Press Release: NAJ Group
July 19, 2002
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The Third Annual E-Tourism Summit will go beyond the online world to explore how (and if)
the convergence of home-shopping style travel will work with the Internet to give rise to a new channel of sales
and destination promotion.
Scheduled for Sept. 18-19 at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas, the E-Tourism Summit has emerged as the leading
travel industry forum for exploration of trends and developments in the online component of travel distribution,
marketing and promotion.
"This year, we have enhanced the mix of presenters and program topics," said Jake Steinman, president
of the NAJ group, organizers of the event." Of course, we have all the major online players taking part. This
includes America Online, Yahoo!, Priceline, Hotwire, Pegasus, and more. But we also have Stephen Welton, the CEO
of TV Travel Shop." Steinman explained that the concept behind TV Travel Shop, owned by Barry Diller's USA
Interactive, is a 24-hour interactive television travel shopping network that has developed a winning format in
the U.K. and throughout western Europe. "It will be interesting to see how USA Interactive, which also owns
Expedia, Hotels.com, Classic Custom Vacations and the Home Shopping Network, begins to integrate and cross-promote
its assets," observed Steinman. "We have all-news channels, cartoon channels, and The Weather Channel,
and it appears that the time has come for a travel product-and-sales channel."
As recently as 10 years ago, the distribution of the travel product was promoted almost exclusively through the
print medium. Today, it is done through a multi-media mix in which the Internet has become a significant component.
Still, all media remain important to those who supply and market the travel experience. The E-Tourism Summit is
crucial to suppliers who need to understand and use the media mix.
In addition to Welton, 33 other presenters have confirmed including: David Litman, chairman and CEO of Hotels.com
(formerly Hotel Reservations Network); Jeffrey DeKorte, executive director, travel, America Online; Chris Howard,
senior producer, Yahoo! Travel; Mike McDevitt, Director of Partnership Marketing and Integration, Expedia; Chris
Soder, president hotel, automotive and business development, Priceline.com; Spencer Rascoff, vice president, corporate
development, Hotwire. Adrian Coppieters, CEO, Hotel Distribution Network; Mike Stacy, vice president, marketing
Travelocity; Joan England, vice president, corporate payment systems, Pegasus Solutions; George DeMakos, President,
Hotel Distribution Network. Ed Netzhammer, vice president, revenue management, Starwood Hotels and Resorts; Greg
Cross, senior vice president, revenue management, Hilton Hotels; Mike Peterson, director, revenue management, Wyndham
Anatole Hotel Group.
The event is limited to the first 120 registrants. Early bird discounts are available to those that register before
July 30th. For a complete list of presenters and topics and to register go to: www.etourismsummit.com
or call 415-554 -0282.
SOURCE: NAJ Group