Agenda
EME Level Up: Digital Hospitality Conclave is an invite-only conference exclusively for hospitality industry professionals.
Shangri-La Colombo
August 06th, 2024
08:00 am - 05:00 pm followed by networking and cocktails
Agenda
08:00 - 08:45
Register, Meet and Mingle with a Quick Snack
Collect your lanyard and name tag at the registration desk, and savor a coffee with a quick bite while mingling with fellow conference delegates. The exhibitor booths are open to all conference delegates, offering a chance to meet exhibitors and gain new insights.
08:45 - 08:50
Introduction
08:50 - 09:05
Opening Remarks
Rajitha Dahanayake
CEO
eMarketingEye
09:05 - 09:25
Seeing is Believing: Unveiling the Future of Sri Lanka Tourism
A focus on Innovative digital advertising and PR strategies targeting key markets for Sri Lanka Tourism, and unveiling future plans to boost global engagement and visitor experience.
Chalaka Gajabahu
Chairman
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau
09:25 - 09:45
Activate EME mode for your direct booking strategy
Unlock the ultimate potential of your hotel's direct booking strategy as we delve into the key tactics and tools needed to maximize direct bookings, minimize reliance on OTAs and third-party distribution channels, and enhance your revenue.
Dasun Premasinghe
Vice President - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
09:45 - 10:10
How retailing is enabling hoteliers to drive total revenue
What if you could easily drive more spend through merchandising to your guests at the time of booking, while delivering on the preferences and add-ons each unique traveler wants? Selling more relevant ancillary products has been shown to drive higher booking conversion. For hoteliers, having a successful merchandising strategy results in higher guest satisfaction, greater revenue, and strategic differentiation from competitors in an evolving industry. But what does it take to get there? How far are you willing to get out of your comfort zone? In this session, you'll learn how retailing and merchandising is changing hospitality as hoteliers drive revenue beyond the room.
Anshul Kumar
Director of Sales, India and Southeast Asia
Sabre
10:10 - 10:20
Introduction to HSMAI
Glen Grosic
Managing Director, Asia
HSMAI Asia Pacific
10:20 - 10:40
Coffee Break
Expresso Yourself
10:40 - 11:00
Performance Max for Travel Goals
Performance Max for Travel Goals is the easiest way for hotel performance advertisers to serve across all Google properties. With Performance Max for Travel Goals campaigns, you can reach hotel guests and drive more direct bookings across Google’s full range of advertising channels and inventory with one simple set up.
Joanna Ong
Travel Ads Specialist
11:00 - 11:30
Panel discussion
The Importance of Digital for the Future of Tourism in Sri Lanka
This panel delves into the transformative role of digital marketing in shaping the future of tourism in Sri Lanka. Explore how digital can elevate the hospitality industry to enhance the country’s online presence and remain competitive as an attractive destination in the global market.
Chalaka Gajabahu
Chairman
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau
Sarawut Tantichote
Senior Director of e-Commerce & Digital Advertising
Minor Hotels
Maxime Wickramasinghe
Director Marketing
Thema Collection
Rajitha Dahanayake
Chief Executive Officer
eMarketingEye
Moderator
Glen Grosic
Managing Director, Asia
HSMAI Asia Pacific
11:30 - 11:55
Illuminating the path to commercial success for hoteliers
An insightful insight on how hoteliers can maximise their revenue using data and the importance of AI in the hospitality space
Mohammad Abdul Ahad
Business Development - Indian Subcontinent
Lighthouse
11:55 - 12:20
Cutting-edge strategies for Hospitality Industry
Dive into detailed case studies of innovative strategies, and creative executions that achieved remarkable results. Uncover key tactics, and gain actionable insights to elevate your marketing efforts.
Kusalika Basnayake
Senior Vice President - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
Chandima Welagedara
Vice President - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
12:20 - 12:40
Digital Marketing Insights: Comprehensive Guide for Hoteliers
Discover actionable winning strategies for hotel operators and unlock the secrets of success in digital marketing to drive conversions on Brand.com. Elevate your direct channel to new heights from clicks to conversions at scale.
Sarawut Tantichote
Senior Director of e-Commerce & Digital Advertising
Minor Hotels
12:40 - 13:25
Lunch Break
Bon appétit
13:25 - 13:50
Track 1 - Session One
UI & UX: A match made in heaven
Explore the synergy between User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design for a hotel website. Learn how combining aesthetic appeal with functional usability creates exceptional digital experiences. Discover best practices, trends, and real-world examples that highlight how UI and UX together can elevate user experience and drive business success.
