WTTC invites first “Citizen Blogger” to attend 2014 Global Summit
WTTC today announced that Paul Williams of Stafford, United Kingdom, is the winner of its competition for the social media user who "made the most professional contribution to the news coverage of the WTTC Asia Summit", which took place in Seoul Korea, 10- 11 September 2013. The prize is an expenses paid trip, to report in person on the WTTC Global Summit 2014 – to take place Hainan, People's Republic of China, 24-25 April 2014.
Recognising a growing wave of public interest in the ability of the Travel & Tourism industry to revive economies, create jobs and grow understanding between peoples, WTTC has promoted the use of social media by delegates at its Summit events over the last two years, to distribute news of the event to a wider audience. However, starting with the Global Summit 2013, which took place in Abu Dhabi in April 2013, it has also broadcast the entire proceedings of its Summit meetings to a worldwide audience via video-streaming through the Internet. This broadcasting has allowed interested citizens in more than 50 countries worldwide to question speakers and comment on the debate as it is actually happening.
The "Citizen Blogger" awards were introduced in September 2013 for the WTTC Asia Summit, and Paul Williams is the first winner. The competition was open to anyone who participated in the scheduled Google+ Hangouts with the Asia Summit speakers, the scheduled Twitter Chat, or by watching the live broadcast of the Summit and engaged in the debate using the #WTTC hashtag.
Paul Williams is Head of the Business School at Staffordshire University, UK. His research interests include sustainable tourism, tourism-led regeneration, and industrial heritage tourism.
Making the announcement, Geoffrey Breeze, WTTC's Director of Marketing said: "Through the medium of broadcast Internet television, thousands of interested citizens like Paul have been able to join Travel & Tourism professionals from the private and public sector as they debate the issues that this vital industry faces. They have been able to hear speakers like President Bill Clinton of the USA and former UK Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Tony Blair testify to the contribution that this industry makes not only to the world economy, but also to international peace, security and understanding. Paul's highly professional comments and questions made him, in the opinion of the judges, ideally suited to be the first winner of this award – which places him in the front row of our live audience for the next WTTC Summit in Hainan, China in April 2014 – from where we to look forward to his next series of reports"
Video excerpts of the WTTC Asia Summit 2013 which Paul reported on can still be watched at http://wttc.org/events/the-asia/videos-on-demand/
About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to maximising the inclusive and sustainable growth potential of the Travel & Tourism sector by partnering with governments, destinations, communities, and other stakeholders to drive economic development, create jobs, reduce poverty and foster peace, security, and understanding in our world.