What's new in Asia Pacific?

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Gemma Greenwood (left) and Nicki Page (right) invited industry players to discuss destination USPs and travel trade issues.

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Akash Pal, Nielsen.

That was the title of a seminar for the GCC's travel trade, which debated how best to sell Asia Pacific destinations as well as hot industry topics.

How to sell Asia Pacific to leisure clients, women's travel buying trends, as well as airlines' direct-sell and commission-cutting tactics were just some of the hot topics of debate at the recent 'What's New in Asia Pacific' seminar attended by more than 150 members of the GCC's travel trade.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) event, which was hosted by InterContinental Dubai Festival City Hotel, sponsored by Qatar Airways and organised by Dubai-based boutique tourism communications agency Fusion Marketing in conjunction with Arabian Travel News was primarily designed to showcase new products and services from the PATA region's leading tourism boards - Australia, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand.

The all-day event, which was also supported by media partner The Times & Sunday Times, City 7 TV and Asfaar, saw Fusion Marketing director Nicki Page and ITP Business Publishing senior group editor and ATN editor, Gemma Greenwood employ an 'Oprah-style' set-up whereby each tourism board representative was brought to the stage for an informal chat enticing each to provide details on ‘how to sell' their destination.

In addition, Nielsen's head of customised research services, Akash Pal, made a presentation on 'Developing & Marketing Travel & Tourism to Arab Woman' and Qatar Airways' regional manager for the UAE, Pakistan, Bahrain, Iran and Afghanistan, Abdul Qadir Aziz discussed Qatar Airways' activities in the Asia Pacific region.

And last but not least, a roundtable discussion was staged by ATN's Greenwood involving Peter Hoslin, head of marketing, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC); Rimzie Ismail, general manager, Dubai Airport and Leo Fewtrell, manager, Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG).

Topics discussed with members of the audience included future plans for both airports and travel agent issues such as commission cuts, airlines' direct-sell tactics and reasons why Dubai agents should join DTTAG.

Participants were positive about the seminar, which Fusion and ATN plan to make a regular event for the travel trade, as well as the meetings industry.

"It was an excellent opportunity to spread the DTTAG message and was great to get direct responses from the travel trade whether positive or negative," said Fewtrell. "Open lines of communication are vital in order to increase understanding."

Mike Booker, general manager, Al-Futtaim Travel (Dubai) added: "It was an excellent day and well worth the effort to attend. I found the sessions generally very informative and I also met some very useful industry contacts."

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