WiT ME makes a comeback

The exponential growth in terms of technology in the Middle East has enabled more online presence in the travel sector. After successful shows in 2014 and 2015, Web in Travel (WiT) is back at Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach on April 9, 2019. In conversation with its Founder & MD, Siew Hoon YEOH…

TT Bureau

What are reasons behind the resumption of WiT in Dubai?
Keeping a close eye on the Middle East travel market, we have noticed that the online travel landscape has matured and evolved considerably since our last event in 2015. We were also getting requests from industry players in the Middle East, who attend our conferences regularly across Asia, to return. This is largely due to their encouragement and support as well as a desire to make a difference in the market.

What role will WiT play to further enhance Dubai’s technological growth in travel and hospitality? WiT’s role is to act as a catalyst to facilitate the development of the online travel market and upgrade professionalism in the sector. We do that by creating events that offer relevant content, sparking honest discussions and debate among key industry leaders and bringing the online travel community together around one common purpose – making travel better for customers.

What is the theme of this year?
WiT 2019 will be based on ‘Through the Looking Glass’. For travellers, a trip is a connected journey – we grab a ride to the airport, fly, arrive, grab a ride to the hotel, hopefully have a lovely stay and if we have time, book a couple of activities, departing from the hotel to the airport, and the loop continues. The travel industry however, works, thinks and acts in silos – airlines, hotels, travel agents, tour/ground operators, tour and activity providers, with each obsessed with their own set of issues and challenges. However, as technology has flattened the world and, with it, the travel industry, it is time for the leadership of travel companies to take a helicopter view, look beyond their own verticals and the industry to collaborate, to not only grow the $7.6 trillion travel industry but also look after the end consumer. Our theme encourages travel industry players to do just that — take lessons from each other and other industries so that we can compete and thrive in the sea of changes.

How many attendees are expected to attend the event?
We are expecting about 120- 150 delegates from across the Middle East and nearby regions. Close to 40 speakers from Asia, Middle East and Europe will be gathered to address key trends in the online travel space.

What are the applicable methodologies that will benefit the Asia market?
Both Southeast Asia and the Middle East have a young, social and mobile population of consumers who are tech-savvy and travel-hungry. Parallels are to be drawn between how online travel has developed in these regions.