Digital Innovation Asia partners with lebua Hotels & Resorts to establish DIA Industry Chair 2013/2014

BANGKOK - Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) is a new initiative promoting excellence and knowledge sharing when it comes to leveraging digital, social, and mobile in the travel and tourism industry to promote the complete Asian Visitor Economy.

Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) is pleased to partner with lebua Hotels & Resorts, the operator of the lebua Hotel at State Tower in Bangkok, in creating the Industry Chair of Digital Innovation Asia. Serving as the DIA Industry Chair 2013/2014, lebua Hotels & Resorts will help guide the strategy and provide resources to assist in executing the DIA vision, in collaboration with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and other industry partners.

In guiding the strategy, as well as to leverage technology, resources, and expertise, DIA has established the Digital Innovation Asia Council. The Digital Innovation Asia Council is a group of the most accomplished digital innovators and strategists in? the Pacific Asia Travel and Tourism Industry. The council is an invite-only forum of the most senior e-commerce executives and digital marketing thought leaders from hotels, airlines, tourist boards, and soon also cruise lines, tour operators, and travel media from all corners of the Asia Pacific region. Individuals are hand-selected and appointed by a nomination committee, based on their innovations and commitments to the industry.

Strategically aligned with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Digital Innovation Asia is endorsed and supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN), the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), the Tourism Technology Association (TTA), the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the International Federation of IT in Travel and Tourism (IFITT), and the International Association of Travel and Tourism Professionals (SKAL). Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) includes a new platform DigitalInnovationAsia.com, the Digital Innovation Asia Council, the Digital Innovation Asia Awards, Speak-Out Asia, Blogger-Match Up, Digital Aid Asia, China Boot Camp, the Digital Innovation Asia Challenge, and a year-round program of workshops and seminars.

Martin Craigs, CEO of PATA says: “Digital Innovation Asia has the potential of becoming an important component when it comes to executing PATA’s Next Gen Strategy. We applaud forward-looking organizations, such as PATA member lebua Hotels & Resorts, in supporting important and innovative efforts such as DIA that embrace the complete Visitor Economy.”

Jens Thraenhart, founder of Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) and co-founder of Preferred PATA Member Dragon Trail, and Chair of PATA’s China Chapter says: “We are impressed by lebua Hotels & Resorts in making digital innovation a vital component of its organizational DNA and leveraging technology as an enabler in driving customer and stakeholder value, and to better reach potential guests and to improve their experience at every touch point. lebua Hotels & Resorts has very quickly understood and embraced the vision of DIA and we are excited to work with lebua Hotels & Resorts in developing DIA as a platform to utilize digital, social, and mobile as a catalyst for responsible tourism development.”

Deepak Ohri, CEO of lebua Hotels & Resorts says: "lebua's partnership with DIA and PATA is a natural fit. Digital is a vital element in creating powerful visitor experiences while at the destination, as well as pre and post. In supporting Digital Innovation Asia, lebua is committed to enhance responsible tourism development, supporting people, profit, and planet by leveraging digital media and emerging technologies."

On June 10-12, Digital Innovation Asia continues in Bangkok, after Thailand's tourism trade show TTM+ in Bangkok, the World Islamic Tourism Mart (WITM) and Malaysia International Tourism Exchange (MITE) in Malaysia, and the World Economic Forum East Asia in Myanmar. On June 10 and 11, the first ever Blogger Match-up in Asia will as well as DIA's inaugural flagship digital innovation summit Speak-Out Asia will be hosted at lebua Hotel at State Tower, and the DIA Awards will be celebrated at BED Supperclub. On June 12, DIA is holding the China Boot Camps to help travel and tourism companies understand the complex Chinese travel market.

Relevant and interested organizations and individuals are invited to contact us for speaking engagements and sponsorship opportunities. Bloggers and media professionals are invited to apply for accreditation privileges.

The complete Digital Innovation Asia program:

June 10: Blogger Match-up – lebua Hotel at State Tower
June 10: DIA Council Meeting (by invitation)
June 10: DIA Awards - Bed Supperclub (8 pm – 10 pm)

DIA Awards VIP Reception (by invitation) – Bed Supperclub (7pm – 8 pm)

June 11: Speak-Out Asia – lebua Hotel at State Tower (10 pm – 5 pm)
June 11: The Last Byte Party - (by TDN.asia)
June 12: China Boot Camp - (10:30 am – 4:30pm)

Sourced: TravelDailyNews