How much do you know about the digital "big data" revolution and how it's impacting on the global travel and tourism industries? What could it mean to your business or organisation?

At the start of Wales' Year of Adventure (2016) Visit Wales hosts this unique gathering of international practitioners bringing their expertise to Swansea for one day only to inspire and inform. Delegates attending will connect with tourism businesses, digital technology and tourism experts and many others from across the UK and Europe as well as meeting up with colleagues from throughout Wales.

It's the first national event of its kind for anyone involved in the visitor economy (from tourism and hospitality businesses to transport providers, marketing consultancies and research organisations) interested in learning more about digital "big data".

A day of thought provoking presentations and workshops with international leaders in the digital field - many coming to Wales for the first time - will showcase the practical application of ‘big data’ in contemporary day-to-day operations and forward planning in the visitor economy.

Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, will open the day with A View from Welsh Government

Speakers include:

Professor Steve Chan, IBM (San Diego, USA) - Safer Cities and The Internet of Things
Joao Vasco Neves, Bloom Consulting (Madrid, Spain) - Digital Wales and The Global Destination Digital Index
Nagore Espinosa, Co-Founder and Director of in2Destination (Bilbao, Spain) - Innovative Monitoring of Tourism Behaviour
Maja Dimnik, GlamPro (Slovenia) - Digital Marketing of Tourism Projects with Very Small Budgets
Andrew Daines, Head of Marketing, Visit Flanders - Digital Marketing -The Flanders Experience
Jacob Broche, Marketing Director, Hurtiruten and Camila Herman-Petersen, University of Copenhagen and formerly Visit Denmark - Social Media, A Warning Lesson: The Visit Denmark Experience of ‘Danish Mother Seeking’
Joseph Anthony Connor - The Effect Cognitive Computing will have on the Tourism Industry
Michael Williamson, ASM (Belfast) - Data Collection and the Hotel Sector

This day will provide practical examples and insight into how the future is shaping up and the chance for delegates to hear from practioners at the forefront of big data usage.

Workshop sessions in the afternoon, led by experts in the field, will cover a range of topics including

Gathering Audience Intelligence to Make More Effective Decisions
Monitoring Tourist Behaviour Using Social Media
The Digitisation of Everything and Starting from Scratch – An Integrated Approach.

Visit Wales logo

FAQs

Who is organising the event?

The Adventure in Big Data event is brought to you by Visit Wales. It is being facilitated and managed by Swansea University's School of Management who are administering registration, content and logistics alongside Visit Wales.

How much does it cost to attend and how do I pay?

Attendance is priced at £90 plus VAT per delegate and includes all sessions, workshops and refreshments (including a "Taste of Gower" buffet lunch using locally sourced produce). Bookings will be confirmed following receipt of payment.

Payment can be taken in the form of paypal or credit card payment.

If you are unable to pay by credit card or paypal please email us directly for invoice at som-events@swansea.ac.uk stating contact name and organisation details for invoice.

Is my registration/ticket transferrable?

If you find that having booked you are then unable to make it yourself to the day, you are welcome to transfer your ticket - but, if possible, we need to have that person's name by 26th January 2016. We're afraid that we cannot refund your ticket value in the event that you do not attend and have not informed us of a new delegate name (due to a waiting list of potential delegates and costs incurred for catering arrangements etc.)

How do I book accommodation should I decide to stay pre or post event?

www.visitswanseabay.com is the official destination website (maintained by the City and County of Swansea) and it has an extensive accommodation list as well as information on the area in general. It's a great chance to combine our event with a weekend in the Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower area.

NB: The Swansea Marriott Hotel is offering special rates to delegates of £95.00 for Bed & full Welsh breakfast. To book use this link to the special rate.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Here is a handy map of the Campus and details of public transport and on site parking can be found on Swansea University's website

Will there be post event information and copies of presentations?

Yes, we'll be making sure that all attendees receive links to the presentations and any useful further information as well as a list of delegates for future networking/contact

Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Please email som-events@swansea.ac.uk or call 01792 606217

Terms and Conditions: The programme is confirmed but organisers reserve the right to change running order or speakers should it be necessary. All travel and accommodation bookings are the responsibility of delegates.

NB: Cancellation-Force Majeure

In case of force majeure, the event organisers (Visit Wales and Swansea University) have the right to alter or cancel the event without prior notice, however a notice of the occurrence shall be given by the organisers as soon as reasonably possible. Force majeure shall mean any circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the organisers which prevents or impedes the holding of the event, including, but not limited to, government action, war or hostilities, riot or civil commotion, plague or other epidemic such as SARS, bird flu, etc., earthquake, flood, hurricane, cyclone, fire or other natural physical disaster, explosion, accident or breakdown, strike, lack of the usual means of transportation or terrorism or due to events which are not attributable to wrongful intent or gross negligence of the organisers. The organisers shall not be liable for any direct or indirect, incidental or consequential damages, losses, expenditures or any other inconveniences or costs caused by such modification or cancellation of the event. Furthermore, registration fees will not be reimbursed.

An Adventure in Big Data - mining digital data to inform tourism marketing and development