Global experts on customer relationships, leadership and branding will be participating in a conference addressing challenging economic times at the Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM) which will be held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre from June 15-18, 2009. The event will offer programmes on 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.

Larry Hochman, a customer relations expert and former European Business Speaker of the Year will be the keynote speaker at the event and will stress on why now is the time for courageous leadership. To this, Hochman stated, “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.” He added that ability to retain customers during this crisis will define one’s ability to weather this storm. “Now is the time for courageous leadership to be certain you are ready for the post-recession era,” said Hochman.

According to a report in www.asiatraveltips.com, the annual event will bring together some of Asia Pacific’s most important travel buyers with the world’s leading luxury tourism destinations. Yeoh Siew Hoon, Editor at Large, 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, Founder and Chairman, 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. While Morris Sim, ex-Microsoft employee who helped found Circos 2006. Circos is a leading technology company that specialises 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 will close with a debate titled ‘Luxury is dead. Long Live Price’ pitting a champion for luxury, John Northern, Vice President for South-East Asia, Marriott Internationals against an advocate for price, Martin Symes, CEO, Wego (travel search engine)

Source : http://www.travelbizmonitor.com