Web in Travel Middle East convention to debut in Dubai this March

Web In Travel (WIT), a decade-old community for those passionate about travel technology, distribution and marketing, is coming to the Middle East this March in recognition of the booming online opportunity in travel originating from the region. 

Insightful discussions are expected at Web in Travel Middle East. Picture taken at the WIT Conference in Singapore last October. Source: Web in Travel.

“More speakers are being confirmed as we enter the new Year and we are excited about kicking off WIT’s 10th anniversary with our first conference in one of the world’s most exciting and untapped regions when it comes to online travel,” said Yeoh Siew Hoon, Editor and Founder of the Singapore-based WIT, which also holds events in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region. 

Delegates to the first event in the Middle East to focus on travel marketing, distribution and technology will have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes made and lessons learnt from local startups such as Albert Dias, Co-founder, Marketing & Technology Director, Musafir.com, Girma Wossenseged, Managing Director, EmiratesYoo.com by Kuoni Travel and Pieter Sleeboom, Co-founder and COO, Triperna.com.

Speakers will include Trivago’s co-founder and CEO Rolf Schromgens, MakeMyTrip’s co-founder Keyur Joshi, South Africa-based Travelstart’s Founder Stephan Ekbergh and Travel.jp’s Co-founder & CEO, Kei Shibata. According to the organisers, brands such as Google, Expedia, Skyscanner, Accor, HotelsCombined and Singapore’s Wego are also represented.

Investors will be speaking at the event. Fritz Demopoulos, a Co-founder of Qunar, a Chinese travel search engine and an Asian startup success story, will share a global bird’s eye view of start-up trends. Since exiting Qunar after selling it to Baidu, Demopoulos has been an active investor and advisor to startups around the world. Paul Kenny, Founder and CEO of e-commerce website Cobone and travel website Triperna, will give his take on the startup scene in the Middle East. Kenny, along with Arya Bolurfrushan recently set up Emerge Ventures*, a fund for early-stage investments in the region’s technology companies.

Visit Britain, Tourism Queensland and the Singapore Tourism Board will be represented in a session about “The Outbound Promise: Understanding the Middle East traveler” alongside local experts including Nasiruddin Mohammed Shafiq, General Nanager, Doha-based Regency Travel and Tours, Francis Dharmai, Head of Tourism, Al Tayyar Travel Group and Mohamed Jassim Al Rais, Deputy Managing Director, Al Rais Tours and Holidays.

Hospitality brands with specialist knowledge such as Trust International, a leading name in hotel distribution and Circos Brand Karma, social media analytics and digital marketing firm, will bring their insights to the event.

Airlines and airports will be a key part of the agenda. Confirmed thus far are Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organization, Sameer Poonja, Head of Digital Technologies, Emirates, Lewis Naim, Head of Marketing and Brand Management, Dubai Airports and Cengiz Dirgimenci, Online Sales and Marketing Manager for Turkish Airlines.

“A key signature of WIT events is the blending of global knowledge and local insights to create a true exchange of learning for both overseas and local delegates,” summarised Yeoh.

The inaugural WIT Middle East convention will be held at the Sofitel The Palm Resort and Spa in Dubai on March 26 to 27. 

Click here for the programme, and register here. 

*Emerge Ventures recently closed its first investment fund MENA Fund I and has made its first three investments within the UAE: The Impact Hub – a collaborative incubator and co-working space to open in Souk al Bahar, Dubai; Lumba, a Silicon Valley-based mobile gaming company focused on the Arabic-speaking world; and Elevision – a new digital media network that broadcasts news, information and advertisements from screens inside the lifts of premier towers in the UAE.