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China’s top local brands are all lining up to present alongside their international peers, at this year’s 4th annual Travel Distribution and Sales China (TDS China) conference in Beijing (24-25th September).
Billed as China’s most important post-Olympic event, TDS China sees discussion about the latest opportunities and challenges of the world’s most complex travel marketplace. With the mix of a cash-rich middle class, the huge growth of internet access, and the Olympic buzz stemming from the Beijing games, China has now rightfully claimed the title of the new ‘land of opportunity’.
Recent additions to the 2008 speaker line-up include Zhibo Jin, Vice President Green Tree Inns; Guangfu Cui, CEO, eLong; and Xue Qiang, Vice President eCommerce, Travelsky.
When asked about this year’s focus on local brand speakers, event director Reece Gladstone commented “The previous three years have taught us that there is no substitute for top quality speakers from local Chinese brands. It’s important to strike the right mix with international speakers of course, but nobody has a deeper understanding of the Chinese consumer than our local speakers.”
The focus of the event is – unsurprisingly – travel distribution and sales throughout China. Nothing ground-breaking in the event theme, however Gladstone says “China is very unique in that traditional agencies still play a major part in consumers travel arrangements”. He continues, “Times are changing quickly though. The internet as a research and booking tool is becoming even more popular, so this conference is designed to ensure companies remain competitive during this shift”.
Senior executives from other local and international brands – including Ctrip, Best Western, Northwest Airlines, Jinjiang Inns Co. and Google China – will also be featuring as guest presenters at this September forum.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
