At the world’s leading travel trade show the success story of the eTravel World, the travel technology sector’s trend-setting platform, is set to continue. In the Travel Technology section in Hall 7.1c leading companies and startups will be presenting their latest mobile travel service and social media apps and innovations.

Companies representing social review management services such as Reevoo and Review Pro will be setting new trends. At workshops and seminars taking place at the eTravel Lab trade visitors from the business travel and tourism sectors can exchange in-depth views with decision-makers and practical experts about the mobile solutions of the future.

For the first time the programme of stage events will feature simultaneous interpreting into English and German and will present travel blog discussions and papers by experts on the latest social media and mobile strategy developments. At the eTravel Lounge guests can network and meet during happy hours.

Leading figures and practical experts examine highly topical industry issues

“The rapid developments in the Travel Technology section are of great relevance to the travel industry. Visitors will find a joint forum for mobile travel services and social media here, both highly topical themes. Experts, travel managers and newcomers can get valuable practical knowledge and take part in fascinating discussions with leading members of the eTravel sector“, says Dr. Martin Buck, Vice President of the CompetenceCenter Travel and Logistics, Messe Berlin. Among those holding papers will be Björn Zimmer, director of Yourfans, who will talk about consumer marketing with Facebook, its potential and its possible uses with a focus on tourism. Laura Mandala, managing director of Mandala Research, will talk about ”social media users and leisure travel“. Pravin Muthukumar, of Sabre Travel Network, will be providing trade visitors with tips and the necessary tools to face the challenges of the future. Christoph Schotter, managing director of Tourias Mobile, will be offering answers to the question ”do my destinations need apps, and if so which ones?“.

The panel discussions are bound to spark lively debates. Christian Schwannecke, managing director of touristiklounge.de, will moderate a discussion on ”the opportunities and risks with travel reviews on social networking sites and web applications”. Gene Quinn, CEO of Tnooz, will moderate the panel discussion entitled ”Checking Into Hotel 3.0“. The panel discussion called “New kids on the blog – how destinations can achieve success in the blogosphere“ also promises a lively debate. Taking part will be the internationally well-known travel blogger Keith Jenkins who, alongside Reine Gammoh of the Jordanian Tourist Board, will introduce iambassador, a joint blogger project. René Hentschel of MobileMonday Chapter Berlin will examine the topic “Apps vs. the mobile web“ and the digital industry as a job market force: “The mobile and digital sector – a spent force?”. Heike Scholz, a consultant and the publisher of the Hamburg publication mobile-zeitgeist, will moderate the event.

This year the eTravel World is due to launch a new discipline, the first App Marathon. On Saturday, 10 March, providers from ten categories will present their mobile travel apps for smartphones in on-stage sessions lasting 30 minutes each. Furthermore, a heavily revised and extended version of the “Mobile Travel App Guide - Edition 2012 powered by ITB“ is being released to coincide with ITB Berlin. The guide looks at 120 mobile applications and provides an overview of travel applications and what they do. The book is available from the stand of mvolution in the eTravel World section in Hall 7.1c and from book stores (Stefan Wagner, Thomas Franke-Opitz, Carla Schwartze, Franziska Bach: “Mobile Travel App Guide - Edition 2012 powered by ITB”, Alabasta Verlag 2000, München; brochure, 10 euros, ISBN 978-3-938778-15-9).