ITB BERLİN: HOW TO GET STARTED

BERLİN- ITB Berlin supports Travel Traction by OpenTravel – an information exchange and panel discussion on getting started in the travel industry
Berlin, 25 January 2013 – The travel industry follows its own rules, something that many startups and established companies new to this sector discover. Despite this, the level of interest shown by investors and startups is high. This is the audience that Travel Traction by OpenTravel, supported by the world’s leading travel trade show, will be addressing on the eve of ITB Berlin. In addition to providing a networking opportunity the event will be hosting lectures and discussions, with experts offering their in-depth knowledge. The event takes place on 5 March 2013, from 1 to 6 p.m., in Room 8 of the ICC on the exhibition grounds.
“The rules of the tourism industry pose huge challenges to newcomers to this sector“, says Dr. Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin GmbH. “At the same time, these companies contribute significantly to moving this industry forward. For us as the leading international travel trade show it is all the more important that we support this event.”
Among those speaking will be Douglas Quinby, Senior Director of Research, PhoCusWright, who will look at a new survey entitled „Travel Innovation – The State of Start-Ups 2010-2013.“ Kevin May, editor of the trade publication Tnooz, and ValynPerini, CEO OpenTravel, will also be taking part in the discussion. Corporate strategists and investors will be providing in-depth knowledge and relating their experiences in the travel industry.
The event comprises three tracks: one of these focuses on different types of business models, such as the distribution of an existing product – via a metasearch site such as Trivago – or the creation of one’s own portfolio, for example in the case of Hostelworld or AirBnB.
Another topic is technology. For industry newcomers connectivity and compatibility often represent huge obstacles in terms of programming. The panel of experts will also dwell on the topics of procurement, sales and choosing service providers, such as airlines, cruise operators and hotels.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2013 will be taking place from Wednesday, 6 to Sunday, 10 March, and from Wednesday to Friday will be open to trade visitors only. Parallel with the trade show, the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest travel industry event of its kind in the world, will be held from Wednesday, 6 to Friday, 8 March 2013. Additional information is available at www.itb-kongress.com. ITB Berlin is the global travel industry’s leading trade show. In 2012 a total of 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries displayed their products and services to 172,000 visitors, who included 113,006 trade visitors.
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