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Google spearheads impressive runway of speakers at the Passenger Experience Conference during Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas 2014(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Google will join an impressive line-up of speakers at the Passenger Experience Conference, which will take place on October 14, 2014 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, to be followed by Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas. Organised by Reed Exhibitions, this influential conference will open with two Plenary Sessions featuring headline speakers such as Adam Luchsinger, Global Accounts Business Manager, Travel at Google, Jeremy White, Head of Transport Design at Seymourpowell, Jenny Ruegamer, Associate Creative Designer at TEAGUE, Jean-Marie Daout, Vice President - Boeing Development at Zodiac Aerospace and Jeffrey Robinson, Senior Advertising Manager at The Boeing Company. The Seattle event will stage two opening Plenary Sessions with the respective themes of "Tomorrow's World in Air Travel - The Users' Guide to Getting There" and "Can you Engineer Desire for your Airline Brand?" The first Plenary will explore different perspectives from design, travel and technology on the future for consumer experiences and how they might impact air travel. Presenting from the world of design, Jeremy White at Seymourpowell, will highlight the shifting dynamics of customer requirements and expectations and what this may hold for airlines and their business models. "Little things can make a huge impact on the user experience - happy customers means a robust and profitable business. Airlines need to evolve to meet the demands of a new generation of passengers," said Jeremy White. "One thing is for sure. Having things 'our way', as consumers, as opposed to 'your way' as a Brand, is changing very fast now. The Brand is no longer in the centre of the experience. We are and everything else will have to orbit that requirement." Adam Luchsinger from Google will then take the stage to discuss how connected travellers and their technology will define the future of travel. "The level of connectivity in today's world is a driving force for the evolution of the traveller. Google will share a perspective on three major directional shifts that we are seeing in the travel industry, driven by this increasingly connected traveller," explained Adam Luchsinger. "We will explore trends in consumer behaviour as well as the corresponding technological developments that will define travel product and marketing efforts in 2014 and beyond. Delegates will learn how to stay relevant and prosper in this evolving landscape and use technology as their biggest asset." The heart of the second Plenary Session will focus on a round table discussion on shaping the future of passenger engagement, specifically what might happen when industry starts designing the experience rather than the object. Panellists will include, amongst others, Jenny Ruegamer from TEAGUE, Jean-Marie Daout from Zodiac Aerospace and Jeffrey Robinson from The Boeing Company who will debate topics such as transformative collaboration between brands. "Brands coming together to offer consumers something more creates a 'better together' proposition that benefits everyone. In an industry like aviation, co-making could be absolutely transformative," said Jenny Ruegamer. In terms of forging future relationships, Jenny also believes that passenger experience is a key opportunity for brands. "The power for brands in co-making comes from the ability to create the products, services and experiences that passengers truly want, and can't get anywhere else." After a networking lunch, the programme will divide into three concurrent Breakout Sessions to consider some critical aspects of onboard services, which will be timed to allow delegates to transfer from one session to another to suit individual requirements. The first Breakout Session will be dedicated to In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) and Connectivity which will be moderated by Michael Planey, Consultant at HM Planey. In terms of technology, a recurrent topic of examination will again return to the fore as delegates will debate how IFE systems in the cabin can catch and keep up with consumer electronics. Peter Deslandes, Director of Experience Design, EMEA at Massive Interactive will then look at how airlines can deliver sophisticated and engaging IFE interfaces for passengers to offer more choice and control. "As connectivity becomes ever more ubiquitous, passengers will increasingly find the in-flight experience to be lacking. Why can't I relax and entertain myself on the plane in the same way as I do in the home?" asks Peter Deslandes. "While it's easy to ask this question, we all understand the challenges this presents both for airlines and their technology partners. I'm looking forward to discussing the issues and exploring the potential opportunities further during my presentation in Seattle." The remainder of the first Breakout Session will address topics covering the use of apps and tablets to open up opportunities for personalisation; how in-flight connectivity is opening up retail opportunities; ways in which connectivity can drive ancillary revenues, which will be presented by Priti Arora, Senior Product Line Manager, Systems at Thales Group and how technology can improve the retail offer. This session will conclude with a panel discussion and audience questions and answers. An important theme for the second Breakout Session, to be moderated by Vern Alg, Consultant for Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas, will highlight backseat economics and innovation. The first presentation will be made by Gary Weissel, Managing Officer at Tronosjet Aviation Consulting, who will weigh up the value of cabin classes and discuss the key trends for premium economy both in the Americas and around the world. His presentation will include a question and answer period, which will debate issues such as analysing what airlines can really afford to lose from their interiors to make way for premium economy. The next speaker will be Kent Craver, Regional Director Passenger Satisfaction and Revenue at The Boeing Company, who will look at the future direction for long-haul seating in terms of design and technology which will be followed by a panel discussion entitled "What's Next for Coach Seating?" A high-calibre analysis will be debated by Cameron Allan, Commercial Director at Acro Aircraft Seating, Jim Cangiano, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Recaro Aircraft Seating Americas, Kent Craver and Tom Grant, Manager, In-Flight Cabin Services for WestJet. Delegates will then hear a much anticipated presentation from Jerry Rose, Manager - Cabin Maintenance at Delta Air Lines on ways in which to identify modification pitfalls and to mitigate risk and the final presentation topic before the closing panel discussion will focus on contingency planning for better project management. Following the conclusion of the Breakout Sessions, including a third covering hospitality and service, the Passenger Experience Conference will then close leading to the Industry Networking Reception and Exhibition Preview for Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas and World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo Americas, which will take place on the show floor from 5.00pm - 7.30pm. Katie Murphy, Exhibition Director for Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas, said: "There is no doubt that the programme for the Passenger Experience Conference is ramping up both in terms of the issues to be debated and in the calibre of the many expert speakers who will be participating in both the Plenary and Breakout Sessions - it really is an impressive line-up. For potential delegates in the Americas region, the Seattle event will provide an invaluable occasion for comprehensive discussion and debate with the leading stakeholders within the industry. Lastly and by no means least, the Passenger Experience Conference in Seattle will be the place to be for unrivalled networking opportunities." For more information on The Passenger Experience Conference, please visit www.pexconference.com For more information on Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas, please visit www.aircraftinteriorsexpo-us.com Contact: Carol Bowler at CMS Strategic on Tel: +44 (0)20 8748 9797 or email [email protected] Notes to Editors About Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas will take place in Seattle, the hub of aviation, from October 14-16, 2014. Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas is the largest dedicated aircraft interiors event in the Americas region, showcasing airline interior design and airline cabin management systems. Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas is the unrivalled launch pad for tomorrow's designs in cabin interiors, in-flight entertainment, connectivity and passenger services. The exhibition attracts buyers and decision makers from major scheduled, regional and charter airlines and offers the opportunity to meet face to face with suppliers and manufacturers covering the full spectrum of the industry. About Reed Exhibitions Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 40 countries. In 2013 Reed brought together over six million active event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 34 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of the Reed Elsevier Group, a world leading provider of professional information solutions. www.reedexpo.com . (c) 2014 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |