such as how to link e-brochures to the booking system, integrate the delivery of e-vouchers and tickets, and set up alerts that can be directed to mobile phones. It’s on February 6 from 2.15pm to 3.30pm.

Mostly C
Those more expert in travel technology might want to plan ahead for the future. You can find out the predictions of experts from Anite Travel Systems, Dolphin Dynamics and HyperTech Solutions during Future Travel Technology Needs from 12.45pm-2pm on February 5.

If you’ve already got a strong Internet presence but want to improve your hit rate, then delve into the world of search engine marketing. The Searching for the Perfect Search Engine Marketing Strategy session looks at search-engine optimisation and pay-per-click, offering advice on best-practice. It’s on February 6 from 12.45pm to 2pm.

Show preview in Travel Weekly

Travolution's sister paper Travel Weekly has produced a handy guide to some of the product launches expected over the course of the event.

The article features SABS, KnowledgeWire, GoQuo, Amadeus, Fizzback, RWA and Hypertech.

Read more on the "Tech a look at this" article [geddit?!?].

Coffee breaks can be much better organised now

This just in:

Delegates can sign up for a smart tool on the Travel Technology Show website which can be used to arrange meetings and find out who's who on the exhibition floor.

More details about NET-work and a sign-up form.

First commenter

Congratulations to Alex Bainbridge of Travel UCD for being the first exhibitor to post a comment to the blog.

A free speaking slot on one of the seminars to you, sir.

Oh, Bainbridge is already appearing...

...at one of the Travolution sessions on Wednesday 6!

Why should I attend?

Here are some pretty good reasons for those still mulling over whether to spend two days in London at the beginning of February.

If you make or influence the decision for purchasing technology within your company, be it a business or leisure travel agent, online travel agent, tour operator, hotelier or transport company, then it could be the most useful 48 hours you'll spend this year.

Discover and evaluate technology to:

• Increase or create online revenue
• Enable your customers to transact effectively
• Increases website functionality and effectiveness
• Improves the look to book ratios
• Maximises internet search engine, banner and marketing spend
• Boost revenue from existing customers
• Save costs by streamlining back office booking administration
• Manage product pricing across multiple distribution channels
• Processes commission payments and updates inventory automatically
• Reduces company IT overheads
• Allow seamless integration between sales, marketing and customer service

It's true, it really is... We've been before!

Travel Technology Show Factoids #1

The kind folk at TTS have sent us some facts and figures to demonstrate what a stonkingly good event it is.

• Over 120 exhibitors are expected for the 2008 show. [Are your favourite travel technology companies listed?]
• 15 seminars.
• 75% of the exhibitor space for this year's show was booked at the 2007 event.

Three weeks to go

For the uninitiated, Travel Technology Show is the the premier event of the year dedicated to all things travel and, er, technology - taking place this year on 5 and 6 February.

And, for the second year in a row, Travolution, the UK's premier (read: only) media brand dedicated to online travel and technology, is delighted to be an exclusive media partner with its sister title Travel Weekly.

So with just three weeks to go until the travel industry descends on a small corner of West London - Earl's Court II, in fact (here's a map) - there is some housekeeping to get out of the way.

The ticketless can still book a place easily for the event on the main TTS site's online registration page.

Meanwhile, over the coming weeks we will focus here on the blog on some of the topics to be covered in the seminars. You can take a look at the seminar programme now and - rather handily - book a seat.

Welcome!

This is the official blog of the Travel Technology Show 2008, provided by Travolution.

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