Travel Experts to Address Challenging Economic Times at ALTM

Global experts on customer relationships, leadership and branding are headlining a conference addressing challenging economic times at the Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM) on Monday 15th June. ALTM is taking place at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre from June 15-18.

ALTM welcomes keynote speaker, Larry Hochman, a customer relations expert and former European Business Speaker of the Year, to address why now is the time for courageous leadership.

Larry Hochman said, “At this critical moment the most important issues are not about how big a company you are, or how small a company you might become. The most important issues are about focus, transparency, customer loyalty and value for money because customers are demanding more, not less.”

“Ability to retain customers during this crisis will define your ability to weather this storm. Now is the time for courageous leadership to be certain you are ready for the post-recession era” Mr Hochman added.

The annual event brings together some of Asia Pacific’s most important travel buyers with the world’s leading luxury tourism destinations. Yeoh Siew Hoon, Editor at Large of SHY Ventures will lead a discussion with leading branding promoter Karthik Siva and social media expert Morris Sim addressing traditional and new wave models of branding.

Karthik Siva is the founder and chairman of the Global Brand Forum, which brings together some of the world's most inspirational and influential leaders to exchange ideas and share their visions for the future.

Morris Sim is an ex-Microsoft employee who helped found Circos 2006. Circos is a leading technology company that specializes in social media for the hotel and tourism industries.

The ALTM Conference will also feature a panel discussion on “Luxury Travel In the New Times” featuring Mary Gostelow, one of the world's most experienced travellers who produces the monthly Gostelow Report, and Zoe Wu, a Director at Horwath HTL.

The conference closes with a debate titled “Luxury is dead. Long Live Price” pitting a champion for luxury, John Northern, Marriott Internationals Vice President for South-East Asia, against an advocate for price, Martin Symes, CEO of travel search engine, Wego.

Now in its third year, ALTM is being held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre and offers a programme of business networking and social events. These include a welcome reception at the Shanghai Centre Theatre on June 15 and Official Opening Party hosted at M1NT Shanghai on June 16.

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