Suranga Rajakaruna
Senior Vice President - Web Solutions
eMarketingEye
Charithya Kandage
Vice President – Account Management
eMarketingEye
13:50 - 14:15
Track 1 - Session Two
All Roads Lead to AI
We've all heard the buzz, but where do we go from here? Discover how to leverage AI to personalize guest journeys, predict travel trends, and optimize campaigns for maximum impact.
Sohan Wijegunawardana
Director - Digital Marketing / Head of Paid Media
eMarketingEye
Haresh Sandanakrishnan
Assistant Manager - Social Media
eMarketingEye
14:15 - 14:40
Track 1 - Session Three
Power of Search & Beyond
Explore powerful Search strategies for hospitality to capture potential guests at the pivotal decision-making moment. Paired with advanced marketing technology (martech), which enhances efforts through data-driven insights and automation, hotels can craft a seamless and engaging guest journey.
Nisal de Silva
Director - Digital Marketing
Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts
Charithya Kandage
Vice President – Account Management
eMarketingEye
13:25 - 13:50
Track 2 - Session One
Why SEO is not your 2 - minute noodle
Learn how to optimize your website content, build high-quality backlinks, and enhance technical elements to boost your website rankings. Gain actionable insights and practical tips to improve your search engine visibility and drive more organic traffic.
Chandima Welagedara
Vice President - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
Sawani Perera
Assistant Manager - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
13:50 - 14:15
Track 2 - Session Two
Let your data sing
Driving digital performance through data-driven decision-making and enhanced operational efficiency via holistic insights derived from aggregated information collected through compliant practices.
Dasun Premasinghe
Vice President - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
Sudharaka Dhammasena
Head of Digital Analytics
eMarketingEye
14:15 - 14:40
Track 2 - Session Three
Swipe to Success, Everything Mobile
Unlock the secrets to mobile success and stay ahead in the fast-paced hospitality landscape with compelling insights and best practices
Elmo Leon
Associate Director - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
Hiranthika Kothalawala
Senior Manager - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
14:40 - 15:00
Coffee Break
Expresso Yourself
15:00 - 15:25
Do More with Less, to Unlock Revenue
As a hotelier, have you ever felt that you could do better with market share or RGI as an example? This topic addresses exactly how you can leverage AI to help you increase revenue, reduce costs and manage operations more efficiently than ever. Learn how hotels like yours have gone about embedding technology as a revenue management partner successfully to increase profitability and improve scalability in your org or better utilization of available resources.
Murphy Mathew
Senior Regional Solutions Engineer
IDeaS
15:25 - 15:45
Your full board funnel Creative Strategy
Learn how to craft a winning creative strategy that speaks directly to your audience at every touchpoint, from brand discovery to conversion.
Sohan Wijegunawardana
Director - Digital Marketing / Head of Paid Media
eMarketingEye
Salmah Rasheed
Senior Manager / Head of Social Media
eMarketingEye
15:55 - 16:15
Boosting Direct Bookings from Russia and CIS: Leveraging Yandex’s Comprehensive Marketing Solutions
Explore how Yandex Ads can significantly enhance your direct bookings from the Russian speaking markets. Dive into the importance of post-pandemic Russian tourism and uncover the unique characteristics and online behaviors of modern Russian travelers. Learn to effectively use Yandex Direct to reach and engage your audience, driving growth in the hospitality sector.
Junfeng Wang
Head of Partnerships, Asia
Yandex Ads
16:15 - 16:45
Panel discussion
Digital Strategies and Technologies Shaping Tomorrow's Marketing Landscape
This panel will discuss how digital technologies are driving revenue, enhancing guest experiences, fostering innovation, and shaping the future of hospitality. Engage with industry leaders and seize the opportunity to have your questions addressed and gain valuable insights.
Rajitha Dahanayake
CEO
eMarketingEye
Nick Jeffery
Vice-President Sales – International
Sabre
Mohammad Abdul Ahad
Business Development Manager, India Subcontinent
Lighthouse
Murphy Mathew
Senior Regional Solutions Engineer
IDeaS
Moderator
Dasun Premasinghe
Vice President - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
16:45 - 16:55
WindUp
Kusalika Basnayake
Senior Vice President - Digital Marketing
eMarketingEye
16:55 - 19:55
Networking and Cocktails
We Are All in This Together
The Dedicated Team Behind EME’s Success
